The California Department of Education (CDE) coordinated the development of Literature for Science and Mathematics with the assistance of science and mathematics teachers, library media teachers employed by schools and public libraries, administrators, curriculum planners, and parents. Thousands of selections were reviewed before the list was finalized. The titles represent various types of literature related to natural science and mathematics. These selected titles should not be viewed as an all-inclusive list. New and exciting selections of literature become available every day. CDE will periodically review and update this list to keep it current.
The purposes of the recommended literature list are to:
- Encourage students to read literature related to science and mathematics and to view such reading as a worthwhile activity.
- Help students choose quality literature to further their understanding of mathematics and the natural world around them.
- Aid parents in choosing quality literature to enhance and extend their child's understanding of science and mathematics.
- Help school curriculum planners and teachers select and infuse literature into their science and mathematics classes.
- Promote the cross-curricular connection between English language arts curriculum and science and mathematics curricula.
This new list updates and replaces Literature for Science and Mathematics: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve published by CDE in 1993. This list has been updated in the following ways:
- Appropriate contemporary titles written over the last decade have been added to make the list more comprehensive, expanding options for classroom teachers, librarians, and students.
- Titles no longer in print or readily accessible in schools and libraries have been noted or deleted.
- Titles have been selected that reflect current research and understandings in science and mathematics.
- Among the considerations for selection of titles for this list were opportunities for augmenting standards-aligned instruction.
- Titles written in languages other than English were added.
