Science Words for Little People

Written by Helen Mortimer and illustrated by Cristina Trapanese

Age 3+

Get ready to meet some science words you can use every day!

Created by the language experts at 51黑料网, and informed by the Oxford Corpus of Children鈥檚 Language, these little books provide just the right words to explore science with even the littlest learners and to build their confidence with scientific vocabulary.

From the weather to space, discover and share all the words, facts, and meanings you need to talk about these fascinating topics together.

Win Big Words for Little people: Weather

To celebrate the publication of Weather, the latest Science Words for Little People book, we鈥檙e giving away all four books in the series to one lucky winner!

For your chance to win the books, head to the Oxford Owl Facebook page and comment on the competition post with your favourite weather emoji.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 28th January 2024.

About the book

About the Author and Illustrator

Helen Mortimer has always loved words. After graduating, she placed her foot on the bottom rung of the publishing ladder and enjoyed every step of the climb until she had a fine view of the world of picture books!

Cristina Trapanese started studying illustration at the Italian School of Comix and later at the IDEA Academy in Rome. She loves painting and how it helps her learn how to manage colours, later discovering her passion for telling stories through images.

More from Oxford Owl

• The wonder of words: How learning new words can help your child (Blog)
• Building a strong vocabulary: How to help at home (Blog)
• Science for fun: Six super science activities to try at home (Article)
• Children’s Word of the Year 2023: Climate Change (Blog)

Climate Change is the Oxford Children鈥檚 Word of the Year 2023.

A third of children chose climate change as their word of the year, narrowly followed by war and almost a quarter choosing coronation.

Why did children chose climate change?

The research, which asked over 5,000 children across the UK aged 6-14, revealed young people鈥檚 desire for action with emotive words such as 鈥榥eed鈥� and 鈥榠mportant鈥� occurring frequently in their statements. Impact on the wider world, their current lives and the future were cited as the main reason for the word choice, whilst 鈥榮ad鈥�, 鈥榮cared鈥� and 鈥榳orried鈥� were the most common responses by young people when asked how the word makes them feel.

Analysis of the of the Oxford Children鈥檚 Corpus, the largest children鈥檚 English language database in the world containing over half a billion words, showed the topic of climate change is regularly written about by children. Studying the most recent addition to the Children鈥檚 Corpus, the stories submitted for the BBC 500 Words 2023 story competition, 鈥榮top鈥� is revealed as the most common word used in the context, underlining children鈥檚 resolve to alter the course of climate change.听

The research also demonstrated how much current affairs affects children鈥檚 language. Of the children who selected war (31 per cent) as their chosen word, more than one in ten (13 per cent) mentioned the ‘news’ when asked why. The crowning of King Charles III was another key event in current affairs which impacted children, with many citing 鈥榗elebration鈥� in relation to almost a quarter (24 per cent) choosing the word coronation.

What about slang words?

Other findings revealed bro to be the top slang word chosen by 42% of children followed by lol (24%) and slay (17%). Along with bro being used as an informal term to address friends, research found children also use it as a 鈥榩ositive politeness鈥� strategy to confirm solidarity with another person whilst expressing admonishment.

鈥淭his year marks the tenth year of Children鈥檚 Word of the Year, and over the decade we have seen the significant role current affairs plays for children鈥檚 language development. The choice of 鈥榗limate change鈥� not only demonstrates how attuned children are to the news and their environment, but the research also reveals their willingness to engage with meaningful change. Whether it鈥檚 understanding how children use slang phrases or what word reflects the past year, it鈥檚 imperative we continue to support children鈥檚 language development so they have the means and vocabulary to express themselves.鈥�听 Helen Freeman, Director of Oxford Children’s

“Through our work with young people, we’ve seen first-hand how willing children are to learn and engage with topics like climate change, so we’re not surprised to see it selected as Children’s Word of the Year. Sometimes we greatly underestimate children’s abilities to understand complex issues, so it’s encouraging that this research shows children are engaged and understand the impacts of climate change. We also mustn鈥檛 ignore the findings from the language research which demonstrate young people鈥檚 desire for action. Young people not only recognise that climate change is an issue, but they鈥檙e also seeing the importance of tackling it. No-one will feel the negative effects of climate change more than the next generation – or the positive effects of the action we take against it now.鈥�听 Amy Meek, CEO and co-founder of Kids Against Plastic

How does it work?

