Illustrated by Teresa Martinez / Published by 
Awards & Lists for the How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up Series
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up, How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year – Best Nonfiction Elementary (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)
Best STEM Book 2025 – National Science Teaching Association & Children’s Book Council (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)
Mathical Book Prize – Honor Book (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Maryland Library Association Blue Crab Young Readers Award (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)
Society of Midland Authors Children’s Reading Roundtable Award for Children’s Nonfiction – Honor Book (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)
Science Friday (NPR) “2023’s Best Science Books for Kids” (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Illinois Reads Selection for Grades K-2 (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Purdue Inspire Engineering “Top 5” Gift (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Smithsonian Magazine “Ten Engineer-Selected STEM Toys to Give as Gifts” (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Forbes The Ultimate Holiday STEM Gift Guide (aka What Engineers Are Buying Their Kids) (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Brightly “Terrific Books That Introduce Programming to Children” (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
LiveScience – 33 Best Science Books for Kids and Young Adults (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
Reviews for the How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up series
★ “…engaging narrative and vibrant illustrations make it an excellent choice for young learners eager to explore STEM. “ — School Library Journal, starred review (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)
“This is a wonderful STEM book to add to any collection; the witty, lighthearted format will engage readers across a broad age range.” — School Library Journal (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
“A must-read for inquisitive children who love to tell you what they have learned in school.” — LiveScience (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
“…so witty and funny, you might not realize how much you and your kid are learning.” — Forbes (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
“Because grown-ups don’t know all the answers, this book lets children become the authority… an engaging way to introduce the STEM subject.” — Booklist (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
“… if your grown-up can explain it, that shows they understand it! A lighthearted first look at an increasingly useful skill.” — Kirkus Reviews (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-up)
“What the heck, adults?! The playful prose encourages observation, introduces young readers to the scientific method, and acknowledges much of what they’ll come up against—but includes plenty of reassuring information about how we can repair the planet.” — Sierra Club Magazine (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
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- How to Explain Coding is a “Mathical Honor Book”
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- How to Explain Robotics and How to Explain Climate Science are “Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections”
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- How to Explain Robotics is an NSTA/CBC “Best STEM Book”
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- How to Explain Robotics won the Maryland Blue Crab Young Readers award
Press
Kansas Public Radio Conversations: “How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up”
Forbes: The Ultimate Holiday STEM Gift Guide (aka What Engineers Are Buying Their Kids) (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Smithsonian Magazine: Ten Engineer-Selected STEM Toys to Give as Gifts (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up) (do you have a link for this?)
NPR Illinois: Who says babies can’t understand science? Not Ruth Spiro, author of the series ‘Baby Loves Science’ (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
Spotlight Chicago: Science Books for the Youngest & Most Curious Minds (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
WKYC Cleveland: Author Ruth Spiro makes science accessible for kids: Growing STEM (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
Publishers Weekly: Q & A with Ruth Spiro (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
Bookstr: Author Ruth Spiro on How to Make Science Exciting for Little Readers (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
Bookstr: 7 STEM-tastic Children’s Books to Spark a Love of Science (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
DTALKS Podcast: Interview with Ruth Spiro (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
Book Q&A with Deborah Kalb: Q&A with Ruth Spiro (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)
Brightly “Terrific Books That Introduce Programming to Children” (How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up)
Educator Resources & Printables
Download the How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up Activity Kit
Watch the How to Explain Coding to a Grown-Up Book Trailer
The best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids and grown-ups to the coding world.
Grown-ups do NOT have all the answers! In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs perceptive kid readers in the fine art of explaining coding to a grown-up. Both children and their adults learn the basics of coding, including hardware, software, algorithms, and debugging. Cleverly disguised pro tips suggest best practices for teaching any topic.
Fun and fact-filled, the How to Explain Science series will empower kid experts to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen.