An engaging series that investigates the ways in which STEAM is used in a variety of high-interest fields. Engineering is the focus of Inventions and Transportation, while TV Production and App Development concentrate on technology. Inventions and App Development walk readers through the construction processes involved, while the other titles skip around among subtopics. All titles feature “STEAM Fast Facts” sidebars full of trivia and anecdotes, like how Motorola’s Marty Cooper, the primary inventor of the cell phone, placed the first cell phone call ever to an engineer at a rival company. The coverage of emergency response drones is another great highlight.
VERDICT Middle school students will find a great mix of solid information, thought-provoking questions, and fascinating examples in this STEAM series.
—School Library Journal, November 2016
