If you have young makers or kids interested in science at your house, this is the post for you! There are tons of science project books; here are some recent great ones. Pair these with some of the supplies needed to do the projects and a commitment to work on these projects together. I'd recommend all of these books for ages 7 and up.
DK Publishing has a great series of maker project books. Each has a variety of projects at different difficulty levels that would be great for kids and families who love to craft and experiment. Some of the projects are pretty involved - fun for the whole family! The Star Wars book would be a great gift for a Star Wars-obsessed family to tackle together.
Stem Lab by Jack Challoner (DK, 2018)
Maker Lab Outdoors by Jack Challoner (DK, 2018)
Star Wars Maker Lab by Liz Lee Heinecke and Cole Horton (DK, 2018)
Okay, two mason jar science books may seem a little extra, but I like them both for different reasons. If you are looking for a book that will really challenge your young maker to think like a scientist and explore the solutions to challenges, The Mason Jar Scientist is the one for you. Mason Jar Science is flashier and more visually appealing - I think it's more appealing to kids to use on their own. Both books have kid-friendly experiments that use mostly materials you probably already have around your house (or can easily pick up at the grocery store).
The Mason Jar Scientist by Brenda D. Priddy (Racehorse, 2018)
Mason Jar Science by Jon Adolph (Storey Publishing, 2018)
This book is perfect for kids who love solving problems and thinking up creative answers. It explains what engineers do and goes over different types of engineers, gives a series of projects to help kids better understand engineering, and presents real-life problems that kids can tackle.
Solve This!: Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You by Joan Marie Galat (National Geographic Kids, 2018)
Of course there are great science books beyond project books. If you're looking for something less hands-on or if you want some additional books to accompany a project book, consider one of these. The Guinness World Records Science & Stuff book follows the super popular format of the Guinness World Record books with tons of visual appeal and lots of fun facts. The Way Things Work Now is an updated classic that explains how so, so many things work, with detailed drawings and diagrams. From pneumatic drills to toilet tanks to car seat belts, this book covers everything a kid could wonder about.
Guinness World Records: Science & Stuff (Guinness World Records, 2018)
The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2016)
