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Meteorology is defined by National Geographic as the science of the Earth’s atmosphere. While many people associate this field solely with weather forecasting, it is certainly much more than that. It is also concerned with climate change and different atmospheric phenomena that may affect human life, as well as the world around us. For children across the globe, meteorology may not be the first field of study that comes to their minds when they think about science. But the Earth’s atmosphere plays a vital role in our daily lives, and there are many skills and important insights that kids can learn by studying the weather. Here are just a few reasons why learning about meteorology is important for kids: It helps introduce environmental issues This field of science is the perfect segue to start a discussion about caring for the environment. Meteorology is inherently connected to studies about the water cycle, ocean levels, global temperatures, air and water pollution, greenhouse gasses, deforestation, and clean energy solutions such as wind turbines and solar panels. With the rise of climate change and damaging industrial emissions, we should be teaching the current generation of children about the problems facing our planet, so they will be equipped to help us find creative solutions when they become adults. Studying the weather is a fun and relatable starting point to help kids understand these important topics. It gives kids information to keep them safe Since meteorology also encompasses certain natural disasters like storms and tornadoes, children who learn about it will be equipped with information that keeps them safe and can even save their lives! Teach kids to recognize the warning signs of impending disasters, such as the color of the sky before a tornado, rising water levels in a stream before flash flooding, or the shape of clouds that bring a thunderstorm instead of a rainstorm. This will help them prepare for the worst-case scenario and hopefully keep them safe in the event that they are affected. The knowledge they gain can also be used well into their future, especially if they live in a calamity-prone state. It opens up an exciting career path It is never too early for children to start the path toward their dream jobs. TV meteorologist Guy Brown, author of the new picture book Look Up to See What the Weather Will Be, discovered his passion for learning about the weather at the age of nine! Encouraging kids to dabble in STEM subjects while they are young can lead them to pursue related careers in the future. As Maryville University’s write-up on STEM careers notes, the field of meteorology is expected to grow by an above-average rate of 12%, meaning more skilled individuals are needed each year. This makes meteorology, in particular, a highly viable (and valuable) science profession that shouldn’t be overlooked. Educating kids about the weather early on may pique their interest in meteorology and point them toward an exciting and rewarding career. It promotes outdoor exploration With today’s technology and the vast online worlds now available for kids to enjoy, it can be easy to forget to appreciate the natural wonders of the Earth. Meteorology makes good use of technological advancements — with cutting-edge satellites, radar equipment, and computers to process information — but it also requires going back to nature. Meteorology is about understanding the sophisticated way that the environment works, leading to a greater appreciation of it as a whole. For kids, learning weather basics encourages stepping outside and thinking about the world around them. They can make their own weather station in the backyard or take Guy Brown’s My Weather Journal out into nature to record their observations of the sky. Children who love the outdoors will be excited to take their science lessons outside of the classroom, and kids who love technology and computers will be coaxed to build an appreciation for the incredible patterns and processes found in the natural world. There’s no doubt that fostering an interest in meteorology will not only help children become more confident exploring this branch of science, but will also inspire a greater understanding and love for the planet as they get older. There are many resources to help young kids get started on their weather journey. Picture books can be a great way to make science education fun and engaging, with easy-to-understand language and fascinating images that will surely catch their interest. The following is a list of recommended books for your budding meteorologist: 1. Look Up to See What the Weather Will Be by Guy Brown 2. This Beautiful Day by Richard Jackson 3. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Jon Nelson and Mark Cassino 4. Hurricanes by Gail Gibbons 5. Maisy’s Wonderful Weather Book by Lucy Cousins Article specially written for sciencenaturally.com By Alicia Winston

