Alicia Salazar

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

We are in our 5th week of STEAM picture books with a classic selection.

Do you have an idea for an invention?

The Picture Book of the Week is Rosie Revere, Engineer, written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts.

About the Book:

Rosie Revere wants to be an engineer. She has a head start in the attic of her house as she built gadgets and gizmos out of trash. One day, Rosie builds a gadget for her uncle that doesn’t go as planned. He says he likes it, but she knows he doesn’t. Rosie feels bad and stops making her inventions until an unexpected and inspiring person shows up.

Watch the Meet Rosie Revere, Engineer rap video below:

Writing Exercise:

Rosie gives up her dream when things don’t go as planned. Think about a time you failed at something. How did you feel? Write a letter to yourself as if you were Aunt Rose and inspire yourself to keep going.

Letter from Aunt Rose to You

Letter from Aunt Rose to You SPANISH

I would love to hear your stories. If you are willing to share, please send stories to stories@alicia-salazar.com.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer, and Elizabeth Zunon

Is there a problem you can solve by using your creativity and maybe some scientific knowledge from books?

The Picture Book of the Week is The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.

About the Book:

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is the true story of William Kamkwamba.

Here is his story in his own words:

Writing Exercise for kids:

William knew he had to do something to help his family and community. He didn’t care that people thought he was crazy. Think about a problem you need to solve in your world. Write a plan for how you would solve it.

Solve a Problem Activity

I would love to hear your stories. If you are willing to share, please send stories to stories@alicia-salazar.com.

Happy Writing!

Mary Had A Little Lab by Sue Fliess and Petros Bouloubasis

Have you every had an idea that got a little out of control?

The Picture Book of the Week is Mary Had A Little Lab, written by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Petros Bouloubasis.

About the Book:

Mary has a passion for science, but she spends so much time in her lab that she doesn’t have any friends–and no pet. One day, Mary gets an idea to solve her problem. She will build a machine that will make a pet she can cuddle with. Unfortunately, the machine the built to solve her problem creates another problem. Can she solve it?

Watch the book trailer:

Writing Exercise for kids:

Mary had a passion for science. Think about something you love the way Mary loves science. Draw a picture of what you would invent with your passion. Write about what it is and why.

Invention Writing Prompt_ENG

Invention Writing Prompt_SPA

I would love to hear your stories. If you are willing to share, please send stories to stories@alicia-salazar.com.

Happy Writing!

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen

Do you have a plan? A big plan? A plan to create something extraordinary?

The Picture Book of the Week is If I Built a Car, written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.

About the Book:

The boy in If I Built a Car has big plans. Ordinary cars are okay, but he plans to build an extraordinary car. He studies vehicles like zeppelins and trains. Then, creates a design that includes retractable wings and a Plexiglas dome. The boy plans for everything–safety, comfort, snack time, nap time, and more.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

This week is the first of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) picture books I will be posting through December. Remember to sign up for the Camila’s Invention Giveaway!

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Have you ever used your (math) skills to outsmart someone?

The Picture Book of the Week is Inch by Inch, written and illustrated by Leo Lionni.

About the Book:

Inch by Inch is about a clever inch worm who avoids being eaten by helping birds measure themselves, inch by inch. He measures the tail of a robin, the neck of a flamingo, a toucan’s beak, and several more until he receives a challenge that tests his skills.

Watch the read aloud below:

Writing Exercise for kids:

The inchworm in this book has to think quickly to get out of a difficult situation. Think about a time you have used your math (or reading or science) skills to solve a problem. Write about what you did.

K-5 Inch by Inch Writing Prompt ENG

K-5 Inch by Inch Writing Prompt SPA

I would love to hear your stories. If you are willing to share, please send stories to stories@alicia-salazar.com.

Happy Writing!

The Twilight Library by Carmen Oliver and Miren Asiain Lora

Do you hear the call of a magical story?

The Picture Book of the Week is The Twilight Library, written by Carmen Oliver and illustrated by Miren Asiain Lora.

About the Book:

The forest at twilight becomes a magical place where mice, bats, nighthawks and all sorts of creatures hear the call of the Night Librarian. They follow the call and congregate in the Night Library to listen to the Night Librarian tell stories with scents of evergreen, the crash of waves, feasting, and dancing. Get lost in the magic.

Read more about The Twilight Library here:

The Twilight Library info and activities

Writing Exercise for kids:

The Night Librarian tells stories that captivate the the forest animals. Think of some of your favorite stories. Gather your friends or stuffed animals and make a video of yourself telling them a story with feeling.

If you would like, you can send your video to contact@alicia-salazar.com.

Happy reading and writing!

Rick The Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan

Have you ever wanted to be somewhere else?

The Picture Book of the Week is Rick The Rock Of Room 214, written by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Ruth Chan.

About the Book:

Rick is a rock who sits in on a classroom. He is content sitting on the shelf. It is all he knows. One day the classroom teacher teaches a lesson about rocks and all the exciting things rocks do in the wild. Rick is no longer content to sit on a shelf in a classroom. He wants to be outside, having adventures on cliffs and in volcanoes. He comes up with a plan and finally makes it outside, but what does he find? Will he find adventure?

Watch the author, Julie Falatko, read the story aloud:

Writing Exercise for kids:

Rick wants to go on and adventure. Think about an adventure you would like to go on. Pretend you are actually on that adventure and write a postcard to your family telling them how it is going.

Postcard

I would love to hear your stories. If you are willing to share, please send stories to stories@alicia-salazar.com.

Happy Writing!

Hike by Pete Oswald

Sometimes a hike is more than just a hike.

The Picture Book of the Week is Hike, written and illustrated by Pete Oswald.

About the Book:

Hike is a virtually wordless picture book about a father and child who go on a hike. The hike isn’t just a hike, however. It is a series of moments shared between parent and child that makes the experience a beautiful memory for both of them. If you have been on a hike with a loved one, it will bring back memories. If you haven’t, it will make you want to go.

You can buy the book below:

Hike at Village Books

Or check it out from your local library.

Writing Exercise for kids:

Have you ever been on a hike (or other activity) with a loved one? Think about your memories of that activity. Draw the story without words

Hike_Writing Prompt K-5 ENGLISH

Hike_Writing Prompt K-5_SPANISH

I would love to hear your stories. If you are willing to share, please send stories to stories@alicia-salazar.com.

Happy Writing!

September Newsletter

Click on cat to read the September Newsletter

Are We Pears Yet? by Miranda Paul and Carin Berger

Have you ever had to wait for something?

The Picture Book of the Week is Are We Pears Yet?, written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Carin Berger.

About the Book:

Are We Pears Yet? is about two seeds who are waiting to become pears. One of them is very impatient. The impatient seed is not crazy about the process seeds have to go through to become pears. When will it finally happen? How much do you know about how seeds become pears?