Beginning with an introduction from the author, Dr Shini Somara, she explains how she was inspired to become an engineer and wants to inspire others to do the same. The information on types of engineers and how to become an engineer is really interesting – I didn’t realise how many types of engineers there were!

The book is then split into different sections depending on the purpose of the engineering. Everything from human needs to communication and entertainment is covered. Within the sections, we meet several engineers and find out all about why and how they became engineers, as well as what they have achieved. There are photos of the engineers as well as diagrams and illustrations to help you understand their inventions and work. There are also QR codes linking to YouTube videos for some of the engineers, and a comprehensive teacher guide available to download.

After learning about the 46 engineers, there is an illustrated timeline of engineering and a useful glossary of terms used in the book. I think this is an unusual and informative book suitable for UKS2 children and older, although extracts from the book could be used with younger children if supported. I will be using this book with my Y6 class to support our learning about climate change, as well as many other things, I’m sure!

What’s Technology is a visually appealing and interesting non-fiction text with information which is bang up to date such as AI technology, detailing 13 major inventions that changed the world.

The text is well laid out and easy to access in bite-size chunks and includes fun facts, timelines and steps to take learning further. Each section includes fabulous cartoon-style illustrations as well as more accurate diagrams and drawings. Information is easy to find with a clear contents page, glossary and a page giving children ideas on how to take what they have learnt in the book further. The vocabulary and information are most suited for Key Stage Two pupils and could support STEM aspects of the curriculum, as well as some history topics. Timelines include a level of diversity, including women in STEM.

The Mellons are a family of five who live in a small flat and have had enough of not having enough space so decide that they need a bigger family home. They look around some different houses but none of them are quite right so they decide to build their own house. Each family member has a request for something that the new home should have: a study, a big kitchen and even a pool. With the help of architect Masha, they set off creating their dream home, but with a bigger picture in mind – their impact on the environment.

This book follows the journey of designing and building a new house and how this can be done in a more ecological way thinking about each step and its impact on the environment – making it stand out from the array of books about more traditional houses and homes. A range of tradespeople are introduced, who are represented by a range of men and women. At each step, the green way is discussed and how this is better for the environment than the traditional building method – for example using solar panels and a green roof. Every aspect of the building process is examined and made more friendly for the planet.

The book was enjoyable to discover and included interesting facts and lots of technical vocabulary – with enough science to capture older children as well as younger primary pupils who will enjoy the visual information and narrative frame. New topic words are either explained in the text or included in the glossary at the back.

Elephant Island is a peculiar tale!  At the heart of the book is the theme of community. When Elephant’s ship capsizes, he has to resort to inventiveness to fix it. Children will love his quirky approach to problem-solving solving and wild engineering attempts, and the illustrations will be pored over as, with each look, there is something new to spot. Arnold the elephant has a very positive outlook on life and no matter what, he believes that he can fix things. His perseverance and determination result in a home for all where everyone is welcome.

Seemingly aimed at a younger audience but really well suited to the whole primary range, this picture book makes references to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner poem with the line “Alone, alone, all all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea!” The vocabulary used within the story is ambitious ‘salvage’, ‘seafaring’, ‘catastrophic’ and ‘expanding’ for example and so this will lend itself to discussion about the meaning of new words. For these reasons, it is a picture book that would be better placed in an older classroom or, if to be shared with younger children, to be read alongside an adult.

Readers will laugh at Arnold’s unusual approaches to fixing problems – his solutions are never the easy, obvious ones! The pictures contain things to find, things to count and each character is full of expression. This is a great book for sharing and for chatting about. Children will delight in Arnold’s creative contraptions and Leo Timmers’ detailed illustrations.

A gorgeous story book for younger children with themes of perseverance and learning not to give up, as well as STEM and engineering. Jabari wishes to make a flying machine that can really soar through the air in the garden. Just like many of the best inventions, it doesn’t work properly on the first attempt and a little trial and error is needed to tweak the design. Jabari is disappointed, but with a bit of encouragement from his family to keep on trying, he soon begins to see success.

Young children will be able to relate to the frustration of models and designs not working properly and the challenge of not giving up. Jabari’s father and sister offer fantastic encouragement and we also see familiar family dynamics as Jabari is not sure that he wants to include his sister in his game, but the teamwork pays off in the end. Jabari becomes a good role model when he adapts the attitude to keep trying to reach his goal, and readers celebrate with him when his success is the fruit of his tenacity.

The book could inspire some STEM-themed projects, research into some of the scientific figures mentioned to simply discussions on the topic of perseverance.

We love this story featuring a girl called Rosie who has a passion for inventing and a dream of becoming a famous engineer. Along the way Rosie must learn how to respond to mistakes. When one of her inventions crashes to the ground, Rosie must choose between giving up on her dreams or listening to her Great-Great-Aunt’s wise advice about embracing mistakes positively and using them to learn something new.