Over 3,000 children aged 6-14 across the UK were asked for their suggested word of 2023 via our Education Research Forum. Based on the most common responses and themes in their answers, three words 鈥撎�climate change,听war听and听coronation听鈥� were shortlisted. A further 1,450 children were asked for their favourite slang word of 2023 via a CHILDWISE survey. The three words, along with the three shortlisted slang words, were then put to vote by a further 1,000 children via market research agency Opinium to decide their overall word of 2023.

Climate and Vocabulary

If听 you are looking to explore topics in the world around you with your child at home, the following links may help:

• Blog: Talking about Climate change at home
• Page: Little Oxford: Explore your world
  • This page links to the Little Oxford app for 3-5 year olds, but also contains book recommendations for exploring the natural world with little ones
• Books: Big Words for Little People
• Kids Against Plastic: for more information about the charity Kids Against Plastic, please visit

Books to build Vocabulary

As a Headteacher of a primary school, I see the huge difference that a child鈥檚 vocabulary makes to their learning every day.

A rich vocabulary allows children to say exactly what they mean. Knowing and using lots of words helps them to understand what others are saying, to talk and write in an engaging way, and to better understand the world around them.

Support from parents makes a massive difference to the number and variety of words a child knows. One of the best ways to improve your child鈥檚 vocabulary is to play word games and activities at home. Not only is this an effective way to boost your child鈥檚 future success 鈥� it can also be fun and engaging for the whole family!

Here are some ideas for fun games you can play to build your child鈥檚 vocabulary and confidence with words.

Building your toddler’s vocabulary

• Ask questions about stories. For example, 鈥業s Buzz helpful to Woody? Is the Gruffalo really scary? Do you think the mouse is a clever mouse? How do you know?鈥�
• From nursery onwards, encourage your child to answer questions in developed phrases rather than in one or two words.
• Try to add more description to your own speech. For example, saying 鈥楶lease could you pass me the large blue spoon with the wooden handle?鈥� exposes your child to more words than just saying 鈥楶lease could you pass me the spoon?鈥�

Building your child’s vocabulary at primary school

Ideally, a new word needs to be used six to twelve times, in different ways, to be remembered long term. Here are some ideas for repeating and reusing words in interesting ways.

1. Play word games

You could explore synonyms (words that mean the same thing) together. See how many different words your child can think of for听nice,听pretty, or听tall. Some healthy competition with friends or siblings can help to make this fun.

2. Act out abverbs

Ask your child to听scamper silently,听crawl slowly,听scuttle rapidly,听smile sweetly, or听speak menacingly. Children love this!

3. Master meaning

When reading together, ask your child questions focusing around a particular word, such as:

• 鈥楥ould we say that Verruca Salt is听selfish? Why? Why not?鈥�
• 鈥楥ould a听selfish听person ever be kind? Can you give an example?鈥�
• 鈥業s Charlie Bucket听selfish? Could we say he is听unselfish?鈥�
• 鈥榃hen have you been听unselfish? Does听unselfish听mean the same thing as kind?鈥�

4. Talk at the table

• Talk about food when you鈥檙e at the dinner table. Use interesting words to describe what you are eating: 鈥楳y peas are not just nice and tasty 鈥� they are听delicious, they are听scrumptious. Do you think they are听scrumptious?鈥�
• Dinnertime is also a good opportunity to ask your child about their day. For example, you could ask, 鈥榃hat do you remember from your lessons today?鈥� and encourage lots of detail. You can model this by talking about your own day first.

