We love STEM books! Any story that encourages kids to make, tinker and discover gets two trunks up in our book, and this new STEM book, Be a Maker, by Katey Howes and illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic, is a total winner. Check out this review of one of our new favorite children’s books!
Want a new STEM Book for your collection? You need Be A Maker, by Katey Howes!
STEM. Are you hearing this word everywhere like we are?! STEM, as you know, is a focus on science, technology, engineering and math, and STEM books are taking the children’s literature world by storm! These fabulous stories feature creative kids in the process of building, inventing and challenging themselves to bring their ideas to life using all sorts of gadgets and gizmos — and their own wild imaginations. We love STEM books that showcase the myriad of ways that children can make… and Be a Maker, a phenomenal new story by Katey Howes and illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic, simply takes the cake when it comes to young, innovative makers. Howes is a genius, and her unique take on making is simply unparalleled!
Be A Maker is a phenomenal exploration of the word “make.” The book begins with a simple query: “Ask yourself this question in the morning when you wake: / in a world of possibilities, today, what will you make?” It then brilliantly delves into all of the things you can make in a day— from making towers and telescopes and spaceships to making friends, plans and gifts, from making pledges to help others to making a difference in the community. Though Be A Maker is most definitely a full-fledged STEM book as it focuses on ingenuity and innovation, it is so much more than that. This phenomenal story also speaks to the broader notion of using the things you make to make a positive impact on the world.
I can’t adequately express my love for this book. If you have been following us for a while, you know we celebrate Books for Better here at Happily Ever Elephants, and Be a Maker is a shining example of that special genre of stories. I adore the manner in which Be a Maker encourages children to use their imaginations, dream big, and create even bigger. Yet, Be a Maker goes so far beyond this and doesn’t simply end with a final, successful “invention,” like so many STEM books do. Instead, Be a Maker takes it a step further, encouraging kids to think about how the things they make can be utilized to foster goodness in the world around them. This book so brilliantly imparts to young readers that their creative innovations and entrepreneurial spirit can be a source for positive, impactful change. If our children learn from tender young ages that making can help preserve our world, protect our people, and cultivate kindness, the next generation will be well on their way to creating a brighter tomorrow.
Whether a child’s crazy new contraption is groundbreaking or quirky, a success or a flop, Be a Maker celebrates the beauty inherent in the the maker movement and all the ways that making can be a source for personal and mutual fulfillment. Beautifully illustrated, profound, and oh so perfect, this new STEM book is one for keeps. An absolute must for every bookshelf and classroom!
RELATED: We’ve got all the best children’s books for you on Happily Ever Elephants, so be sure to check them out!
Want the book? Get it here! Be a Maker, by Katey Howes and illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic. *This is an affiliate link. Happily Ever Elephants received a review copy of this book, but all opinions expressed herein are entirely our own.
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