This picture book was inspired by Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Foraker, a talented seamstress who created the spacesuit worn during the memorable Apollo 11 1969 Moon Landing. There is a lovely dedication to her on the very first page, and as you read through, it is clear to see what an inspirational woman Ellie Foraker really was.

From a young girl, Ellie enjoyed sewing and creating items with neatness and detail. As an adult, a passing engineer who noticed Ellie’s talents encouraged her to go up against military designers in a Space Competition with the opportunity to create a spacesuit worthy for a moon expedition. With the help of other seamstresses, Ellie and her group of women would help to change the world of exploration forever.

This book not only has beautiful, bright illustrations created by Ariel Landy, which really bring the story to life, but it also contains interesting facts about space and the moon landing that will hook younger and older readers and guarantee lots of discussions around the subject. It also has a glossary of key terminology and a QR code if any reader – or teacher – wanted to access more facts. What a great touch!

Leonora Bolt Secret Inventor is an entertaining STEM-themed narrative and a great story choice for Year 3 and above. The book follows a young female scientist named Leonora, who is passionate about creating new and ingenious inventions to solve the problems of those around her.  Gladys Jose’s illustrations enhance the storytelling experience, as does the good dose of humour woven through the narrative.

Leonora’s secret workshop serves as the backdrop for her endeavours, which become critical in her confrontations with her invention-stealing uncle. What follows is an imaginative adventure with quick-thinking Leonora using her STEM skills and natural wit to triumph.  Readers who love science and innovation will find this an engaging and entertaining storytime choice.

This book showcases a James Carter poem about inventions. The rhyming text takes the reader through the range of inventions we now have in our modern world. It is the colourful and vibrant illustrations that jump out at the reader in this book. They complement the rhyming text which focuses on the range and types of inventions from the start of time.

The end pages of this book should not be ignored and could provide an interesting discussion point for predictions about what this book will be about and for trying to make connections between the different items shown.  The font size and text layout guide the reader as it moves in and around the colourful illustrations. Teachers who are focusing on the topic of materials will find lots to explore in the text, particularly thinking about which everyday objects and items are made from – children may not be aware that glass is made from sand for example.

The end of the book has a nod towards the need for recycling the many things we create, and this may be a useful jumping-off point to talk about sustainability. The book also encourages children to be inventive and to create something new out of something old.

Human 2.0: A Celebration of Human Bionics is an engaging and informative exploration of the fascinating world of human bionics for young readers. Authored by Patrick Kane and Samuel Rodriguez, this children’s non-fiction book seamlessly blends education and entertainment, making it an excellent resource for curious minds.

The book’s narrative is centred around medical engineering presenting complex concepts in a way that is generally accessible and captivating for children for older children in KS2. Kane employs a clear, friendly but formal writing style, ensuring that young readers can easily grasp the concepts of human bionics but still appropriate for an explanation text.

One of the book’s strengths is its use of vibrant illustrations and visuals. The colourful and dynamic images effectively complement the text, helping to explain intricate details about technology that mimics biology. These visuals not only enhance the learning experience but also keep young readers engaged throughout the book. The author does a commendable job of introducing young readers to the history of human bionics, starting with the first prosthesis, almost 3,500 years ago. The book also covers recent advancements in the field, such as neural implants and electronic chips, sparking curiosity and encouraging readers to envision the exciting possibilities of the future.

The organization of the book is well thought out, with sections logically arranged to build upon each other. Furthermore, the book successfully balances scientific information with real-world examples and stories of individuals benefiting from bionic technologies. These personal anecdotes add a human touch to the subject matter, making it relatable for young readers.

Human 2.0 is a great addition to children’s non-fiction literature, offering an accessible and captivating introduction to the world of human bionics. Whether used as a classroom resource or enjoyed at home, this book has the potential to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. Recommended for young minds eager to explore the wonders of technology and the human body. A must-have for Year 6 book collections.

This incredibly visual book is partly a history of the development of all things wheels around the world, and partly a guide to all types of vehicles from bikes to emergency vehicles.

It starts with the Stone Age and ends with predictions for future travel and in between, each and every way a human has moved with the aid of a wheel is described. Each double spread focuses on one aspect of travel, for example, ‘taxis’, and is full of drawings, surrounded by short facts, many puns, comments, questions and even instructions. Any reader young or old will revisit pages and discover something new each time such as when the first motorcycle was built or what spoilers do.

This book is certainly fun: there are drawings of animals as users of the vehicles with many different expressions and quotes and jokes, and the author has fun with the visuals – a chicken being chased by a snake which means the chicken tows a cart more quickly, for example! Although this book could be enjoyed independently by any age, it lends itself beautifully as a book to share and dip into and it is likely that plenty of discussion will arise.

There is so much to look at that this transport-themed book will most likely remain on a favourite browsing choice for some time.