What is Alive? By Kathleeen Weidner Zoehfeld, teaches the youngest readers how to tell if something is alive or nonliving. Students will learn basic sorting strategies and compare the traits of different items and organisms. The book’s bright and cheerful illustrations help the reader understand these most basic science concepts. A sorting activity is outlined at the end of the book.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, early experiences in sorting things into groups help young learners to better observe how things are alike and different—essential early literacy and math skills. Carefully curated books develop these concepts as part of our LITE curriculum, focused on non-fiction text, helping to inspire the scientists of tomorrow.