Keene Public Library has many books on the topics we selected for our Little Makers activities. When making book selections, we used typical best practices and the following as our starting point:

• Followed our policies and procedures, based on ALA guidelines

• Read through many book review resources

• Consulted librarians, preschool teachers, and blogs

• Considered patron recommendations

One of the main factors we considered when selecting books for our program was the age of the children, from 2 years old to 6 years old. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) provides excellent suggestions for choosing science books for this age range. One essential question NSTA asks is “Is the book fun to read?” Always keep that in mind when purchasing books for preschool children!

Our primary considerations when selecting books include:

• Developmentally appropriate for children ages 2–6

• Fun, captivating, and engaging story

• Highlights or models the Learning Dimensions of the maker mindset

• Integrates STEM disciplines and has factually correct depictions of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics content

• Features illustrations that enhance the text and provide an alternate way of telling the story and illustrating the concepts presented in the book

• Includes culturally diverse people, ethnicities, and languages

• Provides meaningful connections to children’s real-world, authentic problems

• Incorporates ideas around divergent thinking, assimilation of new ideas, teamwork, exploration of multiple solutions, or acknowledgement of failure as a reality that can be mitigated or surmounted