18 Awesome States of Matter Books for Kids

by Eric Mark Braun

I love finding matter books for kids that are actual stories rather than informational texts, and this story didn’t disappoint! Students will love learning about the states of matter from Pearl as she teaches her brother how juice can turn into a frozen freeze pop. This book provides a great opportunity for a science and ELA cross-curricular connection.

by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Students will be intrigued and giggling when this book starts off by asking if they’ve seen anyone walk through walls or put on socks made of milk. What Is the World Made Of? tells all about the three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gas. The book has adorable illustrations, fun diagrams, and text that makes it an easy matter book for kids to read aloud.

by Amy S. Hansen

A great all-encompassing option, this matter book teaches early readers about the states of matter and the properties of solids, liquids, and gases. It’s a great independent reading book for 1st and 2nd graders learning about the states and properties of matter.

by Michael Elsohn Ross

I love using this story as a read aloud in my classroom because it hits on a ton of different topics. Readers take a peek into Mr. Whiskers’ classroom as students take part in science explorations. Not only does the book give information about matter and its states, but it also provides a model for scientific thinking and using science materials! It’s perfect for reading before a lab or experiment so that students can see how children follow the expectations in Mr. Whiskers’ class.

by Jennifer Boothroyd

Here’s another great book for introducing and explaining the basics of matter! The end of the text even includes some fun experiments that you can try with your students.

by Tom Adams

If you’re looking for a book that will keep students super engaged, you’ll definitely want to check out this one! With pop-ups, pull tabs, and fun illustrations, even reluctant readers will want to keep exploring this text. It’s an excellent, interactive way for students to learn more about the science of matter.

by Ginger Garrett

Perfect for 1st and 2nd graders, this text will teach students about the states of matter in a simple and encouraging way. What sets this book apart are its critical thinking questions throughout the text, which will help students reflect on their reading.

by Jennifer Boothroyd

With its simple text and clear examples, this matter book is a perfect option for independent reading. It focuses on solids and also gives examples of how solids can change into other states of matter.

by Lisa Greathouse

With its intriguing details and engaging images, students will definitely enjoy learning all about solids in this book. The reading level is geared towards 2nd graders, and it could be used for independent reading or for guided reading groups!

by Lynn Peppas

This matter book concentrates specifically on exploring the properties and behaviors of liquids. It also provides examples of liquids that students will relate to as they build on their understanding.

by Jim Mezzanotte

Take a deep dive (no pun intended!) into the world of liquids! The information in this text is organized into four “chapters” that discuss matter, properties of liquids, how liquids can change states, and where we can see liquids in everyday life. It’s one of the more in-depth matter books on this list, so it’s a great informational text to add as an independent reading option in your classroom.

by Jennifer Boothroyd

This is another excellent independent reading book for K-2 classrooms! Students will learn all about gases in this simple and clear text. Towards the end of the book, there are two pages of fun facts about gases and an excellent glossary with images to show examples of each word. Perfect to keep early readers interested!

by Cindy Rodriguez

This book uses easy-to-understand descriptions and illustrations to explain the properties of gases. There’s also a Spanish version that you can add to your classroom library as well!

by Adrienne Mason

Not only does this book teach young learners about the states of matter, it also includes a ton of super fun, step-by-step experiments for readers to do to demonstrate those states! The explanations of the properties of matter are easy to understand, and I love how each experiment presented has a clear connection to the topic at hand.

by Amy S. Hansen

What happens to molecules when matter melts and freezes? This text is great for 2nd-3rd graders who are ready to deepen their understanding of the states of matter. Readers will get a closer look at how different objects react in different conditions.

by Karen Larson

This text is geared towards higher level elementary readers, and it contains a ton of fascinating information about matter and its states. It even explains a bit about the fourth state of matter–plasma!

by Lisa Greathouse

Why does matter melt and freeze? Young readers will learn about how solids and liquids behave in different temperatures in this text. The clear explanations for what happens to particles when it’s hot or cold are super helpful to improving students’ understanding!