Are you looking for exciting STEM books for primary schools that can encourage children to read, investigate, invent and solve problems?
Science, technology, engineering and maths do not need to be taught separately from literacy. Stories can give children a reason to become curious about scientific ideas, imagine future technologies and ask questions about how the world works.
A book involving dinosaurs, robots, space travel or inventions can become the starting point for scientific enquiry, design challenges, mathematical thinking, creative writing and meaningful classroom discussion.
In this episode of The Muddy Puddle Teacher® Podcast, Sarah speaks with children’s author Pooja Puri about bringing STEM and literature together.
Pooja is the author of the popular middle-grade adventures A Dinosaur Ate My Sister, A Robot Squashed My Teacher and An Alien Stole My Planet. Her books combine humour, imagination and fast-paced storytelling with themes including invention, technology, time travel, robots, dinosaurs and space. Explore more about Pooja.
This conversation is especially useful for KS2 teachers, English leads, science and STEM leaders, librarians, teaching assistants and anyone looking for creative ways to connect books with practical curriculum learning.
“Let’s Talk About STEM and Literature with Pooja”
Get to Know the Guest
Who Is Pooja Puri?
Pooja Puri is a children’s and young-adult author with a background in English language, literature, publishing and education.
She graduated from King’s College London with a first-class degree in English Language and Literature. While studying, she read manuscripts for a publishing house and later worked within the education sector.
Pooja won the Ideas Tap Inspires competition run by the National Centre for Writing and completed an MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University.
Her debut novel, The Jungle, explores the experiences of teenage refugees living in the Calais Jungle. It was published in 2017 and was later nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal.
Pooja later moved into humorous middle-grade fiction with A Dinosaur Ate My Sister. The story introduces Esha Verma, a young inventor whose time-travelling adventure involves dinosaurs, science, friendship and plenty of chaos. It became the first book chosen for the Marcus Rashford Book Club.
The series continues with A Robot Squashed My Teacher, in which Esha’s inventions lead to robots, killer plants and an unfortunate transformation involving her teacher. The third adventure, An Alien Stole My Planet, moves the action into space.
Pooja’s stories are valuable for schools because they place a bright, imaginative girl at the centre of scientific adventures. BookTrust includes A Dinosaur Ate My Sister within its recommendations about girls and women in STEM. Explore more about Pooja with the BookTrust.
Find Out More About Pooja Puri
Pooja Puri’s official Pan Macmillan bio.
Links to Pooja’s books:
Listen to Pooja on the Podcast
The episode, “Let’s Talk About STEM and Literature with Pooja,” was released on 14 April 2022 and runs for approximately 14 minutes. The original show notes introduce Pooja’s background in literature, publishing, education and writing for young people. (IMDb)
What Are STEM Books for Children?
STEM books introduce or explore ideas linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Some are factual books explaining topics such as space, animals, machines, electricity or the human body.
Others are fictional stories in which characters invent, investigate, experiment, travel through time, build machines or solve scientific problems.
Both forms can be useful.
A factual text may help children build knowledge and vocabulary. A fictional story can give that knowledge an imaginative context.
When children become interested in a character’s invention or scientific problem, they may be more motivated to ask questions and investigate the ideas behind it.
Pooja’s stories sit within this imaginative STEM tradition.
Esha is not simply learning scientific facts. She is using ideas, building inventions, making mistakes and trying to solve problems.
This shows children that STEM involves curiosity, creativity, persistence and experimentation rather than always finding the correct answer immediately.
Explore our 50 STEM Ideas for KS2 and STEM Ideas for Toddler resources for further curriculum support.
We have another great guest on the podcast who talks all about STEM ideas for Toddlers. Listen in to Sandra Biele: STEM With Toddlers.
Why Combine STEM and Literature?
STEM and literacy are sometimes treated as separate areas of learning.
In reality, scientists, engineers and inventors need to read, explain, question, record, persuade and communicate.
A science-fiction or STEM-themed story can develop reading while also creating opportunities for practical investigation.
Children might discuss whether an invention could work, identify the scientific ideas within a scene or design an alternative solution to the character’s problem.
They may write instructions, produce diagrams, explain a process, present research or debate the possible consequences of a new technology.
This does not mean that every book needs to become an extended cross-curricular project.
The story should still be enjoyed as a story.
However, when a genuine scientific question emerges from the text, teachers can use that curiosity to deepen learning.
A time-travel adventure might lead to questions about fossils and prehistoric life.
A robot story could introduce programming, mechanisms, artificial intelligence or the ethics of technology.
