20 STEAM Books That Inspire DIY Activities

Please welcome award-winning guest author, Elizabeth Suneby, with her newest book!

Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea:  How a Science Project Helps One Family and the Planet by Elizabeth Suneby, illustrated by Rebecca Green

This picture book is a celebration of innovation, creative problem-solving, sustainability, and love for family.  An engaging story to start, interesting facts about clean cookstoves, and a make-your-own solar cooker DIY activity wraps it up.

This is Elizabeth’s second book in Kids Can Press’ Citizen Kids series — a collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens. Her first in the series, Razia’s Ray of Hope: One Girl’s Dream of an Education was featured here.

We are giving away three signed copies of Elizabeth’s book. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

STEAM Books Inspiring DIY Activities

1. The Story of Paper; The Story of Chopsticks; The Story of Noodles, The Story of Kites by Ying Chang Compestine

A unique blend of fiction and fact — complete with instructions for making garden paper, kites, rice pudding, and noodles. [nonfiction picture books, ages 5 and up]

2. Engineered!  Engineering Design at Work:  A fun exploration of nine amazing feats by Shannon Hunt

Nine real-life problems — nine solutions — each one using a different field of engineering, from environmental to computer to biomedical. While you won’t find a literal DIY project, readers are introduced to the seven-step engineering design process – which will likely inspire them to conjure up their own project. [nonfiction picture book, ages 8 and up]

3. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

Perseverance personified by a girl determined to make the most magnificent thing.  Sure to inspire inventions and perhaps even more important, persistence. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

4. Oscar and the Moth: A Book About Light and Dark; Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound; Oscar and the Bird: A Book About Electricity (Start with Science Books) by Geoff Waring

Oscar the cat learns about light and dark, sound, and electricity with the help of a moth, bat, and bird.  Simple Q&A and interactive activities after the story relate the concepts to kids’ own lives. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

5. Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy

The illustrated true story of how bubble gum was invented, followed by fats about the real man behind bubble gum and gum itself.  Who needs printed DIY activities when all you need is a piece of gum and a chance to blow bubbles? [nonfiction picture book, ages 4 and up]

6. Sir Cumference and All the King’s Tens; Sir Cumference and the Fraction Faire; Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland (Math Adventures) by Cindy Neuschwander

The adventures of Sir Cumference, Lady Di of Ameter, and their son Radius playfully introduce math concepts followed by a short math activity. [picture book, ages 8 and up]

7. How to Make a Planet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building the Earth by Scott Forbes

Two children conduct an experiment, replicating the 10 steps that formed the Earth. A fun way to learn science theory and to break down big ideas into manageable parts. [nonfiction book, ages 8 and up]

8. Lu & Clancy’s Secret Languages by Louise Dickson

DIY is built right in. Readers learn more than a dozen secret languages to help Lu and Clancy recover the gems. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

9. A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen

Yes, you can!  Every creator needs to believe in him or herself.  Get started.  A different take on “do it yourself.” [picture book, ages 4 and up]

10. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

A true story of how one boy’s ingenuity and perseverance bring electricity to his poor village in Africa.  The ultimate DIY story.[chapter book for ages 8 and up and picture book for ages 5 and up]

3 Book GIVEAWAY of Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea!

We are giving away 3 copies of Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea to three winners. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elizabeth Suneby is an award-winning author who writes books for children and teens to help them find their voice in a hopeful world. She leads interactive workshops with students across Massachusetts and the country. Liz also writes magazine articles and content for organizations.

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My books:

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

• • • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
    • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
    • Starred review from School Library Journal
    • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
    • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
    • Green Earth Book Award longlist
    • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me