1
Failure as Learning
Reframes mistakes as necessary steps in the creation process, removing shame from trial and error.
Why It's On Our Shelf
Rosie builds contraptions in secret until her great-great-aunt Rose visits and encourages her to keep trying despite failures. The rhyming text has good flow and the illustrations by David Roberts are packed with details that reward multiple readings. What sets this apart is the great-great-aunt character - Rosie the Riveter, get it? - who reframes failure as progress. 'Your brilliant first flop was a raging success!' is a message kids need to hear. The book celebrates tinkering, problem-solving, and persistence, which are actual engineering skills. It's part of why this series has become so popular in STEM education - it gets the mindset right, not just the labels.
Why It Works
2
Engineering Mindset
Introduces problem-solving, iteration, and testing as core practices in creating things that work.
3
Mentorship Matters
Shows how encouraging adults can help children persist when they feel like giving up.
Curiosity & Why
Ada Twist, Scientist
Andrea Beaty
Ada Marie's endless curiosity leads her to become a brilliant scientist.
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Curiosity & Why
What Do You Do With an Idea?
Kobi Yamada
A child nurtures a fragile idea until it changes the world.
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Curiosity & Why
The Most Magnificent Thing
Ashley Spires
A girl and her dog learn about perseverance while building something special.
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