A space adventure might support learning about planets, forces and the conditions needed for life.
Visit our Teaching English Outdoors Guide and STEM EAster Egg Ideas for connected ideas.
Why Representation in STEM Stories Matters
Children form ideas about who belongs in science and engineering from the messages they encounter.
When inventors and scientists are repeatedly represented in the same way, some children may struggle to imagine themselves in those roles.
Esha Verma is a girl of South Asian heritage who identifies herself as a highly capable inventor. Her scientific ability drives the action rather than appearing as a minor detail.
This helps broaden the picture of what an inventor can look like.
Representation should not be limited to a single themed lesson about famous scientists.
Children need diverse scientists, engineers, problem-solvers and inventors to appear naturally throughout the books and resources they encounter.
Pooja’s stories also show that a character can be interested in science while being funny, adventurous, imperfect and socially connected.
STEM identity does not need to replace the rest of a child’s personality.
Books can help children understand that creativity and scientific thinking belong together.
How Does Fiction Develop Scientific Curiosity?
A story does not need to teach a full scientific concept in order to be educationally valuable.
Sometimes its most important contribution is the question it creates.
Children might ask whether time travel is possible, how robots make decisions, why dinosaurs became extinct or whether life could exist on another planet.
These questions create an opportunity for investigation.
Teachers can help children separate what is scientifically possible, theoretically possible and purely fictional.
This develops critical thinking without removing the pleasure of the story.
You might ask:
Which part of this invention could already exist?
What scientific knowledge would Esha need?
Which part belongs entirely to fiction?
What problem was the invention designed to solve?
What new problems did it create?
These questions help children understand that scientific developments often involve choices, limitations and consequences.
STEM Books Can Support Reluctant Readers
Some children who are reluctant to choose traditional fiction may become interested in books involving inventions, robots, dinosaurs, space or practical problems.
A fast-paced STEM adventure can offer the excitement of science fiction while still developing vocabulary, comprehension, inference and reading stamina.
Pooja’s middle-grade books combine humour, illustrations and adventure, making them accessible entry points for many KS2 readers.
A Dinosaur Ate My Sister has been described by its publisher as a humorous time-travel adventure and was selected for a book club created to encourage children to experience the enjoyment and escapism of reading. (Pan Macmillan)
Teachers can build on that engagement without turning every chapter into a worksheet.
Allow children to enjoy the story, laugh and speculate.
The STEM learning can grow from the questions children genuinely want to investigate.
Two STEM Activities Inspired by Literature
Design an Invention for a Story Character
Choose a problem faced by a character in the book.
Ask children to design an invention that could help.
They should identify the problem, explain who the invention is for, draw and label the design and consider the materials or mechanisms it might require.
Children could create a small prototype using cardboard, reclaimed materials, tape, string and simple loose parts.
The important part is not whether the model works perfectly.
Children should be able to explain their decisions, identify possible problems and suggest improvements.
This can support design and technology, science, English, speaking and listening.
It can also take place outdoors, where children have more room to build, test and revise their designs.
Create a Dinosaur Survival Investigation
After reading a dinosaur or time-travel scene, ask children to consider what a human would need to survive safely in a prehistoric environment.
Children might investigate shelter, water, food, temperature, protection and communication.
They can create a survival plan, design a shelter or map a safe route through the school grounds as though it were a prehistoric landscape.
The activity encourages children to apply scientific knowledge within an imaginative context.
Keep the focus on reasoning rather than producing an elaborate finished model.
New to our approach for outdoor learning? Learn more ideas in our Beginners Guide to Outdoor Learning.
Taking STEM Literature Outdoors
Outdoor learning can extend the scale and physicality of a STEM story.
Children can test vehicles over different surfaces, build structures, measure distances, create large diagrams or model planetary movement.
They can use playground chalk to draw an invention at full scale or use hoops and rope to represent systems and processes.
The outdoors also provides real environmental problems to investigate.
Children might design a device for collecting rainwater, create a shelter for wildlife or develop a system for moving resources without carrying them by hand.
These challenges connect imagination with practical reasoning.
The outdoor task should always have a clear learning purpose.
It is not enough to move a book activity outside. The environment should provide space, materials, movement or a real context that improves the learning.
Using A Dinosaur Ate My Sister in KS2
A Dinosaur Ate My Sister can provide a starting point for learning across English, science, design and technology, history and maths.
In English, pupils can explore character, humour, pace, instructions, explanation texts and adventure writing.
In science, they can investigate dinosaurs, fossils, evolution, materials, forces or space and time as scientific concepts.
