A great big list of fabulous picture book biographies for kids celebrating a diverse range of nature scientists. Add them to your collection of best books for kids.
From the mysteries to be found at the bottom of the ocean to the sparkle of the stars in the sky, there is so much so much wonder in the natural world, especially for children. The picture books in this collection attest to the fact that this has been the same for children all over the world and throughout the centuries! You see, this booklist celebrates the life work of a huge selection of nature scientists in all different fields of science – it’s all about biographies for kids exploring the lives of astronomers, botanists, ecologists, entomologists, marine biologists, ornithologists, zoologists and more!
And for most of them, their fascination in their chosen scientific field began in childhood.
The stories contained within these titles are tales of passion, courage, determination and perseverance and they have the capacity to inspire our children, and not just those already interested in science!
21 Inspiring Picture Book Biographies for Kids: Nature Scientists
 Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell is a gorgeous book for introducing children to inspiring naturalist and activist, Jane Goodall. It showcases Jane’s childhood imagination and dreams, and beautifully illustrates how our dreams can translate into adult achievements.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 The Watcher by Jeanette Winter is an introduction to Jane Goodall’s work with chimpanzees. It encourages children to take time to observe and ask questions about the world in order to better understand it.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez is the story of Joan Proctor and her fascination with reptiles. Following her childhood passion for slithery, scaly, unusual animals to an internationally renowned career at London’s Zoo and the Natural History Museum, this is a fascinating biography.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre and His World of Insects by Matthew Clark Smith shares the story of one of the world’s most important naturalists – Jean-Henri Fabre’s unique (for the time) method of observing insects led to some important discoveries about insect behaviour.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies captures the passion of America’s greatest painter of birds, John James Audubon, who was also responsible for pioneering the technique of banding birds for research.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins is the story of pioneer, scientist and activist, Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Seeds of Change: Wangari’s Gift to the World by Jen Fullerton Johnson is the story of Wangari Maathai who grew up loving the land, plants, and animals of Africa, her home. Wangari went on to become the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize, for her work towards saving her homeland and it’s people.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor tells the story of scientist, writer and environmentalist, Rachel Carson, who passionately shared an important message about the impact of humans on the environment.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story by Suzanne Slade shares how Anna Comstock defied society’s ideal that girls should not study science to go on and pioneer a movement to encourage schools to conduct outdoor science and nature classes for children.Available: Amazon |
 Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe is the story of the man considered the world’s first geneticist, Gregor Mendel. He discovered one of the fundamental aspects of genetic science that animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs by Kate Messner wraps the science of coral reefs around an inspiring biography of conservationist Ken Nedimyer.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang is the story of a girl who grew up to be known as ‘Shark Lady.’ Eugenie was fascinated with sharks from a young age and her curiosity and courage- swimming into shark caves – inspired a successful career as a marine researcher.Available: Amazon |
 Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the World’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating teaches us that the world cannot tell us what we can, or can’t do. Through Eugenie Clark’s story we are inspired to be fearless in following our dreams.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola is an eye-catching picture book biography about the life and dreams of of marine scientist and conservationist, Sylvia Earle.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino shares the story of famous undersea photographer and ocean researcher, Jack Cousteau, and his inventions for exploring the fantastic world beneath the waves.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne shares the story of the famous oceanographer from his first curiosity and questions about the sea as a child, to his inventions, his movies and his conservation efforts.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Charles Darwin’s Adventure Around the World by Jennifer Thermes is a fascinating retelling of the discoveries made by Charles Darwin when he spent five years exploring South Africa by ship.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 The Girl Who Could Dance in Outer Space by Maya Cointreau shares the story of the first African-American astronaut, Mae Jemison, (also a doctor, engineer and dancer) and how she followed her dreams to reach for the stars.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson introduces Carl Sagan Sagan as a child stargazing out the window, following his life changing trip to the 1939 New York World’s Fair, through his love of speculative science fiction novels, to his work as an internationally renowned scientist, working on The Voyager space missions.Available: Amazon | The Book Depository |
 Reaching For the Moon by Buzz Aldrin is the story of how Buzz Aldrin held tight to his dream and with determination and a belief in himself walked on the moon.Available: The Book Depository |
 My Journey to the Stars by Scott Kelly shares Scott’s own story about becoming an astronaut (with his twin brother) and living in the International Space Station for almost a full year.Available: Amazon |
For kids interested in hands-on learning about nature click through to check out our collection of 40+ Brilliant Backyard Science Experiments and our huge list of 50 ideas for nature play and learning.
Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.
