CurriConnects Book List - In Motion
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In Motion
Scientists, inventors, race car drivers, and athletes all apply the laws of motion to move quickly, defy gravity, or streamline their movements. Find books, both fiction and nonfiction, featuring real world applications of Newton’s Laws. You won’t have to force students to read when there are so many choices! Incorporate these books during units on forces, motions, gravity, physical movement (P.E. or dance), and more. Most of the books are at elementary and middle school interest levels, but some selections for more able readers are included. Be sure to check ESL and Lexile levels.
Preschool and Picture Books
Animachines - Debora Pearson, (978-1550377965), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
The pages of this non-fiction book compare the movements of animals to those of a wide variety of machines.
Fast and Slow - Britta Teckentrup, (978-1846869525), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-1
Different types of vehicles contrast speed and slowness.
Gallop! - Rufus Butler Seder, (978-0761147633), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
This scanimation picture book demonstrates illusory movement as young readers flip through pages asking if they can move their bodies like the athletes seen inside.
Hop, Skip, and Jump, Maisy - Lucy Cousins, (978-0763658137), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
Maisy models her movements on what she sees animals doing in the park.
Mechanical Harry - Bob Kerr, (978-0836822489), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
Harry builds a machine (based on his ancestor Isaac Newton's theories) that delivers his breakfast and even adds milk to his cereal!
Off We Go! - Beverley Abramson, (978-0887769948), Fiction
Interest level: K-1
Very young children learn how to move their bodies by looking at the pages of this book.
On the Go - Leslie Jonath, (978-0740798009), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
View anything that moves or travels with a new visual technology that makes the "vehicle"" appear to move!"
Ready, Set, Go - Accord, (978-1449408336), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
See all sorts of vehicles as they speed toward their destination; with apparent animation!
Swing! - Rufus Butler Seder, (978-0761151272), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
This scanimation picture book demonstrates illusory movement as young readers flip through pages asking if they can move their bodies like the athletes seen inside.
Ten on the Sled - Kim Norman, (978-1402770760), Fiction
Interest level: K-1, Lexile: 380
A sled full of animals picks up speed as the animals are thrown off, one by one; meanwhile a giant snowball grows as it picks up the falling creatures in its hurtle toward the bottom of the hill.
Thomas and the Jet Engine - R. Schuyler Hooke, (978-0375956263), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
Thomas the Tank is carrying a jet engine on its back, but when the engine fires up, the engine is propelling Thomas to the greatest speeds ever.
Trucks - Paula Hannigan, (978-0740792007), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
Young readers see trucks in all their manifestations, and some pages even appear to be animated!
Waddle! - Rufus Butler Seder, (761-151125), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
This scanimation picture book demonstrates illusory movement as young readers flip through pages asking if they can move their bodies like the athletes seen inside.
Wiggle Your Toes - Karen Katz, (978-1416903659), Fiction
Interest level: K-1, Lexile: 350
Moveable parts in this picture book demonstrate the techniques of different kinds of movement.
Early Elementary Books
A Running Back Can't Always Rush - Nate LeBoutillier, (978-1434220554), Fiction
Interest level: 2-3, Lexile: 470
Danny finds that speed on the football field has its advantages and also surprising problems.
Buzz Beaker and the Speed Secret - Carl Meister, (978-1434227980), Fiction
Interest level: K-1, Lexile: 260
Buzz Beaker uses his latest idea to increase the speed of his downhill skiing.
Forces and Motion - Catherine A. Welch, (978-1429602235), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
Learn more about the relationship between force and motion.
Forces and Motion - Clint Twist, (978-1846960895), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
Get a basic understanding of the connection between force and motion on the fun pages of this book.
Forces Make Things Move - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, (978-0064452144), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-4
Readers of this book will learn about how force affects your everyday life, your play, and your interactions with the world.
Give It a Push! Give It a Pull! - Jennifer Boothroyd, (978-0761360568), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
Understand the relationship between various forces and movements in this book.
Motion: Push and Pull, Fast and Slow - Darlene Stille, (978-1404803480), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
Readers explore the ideas of movement, inertia, speed, and force.
Move It!: Motion, Forces and You - Adrienne Mason, (978-1553377597), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
Read this book to understand more about how things move and why they sometimes move and sometimes stay still.
Newton and Me - Lynn Mayer, (978-1607188667), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 600
A boy playing with his dog Newton learns about physics' laws of force and motion while he goes through his various activities.
Push and Pull - Patricia J. Murphy, (978-0516268644), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
See and try various movements as you go through the pages of this book.
Safari - Dan Kainen, (978-0761163800), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4
Using a new technology, this book's photographers make the animals appear to move and jump from the pages.
Sir Isaac Newton - Anne Marie Sullivan, (978-1422228562), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
This simple biography introduces readers to Isaac Newton and his discoveries.
Slow Down, Sara! - Laura Driscoll, (978-1575651255), Fiction
Interest level: K-3
Sara's pre-race slow down worries her friend Ben, but she has a carefully thought-out scientific reason for believing it will help her race chances.
Speed - Nathan Clement, (978-1590789377), Fiction
Interest level: K-3
This bird's eye view of a car race creates excitement; all the automotive parts add to the speed of the colorful cars.
The Magic School Bus Plays Ball: A Book about Forces - Joanna Cole, (978-0590922401), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-2, Lexile: 490
Mrs. Frizzle's class learns how impossible it is to play games without friction.