In design and technology, they can develop inventions, prototypes and evaluations.
Maths might emerge through timelines, measurement, scale, coordinates or calculations linked to a fictional journey.
Teachers should choose links that genuinely serve the curriculum rather than attempting to connect every subject at once.
One thoughtful investigation is likely to be more valuable than a large collection of loosely related worksheets.
Using Robot Stories in Primary Schools
Robot stories allow children to explore both technical and ethical questions.
They might investigate how sensors collect information, how instructions control machines or why a robot needs carefully written commands.
Children can consider what happens when technology behaves unexpectedly.
They might discuss whether robots should make decisions for people, which tasks machines are useful for and which responsibilities should remain with humans.
A Robot Squashed My Teacher continues Esha’s story through giant robots, unusual inventions and scientific mishaps. (Pan Macmillan)
The humour makes the subject approachable, while the underlying ideas can lead to meaningful STEM discussion.
Using Space Stories to Inspire Learning
Space continues to be one of the most engaging STEM themes for many primary pupils.
Stories can help children imagine the scale, danger and possibility of space exploration before moving into factual learning.
Pooja’s An Alien Stole My Planet places Esha within an intergalactic adventure involving space travel and another invention that does not go entirely according to plan. (Pan Macmillan)
Teachers might use the story to explore planetary conditions, gravity, communication, spacecraft design or the question of whether life could exist elsewhere.
Children can compare the fictional science in the story with current scientific knowledge.
This helps them enjoy imagination while learning to evaluate information critically.
What Can Teachers Learn from Pooja Puri?
Pooja’s work shows that STEM stories do not need to read like textbooks.
Science can appear within funny, chaotic and emotionally engaging adventures.
Her books also demonstrate that young inventors can be diverse, imaginative and imperfect.
Esha makes mistakes. Her inventions create unexpected consequences. She must respond, adapt and continue solving problems.
This reflects an important STEM message.
Failure is not evidence that a child does not belong in science.
Testing, reviewing and improving are central parts of invention and engineering.
Pooja’s own career also crosses traditional subject boundaries. Her background is in English and literature, but her middle-grade fiction draws heavily on scientific and technological ideas.
This reinforces the central theme of the podcast: children should not have to choose between being interested in stories and being interested in science.
Build a STEM Book Collection
A strong school STEM collection should include fiction, narrative non-fiction, biographies, information books, poetry, comics and illustrated texts.
Include books showing diverse scientists, engineers and inventors.
Choose stories connected to different areas of STEM, including nature, medicine, space, technology, climate, mathematics, construction and everyday problem-solving.
BookTrust maintains recommendations featuring girls and women in STEM and includes Pooja Puri’s A Dinosaur Ate My Sister. (BookTrust)
Place STEM books in the main reading area as well as the science or topic section.
This helps communicate that scientific stories are part of reading for pleasure, not merely reference material used during lessons.
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STEM Books for Primary Schools FAQs
What are the best STEM books for primary children?
The best STEM books are engaging, age-appropriate and capable of prompting curiosity. They may include fiction about inventors and scientific adventures, biographies of scientists or factual books about technology, engineering, maths and the natural world.
How can teachers link STEM books to the curriculum?
Teachers can use questions and problems from a story to introduce scientific investigations, design challenges, mathematical reasoning, explanation writing, debate and research. The curriculum link should arise naturally from the text.
Is A Dinosaur Ate My Sister suitable for KS2?
The publisher presents it as a middle-grade adventure involving time travel, dinosaurs and a young inventor. It was also chosen as the first Marcus Rashford Book Club title. Teachers should consider the reading needs and interests of their particular class. (Pan Macmillan)
Can fiction teach children about science?
Fiction can introduce scientific ideas, vocabulary and questions, but teachers should help children distinguish between factual science, theoretical possibilities and imaginative invention.
How can STEM books support girls in science?
Books featuring girls as capable scientists, engineers and inventors can help challenge narrow stereotypes about who belongs in STEM. Representation should be included regularly rather than limited to a single themed event.
Can STEM stories be used for outdoor learning?
Yes. Stories can inspire outdoor building, testing, measuring, mapping, investigation and problem-solving. The outdoor environment should contribute something meaningful, such as more space, real materials or a practical context.
Author
Written by Sarah Seaman BSc, PGCE, MA
Founder of The Muddy Puddle Teacher®, experienced teacher, Bloomsbury author, educational consultant and trainer supporting educators to develop practical, inclusive and sustainable outdoor learning.
