How Nonfiction Reveals the Nature of Science

In this article, the authors consider whether children’s trade books promote an authentic understanding of the nature of science. They begin by discussing the characteristics of the nature of science and then examine existing research in children’s science books for evidence of the visibility of these features. They describe the problems science educators have with literature that constructs what has been called an “architecture of scientific myths.” Instead, the authors suggest using the literature of inquiry, books that promote scientific understanding by developing an authentic context for science. The authors provide an indepth discussion of three exemplary books, each an example of the literature of inquiry. They end with suggestions for explicitly discussing the nature of science in children’s nonfiction.