About the Book

Wanda’s Better Way

Wanda's Better Way

“A child discovers that she has a special gift for spotting and solving engineering problems. In her realistic illustrations, Penny Weber emphasizes close-ups of the young inventor’s mobile expressions and light bulbs going off overhead as she visits in turn each member of her mixed-race family. Bright encouragement for young scientists and makers.” —Kirkus Reviews

A hilarious tale of a young person’s misadventures while pursing some inventive ideas she’s hatched. The story inspires young people to pursue the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math. Women in the US earn just over 57% of bachelor’s degrees in all fields, yet they receive less than 20% of degrees in computer science, engineering, and physics. Ask people to picture a physicist, and they will likely imagine Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, or Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory.

Wanda’s Better Way depicts a young person struggling to find solutions without substantial parent or teacher involvement as some children don’t have a strong support system. Likewise, the projects don’t require financial backing or access to expensive equipment. The book contains diversity in the portrayal of its characters, including within the family. Wanda’s brother plays an active role in the story so it should appeal equally to boys and girls. Wanda’s Better Way can be read aloud or individually. It can also be read to children who are not yet reading on their own. This is a terrific book for story time at schools, libraries, and camps that promotes imagination and should provoke a lively discussion.

(Fulcrum Publishing)

“A child discovers that she has a special gift for spotting and solving engineering problems. In her realistic illustrations, Penny Weber emphasizes close-ups of the young inventor’s mobile expressions and light bulbs going off overhead as she visits in turn each member of her mixed-race family. Bright encouragement for young scientists and makers.” —Kirkus Reviews

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