Professional Learning: Booktalks & Making

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.

Clink! Clankety-bang! Thump-whirr! That's the sound of Papa at work. Although he is an inventor, he has never made anything that works perfectly, and that's because he hasn't yet found a truly fantastic idea. But when he takes his family fishing on Lake Michigan, his daughter Virena asks, "Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a fish?"--and Papa is off to his workshop. With a lot of persistence and a little bit of help, Papa--who is based on the real-life inventor Lodner Phillips--creates a submarine that can take his family for a trip to the bottom of Lake Michigan. A Margaret Ferguson Book

From the New York Times-bestselling creator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend comes the inspiring epilogue to the beloved classic nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's poignant tale follows Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall--that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most. Will he summon the courage to face his fear? After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) is a masterful picture book that will remind readers of all ages that Life begins when you get back up.

What do you do with an idea? Especially an idea that¿s different, or daring, or a little wild? This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. It¿s a story for anyone, at any age, who¿s ever had an idea that seemed too big, too odd, too difficult. It¿s a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it space to grow, and to see what happens next.

What Do You Do With an Idea? has won several awards, including the Independent Publisher¿s Book Gold Award, the Washington State Book Award, and the Moonbeam Children¿s Book Award.

It has also hit multiple best-seller lists, such as Publisher's Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.

Like her classmates, builder Iggy and inventor Rosie, scientist Ada, has a boundless imagination and has always been hopelessly curious. Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs growing inside your nose? When her house fills with a horrific, toe-curling smell, Ada knows it's up to her to find the source. What would you do with a problem like this? Not afraid of failure, Ada embarks on a fact-finding mission and conducts scientific experiments, all in the name of discovery. But, this time, her experiments lead to even more stink and get her into trouble!

Rosie may seem quiet during the day, but at night she's a brilliant inventor of gizmos and gadgets who dreams of becoming a great engineer. When her great-great-aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter) comes for a visit and mentions her one unfinished goal--to fly--Rosie sets to work building a contraption to make her aunt's dream come true. But when her contraption doesn't fly but rather hovers for a moment and then crashes, Rosie deems the invention a failure. On the contrary, Aunt Rose insists that Rosie's contraption was a raging success: you can only truly fail, she explains, if you quit.

From the author of Warning: Do Not Open This Book comes a lively story about a teacher's special jar where her students keep their story ideas--but watch out when those ideas go on the loose! The idea jar is where students keep their ideas--anything from a Viking to a space robot to a giant dragon. These ideas can be combined to make new exciting stories. But watch out when the ideas escape the jar--they might get a little rowdy! Adam Lehrhaupt's newest picture book is sure to inspire creativity, imagination, and adventure.

Reading goes to the dogs in this timeless Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. From big dogs and little dogs to red, green, and blue dogs, dogs going up and dogs going fast . . . who knew dogs were so busy? And laughter will ensue at the repeated question "Do you like my hat?" Like P. D. Eastman's classic Are You My Mother? Go, Dog. Go! has been a go-to favorite for over fifty years, leaving audiences of all breeds wagging their tails with delight. Originally created by Dr. Seuss, Beginner Books encourage children to read all by themselves, with simple words and illustrations that give clues to their meaning.  "The canine cartoons make an elementary text funny and coherent and still one of the best around."--School Library Journal. 

Cars have driven along city streets for more than 100 years. Most of today's cars run on gasoline. But model cars don't need gasoline to run. They can use the wind to go. This makes it easy to make a small, wind-powered car at home! Learn how to make one by using materials such as an empty cereal box, ring-shaped hard candies, and straws. Watch your wind-powered car race across the floor!

Ann is playing school with her friend Bess. "Oh, no. Here comes Min!" Ann says. "This is a school zone, Min. School is hard. You are not ready. Here is the line. You may not step over it." Min is clever and resourceful. She gets a board, a tube, a rope, and a rock and builds and launches a rocket that catapults her right into the middle of her big sister's playdate without stepping over the line! Beginning readers will cheer underdog Min's triumphant landing in this easy-to-read book that celebrates ingenuity and perseverance.

Catapults have been around for many years. In ancient times, catapults were used during war. Today, people use catapults for more than just weapons. They can be used to launch aircrafts and for events like pumpkin throwing contests! No matter how a catapult is used, they all work by using energy. Learn how to make your own catapult by using basic household materials such as popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons. Watch as your catapult launches objects into the air!

