These board books are perfect for introducing your little ones to the world of Star Trek. How do you introduce the geeky sci-fi stuff to your kids? If you’re a geeky sci-fi nerd like myself then you understand the struggle.
Some kids aren’t quite ready for the dazzling special effects of Star Trek shows. Some younger kids find the elaborate creatures in Star Trek The Original Series scary or intimidating. You don’t want little ones to have nightmares about the green lizard-like Gorn or the blue Andorians. You also want them to learn about science in a way that’s age appropriate.
Thankfully Smart Pop has the answer. Smart Pop, an imprint of BenBella Books produced a series of board books that help kids learn while introducing characters and things from the Star Trek universe. I’ve tried to get my boys interested in Star Trek but the youngest complains it’s scary and the other two say the old shows are boring.
Star Trek: My First Book of Space is a 22-page board book that’s designed for young children to learn about space. It’s written by Dr. Erin Macdonald, Ph.D., who’s an astrophysicist and the official science consultant for Star Trek. It’s illustrated by Jason Kayser who also illustrated the “Body By Starfleet” book I reviewed a while back. He’s very talented and has a fun time making the illustrations come to life.
The creators even find ways to make complex ideas like “Exoplanets” simple for little ones. Macdonald even sneaks in some tongue-in-cheek jokes for fans. One page says “This is a NEBULA. Some people think there might be coffee in a NEBULA, but they’re really filled with just dust and gas.” Sorry to tell you but there’s no coffee in that nebula Janeway.
This is a great book for kids and fun for Star Trek fans of any age. Here’s the official book description.
Go where no board book has gone before with this cosmically awesome exploration of our solar system—and beyond!Thanks to its innovative storytelling, breathtaking special effects, and engaging characters, Star Trek has, for over 55 years, captivated the imaginations of generations of fans. But far more than a simple entertainment, Star Trek has long been cited as the inspiration for countless scientists, engineers, writers, artists, and, of course, astronauts, to enter and succeed in their chosen fields of study.Now, for the first time, the youngest Trekkie can explore strange new worlds and see the universe through a Starfleet Academy telescope.Illustrations of some of Star Trek’s most iconic space-faring vessels, including the Enterprise, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, a Klingon Bird of Prey, and the Kataan probe are paired with real photographs of an asteroid, the planets, Pluto, the Sun, and even a nebula! And because this pop culture primer is filled with more visual Easter Eggs and jokes than there are stars, it makes the perfect gift for the adult collector, too!When enjoyed along with Star Trek: My First Book of Colors, Star Trek: My First Book of Space offers readers and fans of all ages an age-appropriate, entertaining, and energizing first contact with a comprehensive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education.
Whether you’re trying to get your kid into Trek or just into science. This book is for you.
Star Trek My First Book of Colors is a 24-page board book created for younger readers learning about colors. It’s written by New York Times Bestselling Author Robb Pearlman and illustrated by Jason Kayser. Kayser has done an excellent job with the fun and vibrant illustrations. Specifically Deep Space Nine and the USS Enterprise. For those reasons alone, Star Trek collectors should buy this book.
Pearlman is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of more than sixty books for grown-ups and children. He’s done an exceptional task incorporating numerous scenes from Star Trek into the book. He even introduced the colors in a repetitive style designed to assist kids to remember. There are some phrases that you normally wouldn’t find in kids’ books like “iridescent” and “quantum singularity”. So you may have to do some explaining. However, the children may as well learn new words along with their colors!
Star Trek My First Book of Colors gives Trekkers a chance to educate their kids using the shows they love. Here’s the official book description:
Go where no board book has gone before with this exploration of colors seen across the galaxy!Thanks to its innovative storytelling, breathtaking special effects, and engaging characters, Star Trek has, for over 55 years, captivated the imaginations of generations of fans. But far more than a simple entertainment, Star Trek has long been cited as the inspiration for countless scientists, engineers, writers, artists, and, of course, astronauts, to enter and succeed in their chosen fields of study.Now, for the first time, the youngest Trekkie can explore strange new worlds and see the universe through the eyes of a Starfleet cadet.Enjoy illustrations of a SHINY SILVER space station, a GORN GREEN captain wearing a GOLD lame tunic and BROWN gauntlets, and of course Starfleet officers wearing BLUE, YELLOW, and RED shirts! And because this pop culture primer is filled with more visual Easter Eggs and jokes than there are tribbles, it makes the perfect gift for the adult collector, too!When enjoyed along with Star Trek: My First Book of Space, Star Trek: My First Book of Colors offers readers and fans of all ages an age-appropriate, entertaining, and energizing first contact with a comprehensive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education.
Fans of Star Trek will adore this book as, while teaching their kids colors, they also can show their kids parts of the Trek universe. There’s even a little Guinan, a Gorn (no longer the frightening ones from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), and a Mugato. And the book ends with a play on the phrases from IDIC.
Overall, two great books for learning and for collecting!
| About the Author Maurice Mitchell has been a passionate science-fiction fan of movies, television, books, and comics since age five. He and his twin brother Nigel created the site “The Geek Twins” to share that passion. Maurice has written and created infographics for sites like The Geek Twins and About.com. His work has been featured on sites like Business Insider, io9 Slashfilm and more. Read more of his posts | Follow him on Twitter @Mauricem1972 |
What do you think of these kids’ books? How have you introduced kids to Star Trek? Let us know in the comments below!