Enjoy this excerpt from an Association of Library Service to Children blog by Shahnoor Islam, translator for the bilingual English/Bengali editions of Cuddled and Carried and Atoms. Read the full blog here. An immigrant from Bangladesh finds herself at home in libraries New York City, with its towering skyscrapers and endless avenues, is one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the world. It is home to 3.1 million immigrants with new Americans arriving each day. Twenty years ago, as a Bangladeshi teen, I was one of those newcomers. New York City was big and loud and noisy. It took some effort, but I soon learned how to navigate the streets, feel at home on the subway, and explore all that it had it to offer. There was no shortage of things to discover. However, one thing in particular stood out to me—something that most Americans simply take for granted—I was amazed to discover how much my local library offered the community and me. I spent many hours at the library. The staff was always welcoming, hanging out there did not cost any money, and it was an incredible source for meeting people and learning about local events and resources. I was struggling to feel comfortable reading, writing, and speaking English. The library was a remarkable place for me in an often chaotic and overwhelming world. My passion for books and community outreach inspired me to continue pushing forward. It came as no surprise that, years later, I chose to pursue a career as a community librarian, a position where I could welcome strangers, excite people about books, share local resources, and shepherd new Americans. I have now been working in a public library in Queens for 17 years. I particularly enjoy bilingual children’s books. A bilingual title gives young new Americans and their families the wonderful opportunities for children to read in English while parents read in their native language — and then they can all talk about it. And, it also encourages native English speakers to explore a new language. One of the fun things about being a librarian is connecting with other groups who promote literacy and a passion for reading. For instance, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York partners with healthcare providers to have them “prescribe” books for children. They also connect the children with local librarians, who help the families sign up for library cards and story times. Recently, I was offered the chance to translate two children’s books from English to Bengali. Reach Out and Read of Greater NY had collaborated with Platypus Media, a Washington, D.C. publisher, to make some of their books available to children in the New York Bangladeshi community. They needed a Bengali native speaker who was familiar with the local community to assist in the translation. The translations had to be both accurate and meaningful for children. I was thrilled to take on this challenge. This was my first time translating a book from start to finish. It used my skills as a Bengali speaker and as an international language materials cataloger. I love being a librarian in the most diverse city in this country and hope that I inspire today’s youngsters, no matter what their original language, to love books and treasure their local library.

What could be better for a young child than a doctor “prescribing” reading? To increase early exposure to books, the national literacy organization Reach Out and Read (ROR) partners with healthcare providers in all 50 states to incorporate reading into pediatric care. Nationwide, Reach Out and Read has 6,100 program sites that work to promote literacy, equity, and understanding in children from birth through age five. With over 230 programs across New York City, Long Island, and the Greater Hudson Valley alone, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York (ROR GNY) works with an incredibly diverse community of children and provides books to over 250,000 families each year. Reach Out and Read's Mission As part of their core program, ROR trains pediatric care providers to deliver early literacy guidance during doctor’s appointments. Each time a child comes in for a visit, the appointment begins with a culturally and developmentally appropriate book, which is provided by ROR at no cost. In addition to fostering early literacy skills for young patients, these readings serve as an assessment tool for providers and caregivers by providing important insight into a child’s growth and development. The visits are also beneficial to parents, who learn firsthand how to stimulate their child’s literacy development. According to Kristen Rocha Aldrich, Program Director for ROR GNY, “one of the best things about this model is that it contributes to the ultimate goal of getting children to read while also working to meet parents and caregivers where they are.” “We build on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop essential early literacy skills in young children via the existing health infrastructure.” - Reach Out and Read of Greater New York Another aspect of ROR’s mission is creating literacy-rich waiting areas and exam rooms for children and their families. From intellectually stimulating books to