Children’s Book Week: STEM Books to Inspire the Future
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” -Margaret Fuller
Happy Children’s Book Week! Children’s Book Week was started in 1919 by Franklin Matthiews, Frederic Melcher, and Anne Carroll Moore. The original belief behind Children’s Book Week was that “children’s books and literacy are life-changers” (Every Child a Reader). The responsibility of putting together Children’s Book Week was moved to the Children’s Book Council in 1944, and they are the ones that are still putting together the activities, events, and materials for the Book Week to this day. Children’s Book Week celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019, and that year they decided to begin having two Children’s Book Weeks- one in the spring and one in the fall. This tradition of two Book Weeks has continued, and both will be happening in 2021! The first Children’s Book Week is happening May 3-9, and the second Book Week will be coming from November 8-14! Check out the link below for more information on the different activities that are happening for the two Book Weeks! https://everychildareader.net/cbw/about/
Reading books allows us to expand our horizons and learn something new. Whether you’re reading a book for school or a book for fun, you’re constantly engaging your brain and learning new words, creating new ideas, seeing different perspectives. Reading helps our brains relax and allows us to take a break from something in our lives that may be a bit stressful. We can always learn something new when reading, no matter what we choose to read! In honor of Children’s Book Week, here are some of the 2020 Best STEM Books, chosen by The National Science Teachers Association and The Children’s Book Council:
“Born Just Right” by Jordan Reeves and Jen Lee Reeves
This inspiring book tells the story of Jordan Reeves, one of the authors. Jordan was born without the bottom half of her left arm, but she has never let this stop her from achieving her dreams. This book goes into her life, and how she has navigated life in an “able-bodied world”. You can learn more about Jordan and her current inventions at https://www.bornjustright.org/
“A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon” by Suzanne Slade
This book tells the story of Katherine Johnson- an amazing mathematician who helped calculate the trajectories needed for the first flight into space as well as the first trip to the moon!
“The House That Cleaned Itself: The True Story of Frances Gabe’s (Mostly) Marvelous Invention” by Laura Dershewitz and Susan Romberg
This story is all about Frances Gabe’s effort to rid her life of something she didn’t like doing- housework! She invented many different items to help make cleaning easier, like a cabinet that would wash, dry, and put away all the dishes. She taught us that anything is possible with hard work and an imagination!
“Instructions Not Included: How a Team of Women Coded the Future” by Tami Lewis Brown and Debbie Loren Dunn
This book talks about the amazing creation that three women made during World War II. Betty Snyder, Jean Jennings, and Kay McNulty, with little guidance and a lot of determination, helped create one of the first computers. It was the size of a room back then, but thanks to their passion we now have the small, portable computers today.
“Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge” by Rachel Dougherty
This book tells the encouraging story of a woman stepping up to achieve a dream. When Emily Roebling’s husband got sick and was unable to complete the Brooklyn Bridge project, Emily stepped in to keep the project going.
These stories show us that with a little hard work and dedication, we can do anything we set our minds to. Reading helps us learn about how others used their ambition to make their dreams come true. Through reading, we can make our own dreams and help learn how to make them come true. Whether you read fiction, non-fiction, or a mix of all genres, reading helps us realize our dreams and give us the courage to make them come true.
Malala Yousafzai said “One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” So pick up a book and a pen and create your own future!
References
Born Just Right. (n.d.). Book by Jordan Reeves, Jen Lee Reeves | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Born-Just-Right/Jordan-Reeves/Jeter-Publishing/9781534428386
Every Child a Reader. (n.d.). Every Child a Reader. https://everychildareader.net/cbw/about/
M. (n.d.). Turkse studentengroep zijn de ontwikkeling van de robot in de classrom - Stockfoto. Istock Photo. https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=stem+education
Noble, B. (2019a, March 12). A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon|Hardcover. Barnes & Noble. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-computer-called-katherine-suzanne-slade/1128997318#:%7E:text=The%20inspiring%20true%20story%20of,as%205%2B5%3D12
Noble, B. (2019b, September 24). The House That Cleaned Itself: The True Story of Frances Gabe’s (Mostly) Marvelous Invention|Hardcover. Barnes & Noble. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-house-that-cleaned-itself-susan-romberg/1130339498
Noble, B. (2019c, October 8). Instructions Not Included: How a Team of Women Coded the Future|Hardcover. Barnes & Noble. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/instructions-not-included-tami-lewis-brown/1130510430
Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge. (n.d.). PublishersWeekly.Com. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-250-15532-0