What do you think?
Hands-On STEM
Solve This!: Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You
From the first wheel to the International Space Station, the miracles of engineering are all around us. Think cars, bridges, skyscrapers, and yes – even bubble wrap! Engineers dream up new ideas and bring them to life while figuring out creative solutions to problems they encounter along the way. But how do they do it? Find out in Solve This!
In this fun book, kids are confronted with wacky scenarios like this one: You're playing with your little sister when a vulture swoops down and grabs her favorite teddy bear. Mid-flight, the vulture realizes it doesn't care for the taste of fake fur and drops it to the ground. But now the plushie is on the other side of a raging river. How do you stop your sister from crying, stay safe, and save the day? Each challenge invites kids to think creatively to problem solve. Then they can see how different National Geographic explorers tackled the challenge. One of the big lessons? There's often more than one solution!
In this fun book, kids are confronted with wacky scenarios like this one: You're playing with your little sister when a vulture swoops down and grabs her favorite teddy bear. Mid-flight, the vulture realizes it doesn't care for the taste of fake fur and drops it to the ground. But now the plushie is on the other side of a raging river. How do you stop your sister from crying, stay safe, and save the day? Each challenge invites kids to think creatively to problem solve. Then they can see how different National Geographic explorers tackled the challenge. One of the big lessons? There's often more than one solution!
- GenresNonfictionChildrens
160 pages, Paperback
Published March 13, 2018
About the author
Joan Marie Galat
32 books57 followersAlthough she started making books at the age of nine, Joan Marie Galat wasn’t published until she was 12 years old, when she became a paid weekly newspaper columnist. Today she is the award-winning author of more than 25 books, with translations in eight languages. Her titles include Mortimer: Rat Race to Space (DCB), Solve This! Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You (National Geographic Kids), Stars (Scholastic USA), The Story of Malala Yousafzai (Rockridge Press), Dark Matters: Nature's Reaction to Light Pollution, and Dot to Dot in the Sky—Stories of the Aurora (Whitecap Books).
Joan shares her love of the stars in the Dot to Dot in the Sky series which combines the science of the night sky with the ancient myths that give constellations and planets their names. Her first title, Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars, became a best seller within six weeks of its release. As well as astronomy and mythology, Joan’s books for children explore light pollution, ecology, nature, volcanoes, wildlife, engineering, printmaking, cultural traditions, and history. Her titles include both fiction and non-fiction, often with a focus on one or more STEM or STEAM topics (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). Her titles for adults include a travel guide and motivational book. A frequenter presenter, Joan offers both virtual and in-person talks and school visits.
Joan operates MoonDot Media, a communications business offering writing and editing solutions in broadcast, print, and multi-media. Her freelance jobs have encompassed writing radio and video scripts, a cartoon, magazine articles, exhibit text, speechwriting, grant applications, annual reports, and other projects. She also provides corporate training and public workshops, as well as consults for writers on query letters, manuscripts, and the submission process.
Joan shares her love of the stars in the Dot to Dot in the Sky series which combines the science of the night sky with the ancient myths that give constellations and planets their names. Her first title, Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars, became a best seller within six weeks of its release. As well as astronomy and mythology, Joan’s books for children explore light pollution, ecology, nature, volcanoes, wildlife, engineering, printmaking, cultural traditions, and history. Her titles include both fiction and non-fiction, often with a focus on one or more STEM or STEAM topics (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). Her titles for adults include a travel guide and motivational book. A frequenter presenter, Joan offers both virtual and in-person talks and school visits.
Joan operates MoonDot Media, a communications business offering writing and editing solutions in broadcast, print, and multi-media. Her freelance jobs have encompassed writing radio and video scripts, a cartoon, magazine articles, exhibit text, speechwriting, grant applications, annual reports, and other projects. She also provides corporate training and public workshops, as well as consults for writers on query letters, manuscripts, and the submission process.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 25, 2018
This fun book gives problematic scenarios, and encourages the reader to find solutions by using engineering and science! The problem is set with a description of a place or difficulty, and then various people of different professions give their original solutions, and finally the engineers give a solution, and you can decide which one is best!
There are a wide variety of professional people from different areas giving imaginative solutions on each page; a marine biologist, a teacher, a librarian, an architect, a nurse, a plumber, and dozens more in addition to the actual engineers.
For instance, how would you get a book across the yard to your neighbor if you are quarantined with the flu? You could use a rope pulley to send it across from window to window. You could strap the book to the back of a dog. You could wheel it over on a toy truck pulled by a string. The possible solutions are as varied and interesting as the professionals who give them.
If you wonder all the time about how things work and how they could be improved upon, then this book would be perfect for that curious mind!
Personally, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, because most of the problems/scenarios didn't give enough information. Like what tools or supplies are available to you? What is the distance between the houses? How much does the book weigh? Who is there to help you, or do you have to complete the task alone?