educational posters and toys, these resources entertain and engage families throughout an entire doctor visit. ROR GNY also has an array of community programs and partnerships that provide literacy tools for children outside of their time at the doctor’s office. In collaboration with the New York Public Library System, some clinics connect patients with local librarians, who help families sign up for library cards and weekly story times. Additionally, ROR hosts virtual read alouds in English, Spanish, and other languages each week on their Facebook page. ROR GNY also posts bilingual workshops for parents and caregivers, covering diverse topics ranging from child nutrition to the acquisition of math skills through literature. Serving the Community During a Pandemic Throughout the past year, ROR has found incredible ways to continue their work for the greater New York area despite a pandemic. When the number of in-person well-child visits began to decrease in March of 2020, ROR partnered with the NYC Health+Hospitals Test & Trace Corps to reach families in need. Over 75 resource navigators from Test & Trace were trained to deliver the ROR model at testing locations, and any parent who came for a COVID-19 test received early literacy guidance and a book for their child. In six months alone, this initiative succeeded in providing 45,000 books to children in the NYC area! ROR also worked with community partners like City’s First Readers, WNET, and the Children’s Museum of the Arts to gather materials for “take care kits” during the pandemic. Complete with cleaning supplies, PPE, children’s books, activity books, and art supplies, these kits were offered to families in NYC who tested positive for COVID-19 and were quarantined at home. Tackling Tough Conversations in Native Languages In addition to providing services through a pandemic, ROR GNY is committed to “tackling some of today’s tough conversations about racial bias, equity, and inclusion” (reachoutandreadnyc.org). One place where this mission can be seen at work is in their diverse book collection. In a region where English may not be a child’s first language, Aldrich recognizes that “it is our responsibility to provide families with books in their home language. Having kids learn a home language in addition to English is setting them up for future success and to be stronger readers later in life.” Platypus Media has worked with a number of ROR programs to provide books in bilingual English/Spanish editions. Recently, we had the honor of partnering with ROR GNY to produce Bengali titles for the many Bangladeshi-American families that they serve. With the help of our translator Shahnoor Islam, a Bangladeshi-American and librarian in Queens, NY, we released two award-winning early childhood books in bilingual English/Bengali editions: Cuddled and Carried / আদরে ও আলিঙ্গনে and Atoms /পরমাণু. These books, as well as other world language and multicultural titles, are valuable additions to ROR’s collection and bring the program one step closer to what Aldrich calls “complete inclusion.” “It’s incredible to have high quality children’s books translated into Spanish and Bengali.” -Kristen Rocha Aldrich In the future, we hope to have the opportunity to produce books in Mandarin and Arabic, two languages for which ROR GNY also has significant demand. Linguistic diversity, however, is not the only factor that ROR considers when finding books for the children they serve. Aldrich and other Program Directors seek to “diversify the book collection” in as many ways as possible, including by finding titles that spark conversation about race and racism, LGBTQ rights, ableism, equity, and more. As Aldrich explains, these topics are present and influential in all aspects of life and are “not something that we can just pick up off the shelf when we feel it’s convenient … or when we feel kids are old enough to talk about it. These are things that every child should learn about and come to understand starting from the day they are born.” How to Support Reach Out and Read If you would like to contribute to Reach Out and Read’s mission of promoting literacy while fostering physical, mental, and emotional development in children across the nation, there are several ways to get involved: Visit Reach Out and Read of Greater New York’s website to make a donation. Just $21 provides a child with books for an entire year! Donate new or gently used books to your local Reach Out and Read site or to Reach Out and Read of Greater New York Volunteer for virtual or in-person read alouds. Select Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, Inc. as your Amazon Smile charity organization. Follow Reach Out and Read of Greater New York on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. To learn more about our world language titles in Bengali, Haitian Creole, Dutch, Hebrew, Korean, Washoe, and more, or to explore the possibility of creating a book in a new language, contact Caitlin@PlatypusMedia.com. If you are interested in branding books for your organization, visit our customization page.

