How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up

Illustrated by Teresa Martinez / Published by

2025
2024
2023
2026
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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)

Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices 2025 (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)

Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025 (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) “Kids and Ecoanxiety” Recommended Resource (How to Explain Climate Science 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)

The Center for Biological Diversity “10 Environmental Books for Children to Inspire and Engage Their Curiosity” (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)

Tech Savvy Mama – Best STEM Gift of 2025 (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)

“Basic advice for reducing greenhouse gases in our personal lives will give kids (and their grown-ups) something positive to do, but the greater goal here is to define core climate concepts and scientific methods. ‘How to Explain Climate Science’ is a helpful early tool for raising scientifically literate kids.”— Washington Post (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)

“For makerspaces or classroom theory, this STEM title is both accessible and unique, empowering children and utterly inclusive in its design. Tech terms are clearly explained and readers will be itching to get building.” —School Library Journal, Best Book of the Year (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)

“The informative narrative and speech-bubble dialogue incorporated into the cartoon-like illustrations provide a lively and accessible overview with dashes of humor throughout.” — Cooperative Children’s Book Center (How to Explain Robotics to a Grown-Up)

“A charming feature of this book series are the handy ‘pro tips’ on how to help adults understand the subject, while simultaneously imparting learning skills to the young reader.” — LiveScience (How to Explain Robotics 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)

 

Press

The Weather Channel/Pattrn: “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)

Yale Climate Connections: New children’s book helps kids explain climate science to adults (How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up)

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)

Kansas Public Radio Conversations: “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)

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) 

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

Download the How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up Certificate

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.