Hi STEM Sparkers! Thanks for coming back this week. Because this week is Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) week! Woot, woot! The details about MCBD are down below, but I’ve been blessed to review an awesome STEM chapter book, Emerald Jones: Fashion Designer Diva by Vanessa Womack and illustrated by Rosemarie Gillen for the MCBD celebrations! Please note, I was given a copy to review for MCBD.
Will your kids like it and/or will you hate it?
I think Emerald Jones: Fashion Designer will be enjoyed by kids who have an interest in fashion or math. The book features eleven-year-old Emerald Jones, or Emmie, who has a passion for fashion and wants to become a fashion designer. She loves patterns, measuring, and sketching different pieces of clothing for friends and family and gets caught daydreaming about her designs during class. I think many kids will relate to being caught in class daydreaming and will enjoy what happens to Emmie after being caught. The book is good for kids entering the chapter book reading level, and the accompanying fun and colorful illustrations make it easier for early readers to infer what’s happening in the story.
How long will it keep them entertained?
I read this book in about 30 minutes, but if it’s a young reader attempting to read this book on their own, I think it will take them 45-60 minutes. I think the story is engaging enough to keep their interest, so again I recommend Emerald Jones for any reader who’s now reading chapter books. It can also be read to a younger crowd, like preschoolers, but I recommend splitting up the reading sessions of Emerald Jones when reading it to younger children.
Are they a good value?
I’ve checked Amazon, and this book costs $9.98 (US). I believe this price to be fair, but honestly, Jack and I have yet to start reading chapter books together (although I know it’s right around the corner). So, my only comparison is paperback picture books that from $3 (I’ve bought a few from Scholastic Book Club at that price) to $12.
Ninja-like STEM Skills
Alright, the good stuff! The STEM skills of this book are what I’m most excited about! It is chalk full of STEM and STEAM references, and if I remember correctly, Emmie performs some math in the book! I loved, loved, that Emmie learns it’s not just art in fashion design but math and tech. She comes to understand that to make it fashion you need all kind of skills and school helps you acquire these skills. I think it’s important for kids to know that artists need STEM and that STEM professionals need arts and languages. This book did a fantastic job of emphasizing STEAM!
So please if you're looking for a cool book feature STEAM and has diversity and inclusion elements, go check out Emerald Jones: Fashion Designer Diva from you local library, bookstore, or favorite online retailer. Leave a comment if this one is being added to your "To Be Read" list or any other diversity and inclusion books you want to chat about. Happy STEAM-ing dear readers!
Alright, now some good info about MCBD; you'll definitely want to check out the Twitter Party because books will be raffled off!