It’s easy to think of rainbows as nothing more than a backdrop for our favorite fairy tales, but for a group of young women around the world, the rainbow is more than that - it’s a way of life. In 1922, the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls was launched as a service organization for the daughters of Masons. Open to girls from ages 11 through 20, it is now a global service group inspiring thousands of young women to pursue their passions and give back to their communities. With over 850 assemblies across the world, including in Aruba, the Philippines, and Romania, Rainbow is a wide-reaching organization that continues to foster positive growth and change daily. A Tradition of Service Rainbow Girls have numerous service projects ranging from small local projects to statewide Grand Service Projects. In the last ten years, the California Rainbow Girls have partnered with myriad organizations on Grand Service Projects, including Families Forward, A Place Called Home, and the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. This year, we are honored to be contributing to a unique project that Bailey Schmidt, a California Rainbow Girl, has created for her local assembly. Part of the Rainbow Girls’ mission is to “prepare girls for responsible and purposeful adulthood through character and leadership development.” Seventeen-year-old Bailey, a dedicated Rainbow Girl from the Santa Rosa, CA Assembly, is living proof of this mission. During her six years as a Rainbow Girl and her preparatory year as a Pledge Girl before that, Bailey has learned how to plan projects and fundraisers, how to speak in front of a crowd, how to interview for a job, and even how to apply for college. Additionally, Bailey and her Rainbow Girl sisters have participated in a multitude of service projects, including food drives, caroling for seniors, painting an elementary school, and working at a food bank. Through these experiences, Bailey and countless others have learned the true meaning of service and seen firsthand how much an act of kindness can brighten someone else’s life. “Rainbow really inspired me to keep service in my life. Once I’m out of Rainbow, I hope to have more opportunities to serve my community, wherever that may be.” —Bailey Schmidt As a Rainbow Girls leader, Bailey has had the chance to create her own service projects, and she continues to inspire those around her even despite unique challenges posed by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Bailey’s Project - Bilingual Books for Kids in Hospitals With the help of adult advisors, fellow Rainbow Girls, family, and friends, Bailey has spent the last two months improving the lives of patients at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, CA. The Shriners Hospital Book Drive, organized by the Santa Rosa Rainbow Assembly, has worked hard to collect new bilingual books from community members in order to donate them to the hospital’s on-campus library—one that Bailey remembers visiting when her older brother stayed at the hospital after surgery. Bailey says that she always found the atmosphere at Shriners Hospital to be “homey” and welcoming, so when the opportunity arose for her to plan this term’s service project, she thought, “Why not do a book drive for the library?” Because of COVID-19 guidelines, spending time outside of the hospital has been even more difficult than usual for Shriners patients. Bailey knew that in addition to being a fun and engaging activity, reading could also be a much-needed escape for Shriners patients, so she set a goal to donate at least 50 new books to the hospital library. According to 2021 demographic data, over 200,000 Sacramento County residents over the age of five, as well as 30% of all California residents over the age of five, speak Spanish at home (Sacramento County Demographics). Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that just over 20% of all U.S. residents over the age of five have grown up speaking a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau). With a mission to “provide the highest quality care to children” all across the state of California and beyond, Shriners Hospital is dedicated to welcoming patients of all linguistic backgrounds, which is why the Santa Rosa Assembly has decided to collect bilingual English/Spanish reading materials for the hospital library. The work of the Rainbow Girls does not stop there, however, as Bailey wishes to expand the project to include other hospitals and reach more children across the nation: “I would love to donate to more Shriners Hospitals across our state or even out of state. The more books we donate, the better!” Advice from the Rainbow Girls During her time with Rainbow, Bailey has learned the value not only of community service but also of determination and leadership. As a young person, it can sometimes be hard to make your voice heard and to believe that your ideas are capable of making a difference. However, as Bailey has so aptly shown us this year, making the world a better place does not have a minimum age requirement, and there is no better time to serve the community than right now. “If you think of an idea, go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you not to do it or that you’re too young to do it. You can do anything you want.” —Bailey Schmidt How You Can Help The Santa Rosa Assembly of the Rainbow Girls will be accepting financial and book donations for Shriners Children's Hospital through the first week of December, 2021. Any new Spanish, bilingual, or English books for ages 5 to 18 are welcome. Donations can be sent to Mary-Beth Dunlap at 509 San Juan Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95409. If you would like to purchase books to contribute, please click here to view English, Spanish, and bilingual titles available from Platypus Media and Science Naturally. Email Caitlin at C.Chang@ScienceNaturally.com so we can offer you the Shriners Book Drive pricing ($4.00 for books under $9.99; $5.00 for books over $10.00). We will send you a gift receipt and make sure the book gets to Bailey. Monetary donations are also being accepted and will help to fund the purchase of new books for the Shriners library. Checks should be made payable to “Santa Rosa Assembly #156.” For additional information, please contact Rosanne Gephart at Rosanne@Sonic.net or (707) 327-6911. Platypus Media is working closely with Bailey on this project. By providing discount pricing, we are working towards our goal of getting books into the hands of children who need them most. If you, or anyone you know, would like to partner with us on a fundraiser or literacy campaign, contact our other Caitlin at Caitlin@ScienceNaturally.com. We can also produce custom books for your organization. Learn more about this on our customization page.

