For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Emily Graham’s review of “What Do People Do at the Science Museum?” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Qin Leng, first published September 14, 2026, in Booklist Online.
Enjoy.
What Do People Do at the Science Museum?
By Maggie Tokuda-Hall. Illus. by Qin Leng.
Sept. 2026. 48p. Chronicle, Grades 1-3.
A flock of children, all sporting yellow shirts, make their way up the steps of the stately Science and Natural History Museum, excitedly joining the throngs of other eager visitors. They’re only a few steps inside the lobby when the revelations begin—with a discussion of a structural engineer’s role in keeping buildings safe. On to the exhibits! Curating those is someone’s job too. Every new spread brings on another section of the museum and another type of professional working there, from the expected (paleontologists, astronomers, biologists) to the potentially overlooked (diorama artists in the nature hall, preparators in the specimen archives, and technicians in the planetarium). Each page is a treasure trove, with humorous word-bubble conversations, colorful text boxes, and tidbits of science and history tucked into every corner. The action-packed artwork brims with marvelous minutiae and adorably captures the energy of an actual outing. Both an ideal primer for a future field trip and an expansive look at STEM career possibilities, this book is a wellspring of wonder that both informs and inspires.— Emily Graham
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