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 provide 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; 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.
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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BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
These all look so fabulous! Pinned.
Thanks so much for sharing Mother of 3!
“What are your favorite STEM or STEAM books for kids?” “Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea” has a great cover–I’d like to learn more!
Thanks for entering John!
OH, I want this book!!! I read the post and can’t get enough. #5 needs to be facts istead of fats (I think). Don’t you just love librarians!!!
But really, I want this book! I am in a STEAM school and this would be a lifesaver!!
It sounds like the perfect fit for you and your library Kristin! Good luck!
I love 11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill and Coding, Bugs, and Fixes (Kids Get Coding) by Heather Lyons
Thanks for sharing your great list Jen!
I’m crazy about Ruth Spiro’s board books that teach scientific concepts to babies and their parents.
Her books are great! I have a list she made here: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2017/11/10-books-encourage-love-science-babies-toddlers-8-signed-book-giveaway/
Thanks so much! That’s very thoughtful of you.
🙂
Thanks for sharing your great ideas.
Thanks Trina!
Ooh good question. I just ordered a different book about paper – “Cai Lun, the Inventor of Paper”
Hi MaryAnne,
I love that series!
I loved the Most Magnificent Thing. I love books that encourage kids to use their imaginations freely.
Hi Renee,
Me too! It’s an instant classic for Growth Mindset!
I’ve always thought the “Baby Loves” science books look pretty nice!
Hi Ali,
I have a post by author Ruth Spiro here: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2017/11/10-books-encourage-love-science-babies-toddlers-8-signed-book-giveaway/
I love all of your STEM and STEAM lists! There are so many!
And I LOVE the re-design of your website 😀
Makes everything pop out more 🙂
Thanks so much Bianca! I’ve been having issues with my theme for a while now. It’s not a popular one so the owner has not updated it in over four years.
Some of my favorite steam books are Violet the Pilot and Code Kids. I am excited for all of these new Stem books.
Hi Nichole,
I just got back from Josh Funk’s book launch for How To Code a Sand Castle and it’s a great one for coding and STEAM/STEM!
I like The Story of Paper; The Story of Chopsticks; The Story of Noodles, The Story of Kites by Ying Chang Compestine.
Hi Abigail,
I’m so impressed with this series too!
I haven’t seen any of these books yet, so I don’t know.
Thanks for entering Susan!
The Most Magnificent Thing is my absolute favorite STEAM book. It is also perfect for modeling growth mindset. I read it aloud to my students every September and refer to throughout the year.
Hi Heidi,
I love that picture book too!
I would say Robots, Robots Everywhere! By Sue Fliess.
Thanks for entering Jennifer!
I would suggest The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.
Thanks John!
The Most Magnificent Thing is my favorite! Thanks
Thanks for entering Eileen!