Requesting help from all parents!

[Cannybe123]

I’m looking for help in writing books for children from all parents.
I’m an engineer and work a lot in the space of improving the numbers of women studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related studies. I really see the value in encouraging more women into these roles and think children’s books are a great way to get discussions going at home with parents.

Therefore, I am writing a series of children’s books (aged 4+) on careers in STEM, to introduce unfamiliar career paths early on to show the value in learning STEM related subjects at school. I hope for these books to be an opportunity for parents and children to learn together, to expand knowledge and help generate discussion within the home.

I’m looking for some advice from this community on the following:
⁃ What do you look for in books when you buy them for your children
⁃ What makes you/ your child come back to a book?
⁃ What makes your child laugh when they’re learning to read?
⁃ Do you actively look for a wide range of book topics for your children?
⁃ Do you think there are a lot of books for teaching children about STEM roles? If so, can you suggest any?
⁃ Any other advice/suggestions?

I’ve started an Instagram page if anyone would like to keep up to date on developments and give feedback as we develop
@littlemefutureme

I think you need to write a brilliant story with strong characters first...slot the STEM stuff around that or it won't ever be appealing.

The IDEA of books like this is attractive because we all want more women in STEM but the fact is so many of the books are poorly written.

Look at the top 100 children's picture books...I assume this will be a picture book?

Take note of why those books work.

Fact or fiction books?

If fiction, then I agree with pp, having a good, interesting storyline is the most important thing.

The books that my DC tend to go back to are the ones where they like the story.

At four, my child really only chooses to pick up books with a relevance to something he is alreaddy excited about. For example he loves dinosaur toys so will pick up his dinosaur book to look at the pictures and use it to get me to tell him more (as he cannot read himself).

I think if you want children to choose your books you should try to connect them to relevant 'knowables' in a child's world.

Good luck!

A fiction book around STEM I would buy from 4 regardless of the character being a boy or girl, I great fun interesting story and/or picture books sure

I do not buy books that have an agenda though and to me I can tell the difference so would not buy it

I've got 3 dc all of whom loved books, but from an early age were very eyeroll-y about books with a clear agenda.

My dd has a physical disability and she commented that there is a huge difference between a book that is written with the entire aim of saying "look people with disabilities are also human-what a surprise" and a book which has a main character who happens to have a disability.
The former are generally patronising and make too much of it. To actually make the child feel that disabilities are normal, you need a book where they identify with the character, and they know there is a disability but it doesn't matter. When they beat the reader round the head with it every couple of sentences it doesn't work.

I'm a mathematician, and I don't think discussions round books are going to change much. Parents who already value it will be the ones who pick up the books and want to discuss it.
What I'd look to do is challenge the attitude of "oh I never could do maths" or "you'll never use your school maths again" from parents who didn't enjoy maths, which is acceptable to say in a way that is unhelpful.
How many children's books can you think of where the character is quietly good at maths (unless it's connected to being a computer whizz) and it's not referred to as being a "maths nerd"?

DGD (8) who is naturally good at maths is currently only interested in mermaids. Or at a push, unicorns.
So, um, good luck with that.

There seem to be quite a few books about amazing women, but they are generally for an older market. My DD1 has things like Ada Twist, Scientist, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World (and sequels), Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls.

I think there is a gap in the market for books aimed at younger children and fiction around STEM. Unfortunately I find non-fiction about female STEM role models a bit repetitive, there's only so many times you want to hear about Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin at the same depth of information.

We have Violet the Pilot. It is disappointing because it takes the approach of "weird kid helps people, so weirdness is accepted". That doesn't really hit your target as it isn't the unusual kids who fail to forge their own paths, but the ones hemmed in by societal norms.

In terms of what I like to read to DD2, I like books with a strong rhythm and beautiful illustrations. I also prefer them not to he unnecessarily long.

For me I try to follow my children’s interests, I would love more stem based books with beautiful illustrations, stories and rhymes for my 4 year old. He loves machines and engineering type things. I’m not necessarily interested in job roles or examples of great STEM careers but more ways of actually exploring the subjects themselves with him