5. Use interesting words

• When you talk to your child, try to use interesting words. For example, 鈥榃hen I gave my friend her present, she was delighted. Delighted is a strong word for happy. I鈥檓 always delighted when you help me tidy up 鈥� what makes you delighted?鈥�
• Try to model using adjectives (words that describe nouns, like 鈥榶ellow鈥� or 鈥榮mooth鈥�) and adverbs (words that describe verbs, like 鈥榟appily鈥� or 鈥榪uickly鈥�) in your day-to-day speech. For example: 鈥楥an you smell the freshly cut grass?鈥�

6. Discover language on the go

Visit your local museum and ask your child to describe the pictures or exhibits they see. Take your child along with you as you head off to the bank, the grocery shop, or the post office, and see what new words you can discover.

7. Play 鈥榳ord/not word鈥�

Another way to stretch your child鈥檚 use of new words is to play 鈥榳ord/not word鈥�. This works by choosing a word (for example, 鈥榙elightful鈥�), and seeing what ideas your child associates with it. For instance, you could say to your child, 鈥業f I say something that you love, say 鈥渄elightful鈥�. If you don鈥檛 love it, say 鈥渘ot delightful鈥�.鈥� Then ask your child why they responded as they did.

For example, you could try these ideas: opening presents on your birthday; eating sprouts; laughing at the puppy; eating ice cream; going to bed early; reading a book; riding your bike.

Now you can vary the game, using 鈥榖eautiful/not beautiful鈥�, 鈥榟ilarious/not hilarious鈥�, 鈥榚xciting/not exciting鈥�, and so on.

Things worth remembering

• Try to make time for your child to give full answers. Encourage them to answer in full sentences, or starting with听because.
• It鈥檚 okay for your child to make mistakes, and it鈥檚 okay for you to correct them. A gentle way to do this is to say something back to them the correct way. For example, if your child says 鈥業t weren鈥檛 me!鈥�, you could respond, 鈥業t wasn鈥檛 you?鈥�.
• A good idea to boost vocabulary is to watch听BBC Newsround听with your child and discuss the issues involved. This is great for improving your child鈥檚 understanding of the world too!
• Teach the correct word for things as they come up in conversation (for example, 鈥榟elmet鈥� instead of 鈥榟at鈥� or 鈥榬abbit鈥� instead of 鈥榖unny鈥�).
• Have a simple dictionary or thesaurus to hand and explore word meanings together. Googling on your phone can also be helpful if you鈥檙e not sure.

Above all, have fun and remember that children learn at different speeds!

This article was originally published in 2019.听

More from Oxford Owl

• Blog:听The word gap: How to build your child鈥檚 vocabulary at home
• Blog:听Carry on reading aloud: the benefits of sharing books with older children
• Web page:听Vocabulary at primary school

The Wild

Written and Illustrated by Yuval Zommer

Age 3+

Everything found a place in the Wild, and the Wild welcomed all鈥�

Discover renowned illustrator Yuval Zommer鈥檚 latest magical creation, which delivers a powerful modern fairy tale about how our environment needs us just as much as we need it.

The Wild explores concepts of healing, wellbeing and our relationship with nature through mesmerising illustrations, to offer a hopeful message for readers big and small.

Win one of three copies of The Wild

Want to get your hands on a copy of this beautiful book? We鈥檙e giving away three copies! Plant a tree 馃尦 emoji in the comments on the competition Facebook post for your chance to win.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 26th November 2023.

About the book

About the Author

Yuval Zommer graduated from London鈥檚 Royal College of Art with an MA in Illustration. He then worked as a creative director at many leading advertising agencies but his passion for picture books won, and he is now the author and illustrator of highly acclaimed children鈥檚 books, including the internationally bestselling The Big Book series for Thames and Hudson.

More from Oxford Owl

• (Video)
• Talking about Climate change at home (Blog)
• Fun outdoor learning ideas (Blog)

Thunderboots

Written by Naomi Jones, Illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown

Age 3+

Join Trixie, a little, but VERY loud, girl, as she realises that what makes her different is what also makes her unique!