It’s hot outside, but it’s never too hot to enjoy a good book! Summer reading is more important than ever, especially with so many students missing classroom time this year. Continuing to enjoy books during the summer break promotes reading skills, expands vocabulary, builds empathy, opens the mind to new experiences, and helps prepare kids for the next school year. If you are looking for a way to keep young kids occupied and intellectually engaged, check out our recommendations for reading resources: National Summer Learning Association is a nonprofit that offers resources, information, and summer learning programs to help close the achievement gap. Prepared Parents has information about the importance of cultivating curiosity and encouraging reading throughout the summer. Reading is Fundamental offers tons of free resources for summer reading, including reading lists, activity sheets, and advice for starting a book club. Common Lit has over 2,000 free reading passages for grades 3-12. Khan Academy has free reading and vocabulary resources organized by grade level. Reading Rockets is full of great summer reading resources for early readers. The best resource of all: your local public library. This year, the Collaborative Summer Library Program has picked a fun theme to kick off summer reading: Tails and Tales. Cheri Crow, the Youth Services Coordinator at Delaware County Libraries in Media, Pennsylvania, supports this theme, saying that animal books are an engaging way to foster compassion, stimulate emotional intelligence, and encourage social responsibility. In fact, she used a number of our books for the Delaware County libraries’ summer reading events. Check out her blog post about it! Librarians from around the country are picking high-quality books and educational resources for children of all ages to enjoy this summer, and your local library is promoting summer reading with the Tails and Tales theme, too. Dive deeper into the theme with the Delaware County Libraries Wildlife Education page. You’ll find many different activities to help kids discover more about animals. You’ll also find some of our Activity Sheets. These sheets come from our extensive Teacher’s Guides, which include hands-on activities, discussions, worksheets, and more to accommodate all types of learning styles. Some of the Activity Sheets include: Who Snuggles and Who Nuzzles? What’s at the End of Your Arm? What is a Mammal? Animal Adventure Summer is the time to jump into the deep end, grill your favorite meal, and enjoy setting aside time to read with the kids. Have fun!

Today’s holiday recognizes all the games you play on a tabletop—from chess and checkers to Pictionary and puzzles. If you haven’t had a family game night in a while, today’s the perfect excuse to clear off the table and start a fun family competition! International Tabletop Day was founded in 2013 by Boyan Radakovich, a producer of the popular YouTube Channel, Geek and Sundry, to take a break from video games, and have a reason to crack open a puzzle with friends and family. Break Out These Facts While Breaking Into a New Game Some of the most beloved tabletop games have very interesting origins. Did you know that Candy Land was invented in the polio wing of a hospital? Yes, that’s right! In the early 1940s, Eleanor Abbott, a school teacher, was diagnosed with polio. As she spent her days in the hospital, she created Candy Land as an outlet for her imagination and an escape from the polio ward. Another interesting game origin: Jenga! The very popular tabletop stacking game was created by Leslie Scott. As a child, Leslie and her family developed the game using wooden building block toys from a sawmill in Ghana. The name comes from the Swahili word “kujenga,” which means “to build.” Tabletop games are a beloved pastime, often passed down through the centuries! Take a look at some of these other board (but not boring) game facts: The longest game of Monopoly went on for 70 days. In Chess, the word “Checkmate” comes from the Persian phrase “Shah Mat,” which means “the King is dead.” There are 50 different versions of Uno. Whoever goes first in Connect Four can win 100% of the time. Monopoly’s original name was “The Landlord’s Game.” Operation started as the college project of a sophomore industrial design student. Chutes and Ladders (or Snakes and Ladders) originated in India as early as 200 BC. Scrabble is an official sport in several countries. There is an international speed-puzzling competition called the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship. Tonight, dig out some old tabletop games, gather up your family, and dazzle everyone with your newfound knowledge! Tabletop Puzzles to Get You Started To blend family competition and education, put together Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Puzzles. With anatomical reference guides included, learning anatomy has never been so much fun! Because of their scientific focus, Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzles make puzzle-building an educational activity for the whole family. Spleen, stomach, sternum, and skull. With these anatomy puzzles, no minute will ever be dull! Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzles—now available through Science Naturally.