Every scenario was very sketchy and lacked basic information. While that left more room for the imagination and allowed the solutions presented to be quite diverse, I didn't like the confusion that this created. I would have preferred more clear boundaries to the problems.
It's still a wonderful and fun book that really gets the mind churning with logic and ideas! This would be perfect for kids ages 6-12.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
There are a wide variety of professional people from different areas giving imaginative solutions on each page; a marine biologist, a teacher, a librarian, an architect, a nurse, a plumber, and dozens more in addition to the actual engineers.
For instance, how would you get a book across the yard to your neighbor if you are quarantined with the flu? You could use a rope pulley to send it across from window to window. You could strap the book to the back of a dog. You could wheel it over on a toy truck pulled by a string. The possible solutions are as varied and interesting as the professionals who give them.
If you wonder all the time about how things work and how they could be improved upon, then this book would be perfect for that curious mind!
Personally, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, because most of the problems/scenarios didn't give enough information. Like what tools or supplies are available to you? What is the distance between the houses? How much does the book weigh? Who is there to help you, or do you have to complete the task alone?
Every scenario was very sketchy and lacked basic information. While that left more room for the imagination and allowed the solutions presented to be quite diverse, I didn't like the confusion that this created. I would have preferred more clear boundaries to the problems.
It's still a wonderful and fun book that really gets the mind churning with logic and ideas! This would be perfect for kids ages 6-12.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
November 7, 2018
The concept of Solve This! is interesting and the wacky challenges a bit off-the-wall. However, the down deep methodology is a pursuit of a way we (or our kids) can solve many problems or challenges faced.
Is the toy tossed across the stream able to be retrieved without wetting one's feet? If you can't leave your room or house and your friend next door wants your book, how to get it to them without involving anyone else to take it to them?
Each challenge is presented with simple drawings taking one through the steps involved. Each challenge also has several "professionals" who chime in with thoughts on the challenge that needs to be solved.
The book is good but I'm not completely enamored with it. Perhaps the engineering aspect is too much of a challenge for this "non-genius." Still good for some kids and their parents can help guide them through the opportunities to Solve This!
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.
Is the toy tossed across the stream able to be retrieved without wetting one's feet? If you can't leave your room or house and your friend next door wants your book, how to get it to them without involving anyone else to take it to them?
Each challenge is presented with simple drawings taking one through the steps involved. Each challenge also has several "professionals" who chime in with thoughts on the challenge that needs to be solved.
The book is good but I'm not completely enamored with it. Perhaps the engineering aspect is too much of a challenge for this "non-genius." Still good for some kids and their parents can help guide them through the opportunities to Solve This!
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.
January 19, 2019
4.5 stars
October 21, 2018
Are you a person who loves to solve problems using math and science? Then perhaps you should become an engineer. This guide will test you to see if being an engineer would be a perfect fit for you.
Engineers design everything from floors and ceilings to fabrics, furniture and food products. Engineers are excellent at solving problems and they are fearless when it comes to new challenges. Readers will find experiments that help with better understanding of Mechanical, Acoustic, Structural, and problem solving. There are design, build and test sections and even a place to put notes. There is a section on real life engineers. This guide has illustrations and awesome photos to enhance learning along with loads of informational snippets on ever page. The back pages share a glossary and links for more resources.
There is a lot going on in this book. The setup is to engage, teach and allow readers to decide if becoming an engineer is something they would love to do. Parents and teachers can use this tool to inspire and motivate any up and coming engineer student.
Engineers design everything from floors and ceilings to fabrics, furniture and food products. Engineers are excellent at solving problems and they are fearless when it comes to new challenges. Readers will find experiments that help with better understanding of Mechanical, Acoustic, Structural, and problem solving. There are design, build and test sections and even a place to put notes. There is a section on real life engineers. This guide has illustrations and awesome photos to enhance learning along with loads of informational snippets on ever page. The back pages share a glossary and links for more resources.
There is a lot going on in this book. The setup is to engage, teach and allow readers to decide if becoming an engineer is something they would love to do. Parents and teachers can use this tool to inspire and motivate any up and coming engineer student.
December 7, 2018
I love this book so much because not only does it cause the reader to learn to problem solve, but it does so in such a fun and innovative way. It has super funny, entertaining and wacky challenges that puts your mind to the test. You will have hours of fun coming up with ways to solve the challenges. This book makes an amazing gift and is one of those books that is wonderful for kids and parents to work their way through together. I cannot wait to give this book to the boys for Christmas. I see lots of fun in our future as we put our minds together and make some amazing memories.
November 11, 2018
According to this book, engineers are problem solving champs! I couldn’t agree more! This book is filled with all kinds of experiments that will appeal to the budding engineer.
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
December 6, 2018
This book was great. It teaches you the steps and has a lot of different engineers help solve problems to get you thinking.
June 7, 2018
Engineering challenges are presented and explorers talk about their solutions.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews