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As was mentioned in a review of the StepUp books, a child’s first scientific interest is often animals. Most little children are fascinated by animals, birds, and fish. What then is the next level of book to read after the StepUp books? A wonderful possibility, especially in regards to scientific topics, is the All About series. These books were published in the 1950s but most cover topics (e.g., modern animals, archaeology, rivers) that make them still useful today. Other books are missing modern developments but still serve as a good introduction to the basis of their topic. There is, after all, something to be said for a chronological approach to the learning of science – it serves to solidify the basis of the field in a student’s mind and shows how human beings have struggled to learn how God’s creation works. The reading level and clarity of this series make them even more worthwhile for students. A list, cover pictures, and a brief description of the books in this series can be found at https://www.biblioguides.com/pub/series/all-about-books. The books are not explicitly Christian, but parents can easily use these books as a springboard to discuss the Lord’s creative power and sovereignty.
Back to the question – what should a child who is interested in animals read after books like the StepUp series? All About Strange Beasts of the Present, by Robert S. Lemmon, is a wonderful next book to read for such a good 4th or 5th grade or middle school reader. There are some unusual animals described in this volume! The information presented should lead one to think – what an incredible imagination our Creator God must have! Drawing some of these amazing animals would be a good art assignment. A final note to parents – have you ever thought that one of the best places to worship our wonderful God is at a zoo? There, one can marvel at His incredible creativity and power. If He spares such pains on mere animals, how fearfully and wonderfully made we must be.