"Science is all about wonder. Women in Physics gets us wondering how the world really works. It introduces children to the female icons of physics who opened doors for the rest of us!" — Donna Strickland, Ph.D., Recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics Women from around the world, such as Dr. Strickland, have made significant contributions to the scientific community. A professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Strickland’s research in intense laser pulses paved the way for today’s laser eye surgery and the machining of small glass parts for cell phones. While we celebrate her work, we need to keep in mind that she is one of only four women to ever receive a Nobel Prize in Physics. In fact, only 22 out of the 623 recipients of STEM-related Nobel Prizes are women—a mere 3.5%! Children’s books such as Women in Physics, with its Spanish language edition, Las mujeres en la física, help inspire young minds -- and future Nobel Prize winners -- by showing that anyone can be a scientist. In fact, inspiring children is the reason we published the entire Science Wide Open series. STEM Magazine hopes to trigger that curiosity in search of innovation. The April cover story on the Women in Physics book is a wonderful reminder of how children today can learn from the past. Click on the link below to read the story. Then try your hand at completing the activity below to see if you can match the amazing female physicist to her scientific discovery. “Women in Physics” Celebrates Female Scientists, Old and New Excerpted from STEM Magazine April 2021 Physics educators have long pondered how to get elementary school learners excited about a field of science that even adults find intimidating. How can we simplify difficult topics and tap into a child’s natural curiosity? In a simple, easy-to-understand format, Women in Physics, and the Spanish edition, Las mujeres en la física, use quirky illustrations and relatable role models to explore fundamental concepts such as gravity, atoms, and energy. The third book in the award-winning Science Wide Open series, this title helps children feel more comfortable with the daunting field of physics and gets them excited about it, too. Most kids know who Albert Einstein is, but how many female scientists can they name? Female role models in STEM education are important because they can leave an impact on children, and especially girls, for years to come. They can inspire a budding scientist to pursue her dreams to cure disease, discover a new element, or prove her own hypothesis. Representation in STEM is also vital, especially for young girls, because it assures them that they, too, can make a difference in the world. Designed for readers ages 7–10, Women in Physics and Las mujeres en la física are the perfect pathway to help young scientists understand the power of curiosity and resilience. The book introduces readers to the wonders of physics through a conversation between a spunky young protagonist, who asks questions about the world around her, and a scientifically astute narrator, whose answers are crafted to be understandable to young minds. A variety of countries, eras, and languages are represented through the compelling female scientists profiled in this book. Readers learn about groundbreaking scientific discoveries and the trailblazing women who made them possible. Continue reading the full article here! Match the physicist to her incredible scientific contribution! You can read STEM Magazine's full April issue here, and be sure to visit STEMmagazine.com to learn more about the magazine! Answers: Émilie du Châtelet - Translated Isaac Newton’s book, the Principia, from Latin to French so she could read it in her own language. Laura Bassi - The first female professor of physics. Marie Curie - The first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics. Irene Joliot-Curie - Synthesized new radioactive elements. Chien-Shiung Wu - Conducted research and experiments that changed the way people look at physics.

