The Next Scientist: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of the World’s Great Scientists

Ages 8 to 12

How does a kid grow up to become a scientist? This enthralling nonfiction picture book from New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner explores the unexpected beginnings behind some of the most fascinating discoveries in scientific history.

Before the world’s great scientists were scientists, they were, in fact, doing all the things kids do:

Taking things apart,

putting things together,

gazing up at the night sky,

drawing, imagining, building, and exploring.

Things that scientists do, too.

This book of unexpected beginnings powerfully shows that the great scientists of the future could be practically anyone . . . including you. Written by Kate Messner, bestselling author of the acclaimed Over and Under nature book series and more than fifty books for young readers, and beautifully illustrated by Julia Kuo, this is a book to gift to any curious kid interested in STEM topics, fascinated by scientific discoveries, and inspired by biographies of people whose work has had an impact on the world.

CALLING FUTURE SCIENTISTS: Where are today’s future scientists? As this book shows, they could be practically anyone doing anything, including the kids reading this book!

CURRICULAR CONNECTION: Students discover all kinds of science in elementary school, from astronomy to zoology. This fun-to-read educational book for kids introduces young learners to the scientists behind some of the world’s most fascinating scientific discoveries.

ACCLAIMED AUTHOR: Kate Messner is an award-winning children’s author of 50+ tremendously popular children’s books, and her science-themed picture books have earned especially high acclaim. Her informative, lyrical text has made her nonfiction a fan-favorite among teachers and parents.

Perfect for: Teachers and librarians looking for STEM-themed picture books Parents, grandparents, and caregivers seeking engaging nonfiction picture books A distinctive gift for a science-loving child Fans of Kate Messner books, the Who Is/Who Was biography series, and books about scientific discoveries

About the Author

Kate Messner is a New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty books for young readers, including The Next President, the Over and Under series, the History Smashers series, and more. Kate is the recipient of the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people. Her science-themed picture books have been honored with the Green Earth Book Award, the Riverby Award for natural history writing, and have been finalists for the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru SB&F prize for excellence in science writing. A former middle school teacher, Kate splits her time between Lake Champlain and Florida’s Gulf Coast. Learn more at www.katemessner.com.

Julia Kuo is the author and illustrator of Let’s Do Everything and Nothing and the illustrator of I Am An American: The Wong Kim Ark Story, I Dream of Popo, and more. She also enjoys making editorial illustrations, which have appeared in publications like the New York Times, The Economist, and Vox Media. For more, visit www.juliakuo.com.