Thunderboots is an empowering story about starting school with dyslexia, inspired by the author Naomi Jones鈥檚 own experiences growing up. It uses a fun story and energetic illustrations to draw awareness to the challenges and strengths that little learners with dyslexia might experience.

We鈥檝e developed this book with a school that specialises in teaching children with dyslexia to make sure it helps spread awareness about dyslexia in a positive way. It opens with a personal letter from Naomi that will encourage little ones to embrace their individual superpowers.

Win one of three copies of Thunderboots

Learning differently is Trixie鈥檚 superpower. What鈥檚 your child鈥檚 special superpower that makes them unique? Comment with your answer on the competition Facebook post for your chance to win one of three copies of Thunderboots.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 29th October 2023.

About the book

About the Author and illustrator

Naomi Jones worked in children鈥檚 publishing for eight years before leaving to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. She is the acclaimed author of the picture book The Perfect Fit (OUP); its sequel One More Try, How to Catch a Rainbow (OUP), How to Make a Story (OUP), and The Odd Fish (Farshore). She lives in Cornwall near the sea.

Rebecca Ashdown studied illustration at Westminster University and Central Saint Martins, working as a graphic designer, vector illustrator and motion graphics artist, before becoming a full-time illustrator. Her books have been shortlisted for several awards including the Sheffield Book Award, the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, the Portsmouth Book Award and Hillingdon Picture Book of the Year.

More from Oxford Owl

• Supporting struggling readers

For young children, practise is key to keeping their emerging understanding of how numbers work at their fingertips.

In this post, I have pulled together my top 5 games, collected from a variety of people and places, and tried and tested on my own children!听If played regularly over time, they will help your child get to know their number facts.

1. Count all and Count on

These games can help your child practise counting up to 12.

For Count all, you will need two dice with spots. If you don鈥檛 have any, you can adapt a numbered dice by putting stickers over the numbers and drawing dots from 1鈥�6.听Take it in turns to roll the dice and count the spots to find the total.听This will help your child to recognise patterns and to accurately count items that cannot be moved.

Once your child is familiar with this, you can try Count on.听You will need to use two dice: one dotty die, and one die with numbers.听Take it in turns to roll both dice. 听Start with the numbered dice, then count on the number of spots shown. This will help your child connect the number symbols with the quantity they represent.

For more help with counting, why not try this simple Numicon activity:

2. Bunny Rabbit Ears

This game will help your child learn the number bonds within 10.听It is ideal for two or more players (my twins used to love playing this in the car!).

The first player says, ‘Bunny rabbit ears鈥�’ and then a number between 1 and 10.听Both players then make that number using their fingers as quickly as possible and put them on their head 鈥� like ears 鈥� to show the other players.听For example, ‘Bunny rabbit ears five’ could result in the combinations 0 + 5, 1 + 4, 2 + 3, or the reverse.

As children get used to playing, encourage them to play without looking, keeping their hands in position. This encourages them to visualise and develop mental calculation skills.

3. Memory for 10!

This is a game for two or more players, and it practises adding within 10.

You will need these playing cards: one Ace (to use as a 1), one of each number card 2鈥�9, and two 5s.听Shuffle the cards and place them face down on a table in two rows.听The first player turns over a card and says what number is needed to make a total of 10, before turning over another card.

If the total makes 10, they keep the cards. If the cards do not total 10, turn both cards back over and the second player has a turn.听Continue playing until all the pairs to 10 are found.听The winner is the player with the most cards when they have all been picked up.

4. What鈥檚 in the bag?

This simple game for two or more children practises adding and subtracting within 10. You can extend the range up to 20 if your child is good at it!

Put 10 of the same item (for example, building bricks, stones, or small figurines) in a bag or under a piece of cloth.听One player takes out some items and puts them on the table for the other player to see. They then have to work out how many items are still in the bag.