April 30th is nationally recognized as El día de los niños / El día de los libros (Children's Day / Book Day) or simply called, Día Day. Día is a year-long celebration of children and reading, with a goal of promoting the importance of children’s literacy for all, regardless of background. April 30th, 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Día, spearheaded by poet Pat Mora after realizing that the United States did not have any holiday to celebrate literacy and bilingualism. The goals of Día programming are to: Celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories and libraries. Nurture cognitive and literacy development in ways that honor and embrace a child’s home language and culture. Introduce families to community resources that provide opportunities for learning through multiple literacies. Recognize and respect culture, heritage and language as powerful tools for strengthening families and communities. How to Celebrate In libraries all over the country, librarians, children, and parents celebrate Día year-round with book clubs, bilingual storytimes, guest appearances by children’s authors, crafts, music, and more. On the official Día website, librarians and parents have access to book suggestions, tool kits, a resource guide, worksheets, and more great resources to help their Día celebration. Every year more and more libraries celebrate Día; visit your local library to find out about their celebration! Here at Science Naturally, we are committed to the continued pursuit of children’s literacy in all languages. We have a wide range of international language translations of our award-winning books, as well as our bilingual titles in editions. This Día Day, celebrate with us and order your world language books today! Use the discount code DIADAY at checkout to receive 20% off any of our bilingual or world language titles! Free shipping included! Offer expires May 6. Use this coupon to explore our extensive collection of Spanish and bilingual English/Spanish titles! Looking for books in other languages? Check out our full collection (including Korean, Hebrew... and more)! Schools, libraries, government, and nonprofit organizations can receive a bulk discount for quantity orders. Contact us at Info@ScienceNaturally.com to learn more.

Whether it’s by building lego sets with friends, digging in the dirt outside with the neighborhood kids, or by testing out hypotheses with family members—STEM education starts early. And when you combine science and literacy, the potential for education is endless. Science starts with curiosity, asking questions, answering them, and most importantly, discussing them. Many successful scientists worked in teams, consulting their lab groups and fellow researchers as the work progressed. When we think about some of the greatest achievements in the last century, they were often the outcome of collaboration. Undertakings such as the International Space Station, the Human Genome Project, and the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership are all the result of bringing people together from diverse backgrounds, often across borders, to promote fresh ideas and new perspectives. Journey into your high school science classroom, throw on some lab goggles, find a beaker, and take our quiz to find out for yourself which famous woman in physics would be your lab partner! Learn more about the contributions of women in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics with our Women in Science and Las mujeres en la cienca book sets! Or grab the Read and Build Bundle for hands-on learning! Use code WomensHistory to get $10 off and get free shipping! Order your book set today for just $29.95 (retail $39.95), or buy the Read and Build Bundle for just $34.95 (retail $44.95)! Offer ends March 31. Are you an educator? We have wonderful Teacher's Guides to expand and extend the content in our books. Find all our Guides here and be sure to check back often, we release new ones regularly!

Large and small, all scientific discoveries help us build a better understanding of our world. From some of the early scientists who thought they could turn ordinary metals into gold to the far out astrophysicists who make space travel possible—these discoveries build on each other and grow from just a tiny seed to a towering tree. Just last year, the first vaccines based on mRNA technology were developed and approved, a journey that wouldn’t have been possible without Ada Yonath’s Nobel Prize-winning work mapping out the structure of ribosomes. Every new discovery leads to new hypotheses, new experiments, and new breakthroughs. Thanks to the hard work of female scientists, we know more than ever about the incredible things on earth... and above it... and below it! Take our latest quiz—you'll dive into some important scientific breakthroughs of the past while you uncover which discovery fits your personality! Learn more about the contributions of women in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics with our Women in Science and Las mujeres en la cienca book sets! Or grab the Read and Build Bundle for hands-on learning! Use code WomensHistory to get $10 off and get free shipping! Order your book set today for just $29.95 (retail $39.95), or buy the Read and Build Bundle for just $34.95 (retail $44.95)! Offer ends March 31. Are you an educator? We have wonderful Teacher's Guides to expand and extend the content in our books. Find all our Guides here and be sure to check back often, we release new ones regularly!

