Engineering Ingeniería

PreS-Gr 1--Part of the "Ochoa" series inspired and launched by Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space, these nonfiction volumes give bilingual kids an intro to STEM topics. Engineering has a narrower focus, taking readers from thinking of a problem to solve, asking questions, doing research, and working as a team to make a model of the Mars Rover. Technology is broader, moving in a whirlwind of pages from a simple definition of technology as tools to help people solve problems to computers, algorithms, coding, spaceships, and the internet. Both titles feature Reyes's signature art of adorable kids as scientists with charming illustrations done in bright colors. The bilingual narrative is straightforward in both languages. While these are packaged as board books, the text hits at a higher grade level and can be used as a read-aloud or introduction to STEM in early elementary classrooms. VERDICT A fun and educational series to inspire a new generation of scientists.--Shelley M. Diaz