Science in the kitchen? Heat, liquids, and solids are all part of chemistry! Baking, especially making bread can be a great way to explore STEM, math, and family traditions.
Last year, I started illustrating a picture book about chemistry! That Baking Smell, by Shannon Bliss, was published this summer. This book use granola as a way to show the changes in liquids and solids during baking.
While working on that book, I started seeing the STEM concepts in other books. It’s amazing just how much there is to learn from these stories!
Now, I want to share some of those stories with you. Last week, I shared stories of families and friends cooking together around the world.
This week’s theme is baking with STEM…
That includes both granola and bread, as well as a couple of other fun foods. Here are six picture books (and a graphic novel) to get you started!
(Note: this post includes affiliate links to Amazon. There is no extra cost to use these links. If you prefer to use Bookshop, you can find many of these books on a list here.
That Baking Smell, by Shannon Bliss, illustrated by Audrey Sauble (me!).
Making granola can be tricky. If it doesn’t bake long enough, it will be bland and soggy. If it bakes too long, it’ll be burned. And what happens when you mix solids and liquids?
The Bread Pet: A Sourdough Story, by Kate DePalma, illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff.
Food that’s alive and growing? It sounds scary, but it poses a fun challenge for Cora—can she keep Uncle JB’s sourdough starter alive? And what’s she supposed to do when it grows out of control?
Bread Lab!, by Kim Binczewski and Bethany Econopouly, illustrated by Hayelin Choi.
What does bread need? It doesn’t have to be complicated…just a dash of flour, water, salt, and sourdough starter.
Challah Day, by Charlotte Offsay, illustrated by Jason Kirschner.
How can bread tie into family traditions? This lyrical story dances through the kitchen, from mixing to kneading to waiting and watching. (For a quick bread variation—this author & illustrator duo have a second book coming soon. Matzah Day will be published in February, 2025.)
Pizza Day: A Picture Book, by Melissa Iwai.
What’s better than a loaf of fresh bread? Fancy flat bread, dressed up with tomatoes, cheese, and delicious spices (also known as pizza!). This one is really short and simple, an adventure that travels from the garden to the kitchen.
My Perfect Cupcake: A Recipe for Thriving with Food Allergies, by Rebecca Greene, illustrated by Rebecca Sinclair.
What can Dylan do when he develops a food allergy? This is a story of persistence and ingenuity! Dylan has to face his new challenges and find a recipe for cupcakes that he can eat.
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Looking for a recipe book that turns kitchen prep into science? The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs, from America’s Test Kitchen, serves up simple recipes for kids, while mixing in bite size explanations for ways that kids can add their own twist to a recipe.
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And finally, if you have slightly older kids, I also recommend the graphic novel Bake like a Pro (Maker Comics) by Falynn Koch.
The picture books above introduce younger kids to a variety of basic baking concepts. This graphic novel explores the science in more detail.
Ever wonder why some bread uses yeast, while other bread uses baking powder? Need to decide whether to use oil, butter, or shortening? What’s the best way to make a cake? This book has all that info and more!
Incidentally . . . if you haven’t run across them before, I recommend both the Maker Comics and the Science Comics series. (You can find other book recommendations for your older readers in this blog post.)
And now—it’s time to head to the kitchen for a science lesson!
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