March is here. It’s time to celebrate Women’s History Month! This is our chance to honor the women who haven't always been recognized for their accomplishments—especially within the STEM fields. For years, decades… even centuries, too many women in science have received no recognition or have had their contributions marginalized. One such woman was Barbara McClintock who conducted pioneering work with transposons or “jumping genes.” Initially she was ridiculed for her work. Thirty years after these genes had become commonly accepted, decades after her breakout work, she finally received a Nobel Prize—and she was the first woman to receive an unshared Nobel. Help us celebrate Women’s History Month by learning about Dr. McClintock and some of the other amazing women who have made science what it is today. There are so many ways to work in a STEM field, with a specialization for almost everyone. The possibilities for inclusion and specific niche interests are endless! Put yourself to the test—take our Women’s History Month STEM quiz. Learn more about the contributions of women in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics with our Women in Science and Las mujeres en la cienca book sets! Or grab the Read and Build Bundle for hands-on learning! Use code WomensHistory to get $10 off and get free shipping! Order your book set today for just $29.95 (retail $39.95), or buy the Read and Build Bundle for just $34.95 (retail $44.95)! Offer ends March 31. Are you an educator? We have wonderful Teacher's Guides to expand and extend the content in our books. Find all our Guides here and be sure to check back often, we release new ones regularly!

21121 is a prime number, and it is today’s date, but it is more than that... it is International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Just six years ago, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized February 11 as the day women and men, scientists and nonscientists from all over the world, come together to honor the dedication, hard work, and breakthroughs of women in STEM fields. If you have never before celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, today is a great time to start. We are increasingly coming to recognize the many achievements, big and small, of women in science. You may have heard about the pioneering Blackwell sisters. Elizabeth, who in 1849, became the first woman in the U.S. to graduate from medical school, and her sister, Emily, who also became a doctor, opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, the first hospital staffed by women. Learning how much women have contributed to science, math, technology, engineering, and other fields not only helps us appreciate the doors they have opened, but also encourages children, and especially, girls, to pursue STEM education. Even today, only about 30 percent of scientific researchers are women, and women of color are the least represented in STEM careers. Despite this disheartening data, women have been pioneers in their fields, leading life-changing achievements and creating new research methods and innovations throughout history. To help kick off this wonderful day, here’s some information on just a few of the amazing, ground-breaking women in science! Alice Ball (1892-1916) Alice Ball was an African American chemist and the first woman to earn a master’s degree from the University of Hawaii. At 23, she developed a revolutionary treatment for leprosy, which became the established practice for decades. Her research directly impacted people living with leprosy in the 1900s and allowed them to be treated with dignity in their own homes, without being forced into exile. In Hawaii, February 29th is Alice Ball Day. Tu Youyou (1930-) Tu Youyou is a pharmaceutical chemist, who, in the 1970s, developed a malaria treatment using traditional Chinese herbal medicines. She worked relentlessly to find a cure to combat the disease. Many lives have been saved from tropical diseases with artemisinin, a drug she developed from extracts of the sweet wormwood plant. She received a Nobel Prize in 2015 for her work. Uma Chowdhry (1947-) Uma Chowdhry is an Indian American chemist who is credited with making breakthroughs both in scientific research and in management. She used her background in chemistry to discover ways to make ceramics conduct electricity much as metals do. She then went on to become the Chief Science and Technology Officer of DuPont, the world’s largest producer of chemicals and science-based products. In 1996, she was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and seven years later, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Compared to many other leading and steadily emerging countries, the U.S. lacks a strong focus on educating scientists and engineers. American women make up half the national workforce, earn more college and graduate degrees than men, and by some estimates represent the largest single economic force in the world. Yet the gender gap in science persists. And numerous studies have found that women in STEM fields publish less, are paid less for their research and do not progress as far as men in their careers. How does this change? As Sian Beilock, a cognitive scientist and president of Barnard College, says, “It’s important for young girls to view examples of women scientists. But instead of framing these careers as something they can be, let’s show them science as something they can do.” * * * Looking for great books to inspire elementary school children about women in science? NEW!!! Women in Chemistry Hot off the press in paperback in both English and Spanish. Introduce children to the basic concepts of chemistry through the contributions of influential women in the field. Read it… you’re sure to get a reaction! Save $3 on the English or Spanish paperback book with our pre-release special! Just $9.95 with free shipping! Expires 2/28/21. Check out all three titles in the “Women in Science” book set: Women in Biology Women in Chemistry Women in Physics Available now in English in hardcover and ebooks. Coming soon in English and Spanish in paperback!