Rockets have blasted into space for many years. They launch people and spacecraft. But not all rockets are used for space exploration. Pop rockets are small rockets that people can make at home for fun! Learn how to make your own pop rocket by using only a few basic materials, such as a plastic canister, an antacid tablet, and water. Watch as your pop rocket gets ready for blast off!

Construct an arsenal of mini-models of large launchers, based on siege weapons used throughout history. All you need are everyday items and some adult help. Wheel them out as you conduct a siege and load your catapults with raisins or marshmallows. Bite-sized facts explain how these siege weapons were used in history too!

Machines help make work easier, like when you need to lift something heavy or reach way up high. There are six simple machines: the lever, the wheel and axle, the pulley, the ramp, the wedge, and the screw. Can you adjust a seesaw to lift an elephant? What happens when you combine two or more simple machines? Read and find out!

2008 Caldecott Medal winner The groundbreaking debut novel from bookmaking pioneer, Brian Selznick! Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks--like the gears of the clocks he keeps--with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life and his most precious secret are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery. With 284 pages of original drawings and combining elements of picture book, graphic novel, and film, Brian Selznick breaks open the novel form to create an entirely new reading experience. Here is a stunning cinematic tour de force from a boldly innovative storyteller and artist.

"This is a great addition to STEM collections, maker spaces, andelementary- through middle-school graphic-novel collections." -Booklist "Fine, fabulous stuff" - School LibraryJournal Lurking in the corners of your garage, on the dusty shelvesof hardware stores, and in your own trashcan are the tools and ingredients forcreating your own adventures. Follow Celine and Tucker as they learn throughplay with over 50 DIY projects! Challenged to make something "other thantrouble," this brother-and-sister pair use everyday objects to invent toys thatreaders can build. Combining comics and real-life science and engineeringprinciples, Howtoons are designed to encourage kids to become activeparticipants in the world around them. "...perfectly tuned to inspirecreativity as well as promote good work habits in budding inventors andmechanical engineers alike." - Kirkus Review "Geeks aren't born,they're made... and here's the instruction manual." - WiredMagazine

The critically acclaimed, best-selling YA series returns with an all-new,sci-fi DIY adventure! Celine and Tuck's parents put them to sleep for centuriesto ride out the energy crisis -- but when they awake in the far future andMom and Dad are missing, it's the kids who have to save the day! Celine and Tuckmust explore a strange, new Earth using their gadgeteering skills to createprojects and experiments to survive hostile tribes and bizarre mechanizedthreats -- projects and experiments kids and parents can make themselves athome, and learn basic energy literacy at the same time! Collects HowToons: [Re]Ignition #1-5, along with backupstrips/projects by series originators Nick Dragotta and MacArthur 'Genius' Grantwinner Saul Griffith.

Cam's down-and-out father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday and he knows it's the worst present ever. So to make the best of a bad situation, they bend the cardboard into a man-and to their astonishment, it comes magically to life. But the neighborhood bully, Marcus, warps the powerful cardboard into his own evil creations that threaten to destroy them all!

Wolfie and Flyis an early chapter book at its simplest and best. Our heroine, Renata Wolfman (Wolfie) does everything by herself. Friends just get in the way, and she only has time for facts and reading. But friendship finds her in the form of Livingston Flott (Fly), the slightly weird and wordy boy from next door. Before she knows it, Wolfie is motoring through deep water with Fly as her second in command in a submarine made from a cardboard box. Out on a solo swim to retrieve a baseball vital to the mission, Wolfie is finally by herself again, but for the first time, she finds it a little lonely. Maybe there issomething to this friend thing...

This is the summer when sixteen kids encounter knights and rogues, robots and monsters--and their own inner demons--on one last quest before school starts again. In the Cardboard Kingdom, you can be anything you want to be--imagine that! The Cardboard Kingdom was created, organized, and drawn by Chad Sell with writing from ten other authors: Jay Fuller, David DeMeo, Katie Schenkel, Kris Moore, Molly Muldoon, Vid Alliger, Manuel Betancourt, Michael Cole, Cloud Jacobs, and Barbara Perez Marquez. The Cardboard Kingdom affirms the power of imagination and play during the most important years of adolescent identity-searching and emotional growth.

Welcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes!From graphic novel superstar (and high school computer programming teacher) Gene Luen Yang comes a wildly entertaining new series that combines logic puzzles and basic coding instruction with a page-turning mystery plot!

This detailed guide explores the historical development of algorithms and how they are used as a way of teaching computers to work through problems. Named for Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, modern algorithms and functions make programing more efficient. Algorithms are simplified for readers using words, flowcharts, and pseudo code to build a beginning understanding of algorithms and how they are used in our modern, computerized world. Young coders and STEM students are sure to strengthen their technical skills with an in-depth and fun exploration of this essential coding topic.

Kirby "Zig" Zigonski lives for the world of simple circuits, light bulbs, buzzers, and motors. Electronics are, after all, much more predictable than most people--especially his father, who he hasn't seen in over a year. When his dad's latest visit is canceled with no explanation and his mom seems to be hiding something, Zig turns to his best friend Gianna and a new gizmo--a garage sale GPS unit--for help. Convinced that his dad is leaving clues around town to explain his absence, Zig sets out to find him. Following one clue after another, logging mile after mile, Zig soon discovers that people aren't always what they seem . . . and sometimes, there's more than one set of coordinates for home. An important story of love and hope that will capture readers' hearts,The Exact Location of Home is another must read from beloved author Kate Messner.

You wouldn't expect Nate and Charlie to be friends. Charlie's the laid-back captain of the basketball team, and Nate is the neurotic, scheming president of the robotics club. But they are friends, however unlikely - until Nate declares war on the cheerleaders. At stake is funding that will either cover a robotics competition or new cheerleading uniforms - but not both. It's only going to get worse: after both parties are stripped of their funding on grounds of abominable misbehavior, Nate enrolls the club's robot in a battlebot competition in a desperate bid for prize money. Bad sportsmanship? Sure. Chainsaws? Why not. Running away from home on Thanksgiving to illicitly enter a televised robot death match? Of course! In Faith Erin Hicks' and Prudence Shen's world of high school class warfare and robot death matches, nothing can possibly go wrong.

This award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared--and a page-turning, heart-stopping adventure, recipient of the Newbery Honor. Hatchet has also been nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read. Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, haunted by his secret knowledge of his mother's infidelity, is traveling by single-engine plane to visit his father for the first time since the divorce. When the plane crashes, killing the pilot, the sole survivor is Brian. He is alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present. At first consumed by despair and self-pity, Brian slowly learns survival skills--how to make a shelter for himself, how to hunt and fish and forage for food, how to make a fire--and even finds the courage to start over from scratch when a tornado ravages his campsite. When Brian is finally rescued after fifty-four days in the wild, he emerges from his ordeal with new patience and maturity, and a greater understanding of himself and his parents.

Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as the island of San Nicholas. Dolphins flash in the blue waters around it, sea otter play in the vast kep beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone, and this beautifully written novel is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle, but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. More than this, it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down. Karana's quiet courage, her Indian self-reliance and acceptance of fate, transform what to many would have been a devastating ordeal into an uplifting experience. From loneliness and terror come strength and serenity in this Newbery Medal-winning classic.

A New York Times bestseller "Effervescent." --Chicago Tribune "Full of warm characters and sweet romance." --Entertainment Weekly "Get ready to fall in love with Dimple Shah and Rishi Patel." --Hello Giggles "Adorable." --Buzzfeed "Deliciously quirky, funny, and nerdy." --Bustle "Utterly delightful." --BookRiot "Heartwarming, empathetic, and often hilarious--a delightful read." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The rom-com that everyone's talking about! Eleanor & Park meets Bollywood in this hilarious and heartfelt novel about two Indian-American teens whose parents conspire to arrange their marriage. Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she's more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma's inexplicable obsession with her finding the "Ideal Indian Husband." Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn't have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers...right? Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him--wherein he'll have to woo her--he's totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself. The Shahs and Patels didn't mean to start turning the wheels on this "suggested arrangement" so early in their children's lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not? Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

A stunning debut novel the New York Times calls a "delectable romance"! Gottie's heart has been broken three times. One, when her best friend moved away without saying goodbye. Two, when her beloved grandfather died. Three, when her first love wouldn't even hold her hand at the funeral. As Gottie spirals deeper into grief, her past literally comes back to haunt her when she is inexplicably sent back in time to good memories and bad, revisiting afternoons of kisses and days she wanted to forget forever. This summer, Gottie's past, present, and future are about to collide--and she's the only one who can figure out why. The Square Root of Summer is an exponentially enthralling story about love and loss, from debut YA voice, Harriet Reuter Hapgood.

