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Part of a highly original series, Astronomy features eye-popping illustrations in the style of Japanese animation. In Simon Basher’s world, the planets talk about themselves, offering facts, statistics, and boasts — and a little bit of whimsy. Basher’s books make learning science fun.

Perfect for: Kids who like astronomy.

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Learn about the elements with The Periodic Table, which zeroes in on 64 elements and presents their relevant data in creative, punchy prose. “I may be undersized, but don’t underestimate me,” says Hydrogen. This book makes a great reference, with all the information your child would want to know about these elements — everything from density to melting point. It’s also a great way to spark your children’s curiosity about chemistry.

Perfect for: Kids who like chemistry.

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With a new spin on a taxing subject, the authors group concepts into accessible topics: “Old School,” “Hot Stuff,” “Wave Gang,” “Light Crew,” “Atom Family,” “Nuclear Heavies,” and “Electric Cuties.” This book covers everything from gravity to the theory of relativity. As with the others in this series, the writing is lively and not afraid to get weird.

Perfect for: Kids who like physics.

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This version of An Inconvenient Truth is an adaptation for younger readers of the 2006 bestseller and Oscar-winning documentary by the same name. The juvenile and teen edition contains simplified text enhanced by dramatic photographs, illustrations, and graphs. Al Gore suggests that the global-warming crisis provides an opportunity for change through four simple steps. A head start on environmentalism and a must-read for kids and their parents. Highly recommended.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

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The books in Adams Media’s Everything Kids’ series provide encyclopedic yet entertaining introductions to their topics, and this volume on the environment is no exception. Perfect for the curious child, this guide — filled with eco-friendly activities and puzzles — shows them how to reduce waste, recycle materials and protect plants and animals.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

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This book tells the true stories of 10 scientists and medical researchers who devoted their lives — and risked their own health — to do scientific research. The accounts are intriguing and fascinating, but be warned that they don’t all have happy endings. George Fordyce explored the limits of the human ability to endure extreme heat. Peruvian medical student Daniel Carrion and American doctor Jesse Lazear inoculated themselves with deadly tropical diseases. Lazzaro Spallanzani swallowed a variety of things (that most people wouldn’t and shouldn’t) to study the process of digestion. Each chapter includes a section “Now We Know,” which extends the information and brings it up to date. This book will appeal to young scientists, but it’s not for the squeamish.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

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The author of this book, longtime New York Times reporter Joseph Treaster, was in the New Orleans city hall when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. He draws on his experiences covering Katrina and its aftermath to provide younger readers with a first-hand look at the deadly storms we call hurricanes. Along with his eyewitness accounts, there is information about what scientists currently know about how and why hurricanes form, how they are tracked, and how they impact coastal areas. Precautions and planning for future storms are also discussed. Dramatic color photos enhance the solid information presented in this book.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find at your local library.