Are Kids' Science Books Telling Your Child They Don't Belong? A New Study Says Yes.

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and New York University has uncovered an unexpected problem with kids’science biographies. Researchers analyzed 422 best-selling books and found that many of them portray scientific ability as a fixed, innate talent rather than a skill developed through practice and hard work. The study, published this month, warns that this framing could discourage girls, minority children, and any kid who doesn’t already see themselves as a“science person.”

The findings get even more interesting when you look at how the books treat male and female scientists differently. Biographies of male scientists like Einstein and Newton emphasized natural genius and passion from an early age. But biographies of female scientists consistently focused on effort and persistence, even when those women faced significant barriers that their male counterparts did not. Professor Jessica Gladstone, who led the research, says the mixed messaging may be unintentionally widening gender and race gaps in STEM fields that already struggle with diversity.

So what can parents do? It’s worth looking at the books on your child’s shelf with fresh eyes. Look for stories that show the messy, hard-working side of discovery. Talk to your kids about how curiosity and persistence matter just as much as talent. After all, most great scientists didn’t start out as geniuses. They started out as kids who loved asking questions. What kind of science stories do your children love to read?