Upper Elementary to Middle School Books
A Crash Course in Forces and Motion with Max Axiom, Super Scientist - National Geographic Learning, (978-0736878906), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7
A science teacher explains force and motion in this graphic novel.
Awesome Experiments in Force and Motion - Michael DiSpezio, (978-1402723711), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-6
Readers learn how to try simple experiments that teach about force and motion.
Experiments with Motion - Salvatore Tocci, (978-0516274676), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-5
Readers learn how to try simple experiments that teach about force and motion.
Forces and Motion - John Graham, (978-0753453483), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-5
Readers learn about simple machines and experiments that teach about force and motion.
Isaac Newton - Kathleen Krull, (978-0142408209), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-7, Lexile: 1000
This tantalizing biography paints a picture of the fascinating but puzzling personality of one of the greatest scientists in the world as he lived in the age of the plague, the great London fire, and world revolutions.
Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids - Kerrie Logan Hollihan, (978-1556527784), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-7
This book explores the impact of Isaac Newton and his multi-disciplinary discoveries in physics.
Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion - Andrea Gianopoulos, (978-0736878999), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7
Max Axiom explains motion and force as he plunges through many adventures in this graphic novel.
Isaac Newton, Inventor, Scientist, and Teacher - John Hudson Tiner, (978-0915134953), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8
This biography contrasts Newton's great faith with his amazing inventions and discoveries.
La bœsqueda de la velocidad: Los veh’culos (The Quest for Speed: Vehicles) - Lisa Greathouse, (978-1433321504), Non-fiction
Interest level: 6-10
This Spanish-language book explores the development in speed in moving vehicles of all types.
Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper - Michael Reisman, (978-0142413685), Fiction
Interest level: 3-12, Lexile: 690
Simon uses scientific principles and formulas to protect himself against bullies.
Sir Isaac Newton: Using the Laws of Motion to Solve Problems - Kerri O'Donnell, (978-1404260795), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-9
This book describes favorable ways to use Newton's laws of motions applied to math and other problems.
The Ocean of Truth: The Story of Sir Isaac Newton - Joyce McPherson, (978-1882514502), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-10
This biography details Isaac Newton's many contributions to the field of science including his invention of Calculus.
Trickster's Bubble Trouble - Michael Dahl, (978-1434226273), Fiction
Interest level: 3-5, Lexile: 570
Superhero Barry Allen, known as the Flash, must find his way out of a friction-free bubble in order to save the city from his nemesis' exploding bubbles.
Uh-oh Max - Jon Scieszka, (978-01416941521), Fiction
Interest level: 4-6
Max the truck's speeding leads to trouble for him, but his friends come to his rescue.
Middle School to Young Adult Books
507 Mechanical Movements - Henry Brown, (978-0486443607), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This book details an array of different types of movements resulting from both simple and complex mechanical inventions.
Animals in Motion - Eadweard Muybridge, (978-0486202037), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Almost 4000 photographs show a variety of animals in their characteristic movements.
Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement - David A. Winter, (978-0470398180), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This book explains techniques for measuring and analyzing human movement.
Checkered Flag Cheater - Will Weaver, (978-0374350628), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12
Trace's winning at the car track may be due to his speed and adept driving, but is another factor pushing him toward the finish line?
Contraptions - Heath Robinson, (978-1585679805), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12
This book is a collection of drawings from a celebrated English cartoonist that feature machines that display motion in a series of movements, similar to Rube Goldberg machines.
Horses and Other Animals in Motion - Eadweard Muybridge, (978-0486249117), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Forty-five photographic sequences capture the stages of movement in animals.
Isaac Newton: And the Scientific Revolution - Gale Christianson, (978-0195092240), Non-fiction
Interest level: 8-12
This biography of Isaac Newton paints a fascinating portrait of his work and the world he lived in.
Isaac Newton: El cientifico que revoluciono al mundo (Isaac Newton: The Scientist Who Changed Everything) - Philip Steele, (978-9705802225), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
This bi-lingual biography traces Newton's inventiveness to his childhood curiosity.
Newton and Gravity - Paul Strathern, (978-0385492416), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12
Read this book to find out about the far-reaching discoveries Isaac Newton made, from gravity to calculus, and learn about their effects on modern physics.
Perpetual Motion Machine - Paul Scheerbart, (978-0984115549), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This diary documents the attempts of a German scientist to invent a perpetual motion machine.
Perpetual Motion: An Ancient Mystery Solved - John Collins, (978-1411676367), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Johann Bessler claimed to have invented a perpetual motion machine as early as 1712, but his claims have been carefully examined in this book.
Perpetual Motion: The History of an Obsession - Arthur Ord-Hume, (978-1931882514), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This history of inventors' attempts at making perpetual motion machines reveals the existence of some good tries and many failures.
Students' Quest Guide: Newton at the Center - Johns Hopkins University, (978-1588342553), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
This book covers the history of science from Copernicus to Newton's discoveries.
The Human Figure in Motion - Eadweard Muybridge, (978-0486202044), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Almost 5000 photographs show a variety of people in active movements.
The Story of Science: Newton at the Center - Joy Hakim, (978-1588341617), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
The development of historical thinking that led to Isaac Newton's discovery of the laws of motion highlights this great book.