Lighting the Night

Learn about different types of lighting from the past and present with this fun and informative STEAM reader! Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this title builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity develops students' higher-order thinking skills
• Promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Staying Afloat

Boats, life preservers, kayaks, and paddleboards are all things that help people stay afloat. Introduce the concept of buoyancy and STEAM topics to your youngest learners! Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to make a toy boat that can stay afloat for 5 minutes
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Making Crayons

Learn how crayons are made with this fun and informative STEAM reader! Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to make a tool for coloring using things from the home or nature
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

What Toys Can Do

Toys are designed to do different things. Learn how a toy's design affects its function. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader introduces STEAM topics to young learners and builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to design a simple toy
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Folding Paper

Learn about different ways to fold paper into shapes with this title that teaches children about shapes. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader introduces STEAM topics to young learners and builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to design a container to hold paper clips using building blocks
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Finding the Right Container

Learn how different containers are designed to hold different things with this title that teaches children about shapes. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader introduces STEAM topics to young learners and builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to design a container to hold paper clips using building blocks
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Pulling Taffy

Learn how taffy is made with this fun and informative STEAM reader! Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to use higher-order thinking skills
• Promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Making More Doughnuts

Have you ever wondered how doughnuts got their shape? Learn about the history of doughnuts with this high-interest title! Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader introduces STEAM topics to young learners and builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to design a new shape for doughnuts
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Playing with Wind

Learn how the wind makes flying a kite possible with this high-interest title. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader introduces STEAM and Earth science topics to young learners and builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to make a device to determine which way the wind blows
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Garden Life

Flowers, trees, sunlight, rain, bees, and worms are all things that make a garden grow. Introduce life science and STEAM topics to your youngest learners. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to design a birdhouse and feeder
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Making Shade

Learn about different things that provide shade on a hot, sunny day. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM reader introduces STEAM topics to young learners and builds foundational literacy skills through engaging STEAM content. Features include:

• Gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through real-world examples
• A simple, hands-on STEAM activity challenges students to design a cover that can shade their entire body
• Encourage higher-order thinking and promote the 4 Cs of education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

Saving the World: The Chocolate Pilot

The years after World War II were hard on the people of Berlin, Germany. Lieutenant Gail Hal" Halvorsen wanted to help. Hal began a secret mission to give the children of Berlin hope in the form of chocolate and gum dropped in mini parachutes from his airplane. He became the Chocolate Pilot--and a hero in their hearts. This nonfiction reader engages students in learning about history through dynamic primary sources. Features include:

• Build literacy skills and social studies content knowledge
• Appropriately leveled content provides access to every type of learner
• Text features increase understanding and build academic vocabulary
• Aligned to state and national standards, this text readies students for college and career

Helping Injured Animals

Learn how prosthetic devices and technology such as 3D printing have been developed to help injured dogs, cats, elephants, and dolphins! Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this title builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation. A hands-on STEAM challenge guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

Helping Animals Learn

Animals usually know how to take care of themselves. But sometimes they need help! Animal keepers have developed innovative ways to help zoo animals learn and grow. Learn how zookeepers keep animals healthy and happy with this engaging title. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this title builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation. A hands-on STEAM challenge guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

Raising Silkworms

Silk is an expensive fabric that is valued for its texture and durability. Learn how silk is harvested from silkworm cocoons with this title that builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this book features a hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

Making Music

How do the size and shape of a trumpet's bell affect its sound? How do the levers, hammers, and strings of a piano work together to make music? Discover the answers to these questions with this title that builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this book features a hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

Staying Warm

This STEAM reader for first grade students will teach them about the things people can do to get warm when they are too cold. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this title builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation. A hands-on STEAM challenge guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

Cooling Off

On a hot day, what can people do to cool off? Learn about the many ways there are to keep cool. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this title builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation. A hands-on STEAM challenge guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

The Art of Shadow Puppets

People have been using shadow puppets to entertain people for centuries. Learn the history of shadow puppets and the technology behind them with this title that builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this book features hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

Building Sandcastles

Finesse your sandcastle-building skills with this fun STEAM reader! Students will examine the properties of sand and factors that influence sandcastle construction such as moisture and sunlight. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this title builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation. A hands-on STEAM challenge guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy

Being Like Butterflies

What do solar panels, waterproof clothing, and window coverings have in common? They are technologies that have been adapted based on studying butterflies! Learn about the amazing butterfly with this title that builds students' literacy skills while fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this book features a hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through each step of the engineering design process and is ideal for makerspace activities. Features include:

• Real-world examples provide insight into how the engineering design process is used to solve real-world problems
• Content that highlights every component of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
• Dynamic images and text features enhance the reading experience and build visual literacy