Ever wanted to move things without touching them like a Jedi can? Or grow your own kyber crystal? Or maybe explode a balloon with a beam of energy, just like the Death Star? Now you can! With 20 amazing projects, Star Wars(tm) Maker Lab teaches your budding Padawan how to become a Master of science, in both the real world and the Star Wars galaxy. Using clear step-by-step instructions, the book guides home scientists and makers through each exciting experiment-from making Jabba's gooey slime or a hovering landspeeder, to an Ewok catapult and a glowing Gungan Globe of Peace. Each experiment has fact-filled panels to explain the real-world science as well as the Star Wars science fiction from the movies. With projects that are out of this world, this fantastic Star Wars book can keep children entertained for hours, making use of many household items such as cardboard tubes, baking soda, cornstarch, straws, balloons, and food coloring. There is also plenty to keep more adventurous scientists enthralled, with instructions to make your own bristlebot mouse droid, lightsaber duel, and Mustafar volcano. Star Wars Maker Lab supports STREAM topics and helps children to learn the basics of science by traveling through the Star Wars galaxy. May the (static) Force be with you! © & TM 2017 LUCASFILM LTD. Used Under Authorization.

STEAM Lab for Kids is an art-forward doorway to science, math, technology, and engineering through 52 family-friendly experiments and activities. While many aspiring artists don't necessarily identify with STEM subjects, and many young inventors don't see the need for art, one is essential to the other. Revealing this connection and encouraging kids to explore it fills hungry minds with tools essential to problem solving and creative thinking. Each of the projects in this book is designed to demonstrate that the deeper you look into art, the more engineering and math you'll find. "The STEAM Behind the Fun" sections throughout explain the science behind the art.  Learn about: Angular momentum by making tie-dyed fidget spinners Electrical conductors by making graphite circuits Kinetic energy by making a rubber band shooter Symmetry by making fruit and veggie stamps And much more! From graphite circuit comic books to edible stained glass, young engineers and artists alike will find inspiration aplenty.  The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus--all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.   

Paper is incredible stuff. It's easy to cut, but incredibly strong. It's disposable, but can last for centuries. It can stand as stiff as a board, pop up like a spring, or float like a leaf. And its invention changed the world forever. Perfect for kids, parents, and educators, Paper Inventions is a project-based book with full color illustrations, step-by-step instructions, supply lists, and templates that allow you to follow along with the book or devise something entirely new. Each chapter features new projects that will challenge and intrigue everyone, from beginning to experienced Makers. In this book, you'll learn to make: A light-up paper cat that shows how switches and sensors work An action origami robot worm Edible rice paper perfect for secret messages A space rover that moves thanks to paper machinery A paper generator that creates electricity when you tap or rub it Heat-activated paper models that fold themselves A geodesic dome big enough to crawl into--from newspaper!

Do helicopters need more or less energy to stay in the sky than an airplane? What pushes a rocket to leave the atmosphere? Why can airplanes have smaller motors than helicopters? Help your students learn the answers to these and other questions! Written for educators, homeschoolers, parents--and kids!--this fully illustrated book provides a fun mix of projects, discussion materials, instructions, and subjects for deeper investigation around the basics of homemade flying objects. With the projects in this book, you can spend more time learning and experimenting, and less time planning and preparing. Complete with download links to PDF templates that expand your teaching, this is your one-stop manual for learning about, interacting with, and being curious about airflow, gravity, torque, power, ballistics, pressure, and force. In Make: Planes, Gliders, and Paper Rockets, you'll make and experiment with: Paper catapult helicopter--add an LED light for night launches! Pull-string stick helicopter Rubber band airplane Simple sled kite 25-cent quick-build kite Air rockets with a parachute or a glider Foam air rocket Rocket stands Bounce rocket Low- and high-pressure rocket launchers