Put some of the items back in the bag. Say how many are in the bag now.听Take it in turns to take items out of the bag, with the other player saying how many are left.

5. Place Value Uno

Play this game with Uno cards (or normal playing cards with the face cards removed).

Each player has 2 or 3 piles, depending on if you are working on 10s or 100s. They must turn over the top card from each pile.听The players must all say the resulting numbers out loud. For example, for a 6 and a 3, the player would say ‘sixty three’.

The player with the highest number wins the cards.听For a fun variation, allow players to use the cards they turn over to create the highest possible number.

More from Oxford Owl

• Web page: Fun maths games and activities
• Web page: Numicon guide for parents
• Blog: Five ways to improve maths home learning
• Blog: Times tables: Practise makes perfect
• PDF:

Wys to Say I Love You

By Madeleine Cook, illustrated by Fiona Lee

Age 2+

Just in time for Valentine鈥檚 Day, discover this warm and cosy picture book that explores the many ways we express love.

An ideal gift for families looking for an inclusive love-themed title and perfect bedtime reading, this book is full of family togetherness to help you share precious moments with your little ones. It鈥檚 one that you鈥檒l treasure through babyhood, the toddler years, and beyond.

Win Ways to Say I Love You

For your chance to win one of three copies of Ways to Say I Love You to share with your loved ones, comment on the competition post on the Oxford Owl Facebook page with a heart 鉂�锔�

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 26^th February 2023.听

About the book

About the Author and illustrator

Madeleine Cook has authored several picture books, including My Granny is a Queen, No More Peas, No More Babies, and The Turkey That Voted For Christmas.

Fiona Lee worked as a science illustrator before she began illustrating children鈥檚 picture books. She enjoys mixing traditional and digital media to create her illustrations, and is the illustrator of Eat Your Peas, Julius! (Cameron & Company Inc) and Thank You, Tree (Storey Publishing LLC).

More from Oxford Owl

• (Facebook Watch)
• Top tips for reading bedtime stories (Blog)
• Stories from the road less travelled 鈥� children鈥檚 books that celebrate diversity (Blog)

The Worry Jar

By Lou John, illustrated by Jenny Bloomfield

Age 2+

Enjoy one of The Sunday Times Best Children鈥檚 Books of 2022, out now in paperback.

The Worry Jar is a heart-warming and confidence-building story about learning to manage worries. With beautiful illustrations to bring Frida鈥檚 feelings to life and offering a practical way to manage fears in everyday life, this is the perfect book for parents who want to talk to their children about anxiety in a reassuring way.

Win The Worry Jar

For your chance to win one of three copies of The Worry Jar, comment on the competition post on the Oxford Owl Facebook page with a hug emoji

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 29th January 2023.

About the book

About the Author and illustrator

Lou John currently works in publishing and has done so for many years. The Worry Jar is her debut picture book and was inspired by her love of collecting pebbles at the beach and by her daughter.

Jenny Bloomfield graduated with distinction from the MA in Children鈥檚 Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in 2019. She is an avid sketch-booker and draws every day.

More from Oxford Owl

• (PDF)
• What to do if you鈥檙e worried about your child鈥檚 mental health (Blog)
• Mindfulness and mental health in children 鈥� five top tips for parents (Blog)

Win our cosy Christmas book bundle

For this year鈥檚 bumper festive giveaway, we鈥檝e bundled up a cosy collection of books that are packed full of winter magic.

For a chance to win our cosy Christmas reads, we want to know your favourite way to stay snuggly at home with the kids. Whether it鈥檚 cuddling up with a story, or slurping hot chocolate, simply comment on the pinned competition post on the Oxford Owl Facebook page to tell us.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on 18 December 2022.

Read on to find out more about the wintry wonders in the bundle and to discover lots of bonus free gifts to download.

Cosy Christmas Book Bundle

More Festive Reading

If you鈥檙e looking for even more holiday reading suggestions or gift ideas, don鈥檛 miss our .