“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”
— Walt Disney
Books have always been more than pages bound together. They are invitations—to imagine, to question, to discover. They are windows into worlds we have never seen and doors into possibilities we may never have considered.
That is why National Book Month is such a wonderful opportunity, especially for young girls.
I know something about the power of those possibilities because my own journey toward STEM began with a love of books. Once I learned how to read, I then got my first library card —and had the extraordinary realization that there would be unlimited shelves of adventures, stories and ideas, waiting for me to discover their magic. Oh, it was heaven for a young girl with a curious mind!!
I read about the solar system and wondered about the vastness of space. I collected facts about the strange plants and animals that inhabited our planet. I imagined futures filled with robots and new inventions. And I searched out biographies of women who had changed the world—women like Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, and Sacagawea. Books did more than teach me about the world - they also expanded my sense of what was achievable. As a result, I began see new possibilities for my own future, and as my interest in science grew, the stories that I read about in books gave me confidence that I too could one day achieve great things.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
— Dr. Seuss
During National Book Month, families, teachers, schools, and libraries can turn reading into exploration. Perhaps reading can spark curiosity though planned activity:
For example:
Read about plants—and then plant a seed.
Read about astronomy—and then step outside and look at the night sky.
Read about engineering—and then build something with the materials you have at home.
Perhaps a conversation about some really fun questions can lead to reading to get the answers!
For example:
Why do the stars shine?
How do animals communicate?
What happens inside our bodies?
Could humans someday live on another planet?
How can we protect the world we share?
Representation matters!! When a young girl encounters a woman scientist, engineer, mathematician, astronaut, doctor, inventor, or researcher in the pages of a book, she may begin to imagine herself in that role (This is what happened to me!).
She might read about Hedy Lamarr - a famous Hollywood actress - whose curiosity about radio waves ultimately led to inventions that are the basis of today’s Wifi and Bluetooth. She might discover Katherine Johnson and learn how mathematics helped carry human beings into space. She might read about Jane Goodall, who had an unending curiosity about the living habits of primates and ultimately opened new avenues of knowledge about ourselves.
The possibilities of what you can learn from books is endless!! A novel about a young inventor can spark an idea. A story about solving a scientific mystery can turn curiosity into excitement. A picture book about exploring space can make the universe feel a little closer. A book about the ocean might lead a young reader toward marine biology. A story about a rocket launch might inspire an interest in astronomy or aerospace engineering. A book about the human body might awaken a fascination with medicine. Reading can be a great way for a young girl to explore her curiosity about science in ways that are special just for her.
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
— Stephen King
In retrospect, I found that the future did not announce itself with a grand moment. It began quietly, built upon a foundation of reading by a child who simply wanted to understand the world around her. A library card, a good book, a rainy afternoon - these were the tools that built my foundation in STEM. Coupled with supportive family and teachers, I ultimately did become as confident as the people I read about in books. I did believe that girls could achieve what they dreamed. I did think that women had a place in science and engineering. And I did imagine my future as boundless with opportunities as the number of stars in the universe.
This National Book Month, let's put those books into the hands of young girls. Let's give them stories that introduce them to remarkable women, unfamiliar worlds, unanswered questions, and problems waiting to be solved. Let's give them books that encourage them to explore, experiment, imagine, and discover. Because when a girl opens a book, she may be opening much more than a story. She may be opening the door to her own possibilities of a future in STEM!
“Women have been scientists for as long as there has been science.”
— Andrea Beaty
