Ty's Travels: Lab Magic

Ty's Travels

by Kelly Starling Lyons, Niña Mata (Illustrator)

"This installment in the Geisel-winning Ty's Travels series adds some much-needed diversity to the beginning-reader shelf" --Booklist

Join Ty on his imaginative adventures in Ty's Travels: Lab Magic, a My First I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator team Kelly Starling Lyons and Ni�a Mata. Science exploration, imagination, and play are highlighted in this fun story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6.

Ty and Corey love to visit the museum. When they step through the doors, they become scientists. They study bugs and hunt for fossils. They catch the wind. When Ty can't participate in a lab activity because of his age, he uses his big imagination at home. Discovering new things is so much fun!

Join Ty on his science adventure in this My First I Can Read for beginning readers. With simple, rhythmic text and joyful, bright art, this My First I Can Read book, Guided Reading Level I, is perfect for shared reading with a child. Books at this level feature basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with emergent readers. The active, engaging stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

Other acclaim for the Ty's Travels series includes:


A Chicago Public Library Best Fiction Book for Young ReadersTy's Travels: All Aboard is a Here Wee Read Ultimate Diverse Children's BookAuthor Kelly Starling Lyons has been selected as the 2021 Piedmont LaureateBoth an excellent book for guided reading and a winning read-aloud. --Kirkus (starred review)

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Childrens, Stem, Pre K, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2022

About the author

Kelly Starling Lyons is an award-winning author whose 17 titles for children span easy readers, picture books, chapter books, fiction, nonfiction, and series. For more than a decade, Lyons has been creating inspiring books that center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all children the storyteller they hold inside. Her acclaimed titles include Going Down Home with Daddy, Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations, Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon, Tiara's Hat Parade and the Jada Jones chapter book series. Her new easy reader series with illustrator Nina Mata, Ty's Travels, debuts September 1. The first book, All Aboard, earned a starred Kirkus review.

Lyons counts Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, Best of the Year and state award lists, Junior Library Guild selections, a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor among the accolades her books have received. Two of her books, Hope's Gift and Going Down Home with Daddy, have represented the states of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively, at the National Book Festival's Parade of the States.

Lyons is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, a team dedicated to raising awareness of Black children's book creators, a Raleigh-Durham co-ambassador for The Authors Guild, and a teaching artist who visits schools, libraries, conferences and festivals nationwide. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and children where she facilitates a book club for boys that salutes literary treasures from Black authors and illustrators of today and the past. Learn more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my 3 year old's bedtime. Ty and Corey are brothers and they both love science. They get excited when their mom said she will take them to the museum. But at the museum the younger brother is too young to play with scientist tools so they go home and set up their own science lab. They did other fun things at the museum. Good motivation for kids to try science.

Borrowed this book from the library.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beginning-level Easy Reader is a sweet story about two brothers, Ty and Corey, who are inspired to become scientists every time their mom takes them to the science museum. Their imaginations come to life in every exhibit, but being under eight years old, Ty is too young to go into the science lab. His brother, Corey, tries to encourage him, but it’s not until he gets home, puts on a lab jacket and creates a science lab of his own (with the help of his mom and dad) that he starts to feel truly better. Featuring a family of color, this book (and the entire, award-winning Ty’s Travels series) would be a great addition to diversify an Easy Reader collection while simultaneously encouraging young readers that it’s really cool to be passionate about science.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty and Corey are super excited to go to the science museum. They enjoy almost all of the activities. All but the lab which Ty is too young to enter. Can Ty have fun in a lab somewhere?

A little celebration of going to a science museum and having fun, and then a look at the kinds of science lab things you can do at home. A quick, easy read for the budding young scientists.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the STEM connections in this next Ty adventure!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to read before a trip to the science museum!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthusiasm abounds in this child-oriented book about two youngsters who "become" scientists.

Lest the world of science, or any other aspect of this world, seem overwhelming? Fear not, Goodreaders.

The approach in this book makes no knowledge at all ... seem the least bit intimidating.

HOW EXACTLY?

By starting, then staying, right at the most superficial ideas possible. For instance, how do Ty and Corey become scientists?

* Do they read books.
* Or do scientific experiments?
* Do they study with an excellent science teacher?

No need. They simply imagine whatever they like... to make it so. For instance:

When Ty and Corey step
through the doors,
they are scientists.

Sometimes they study bugs.
Sometimes they catch the wind.

LOOK, IT'S PRETTY GREAT HOW THIS BOOK
DOESN'T JUST INVOLVE IMAGINING THAT KIDS CAN READ.
IT REQUIRES REAL READING.

Readers will get some fine practice, and that's no fantasy.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun beginning reader book about Ty and his family - this one to the science museum.

When Ty cannot go inside the lab at the science museum, his family readjusts their plans. They wander in areas of the museum that allow younger visitors and go home to do some science experiments in their home "lab".

Lyons again scores with a fun beginning reader - this one with a direct STEM connection. The support and love in this family is palpable. Nina Mata continues creating digital artwork for this series. They are joyful and full of fun detail. I look forward to more about Ty from this dynamic duo!

Recommended for PreS-gr.2.

[Madison Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Age range (K-3rd)
2. This book focuses on two curious boys, Ty and Corey. They love going to museums and on this particular day, they ended up being transported into a science lab. They study things like bugs and fossils. Unfortunately, Ty is too young to participate in a lab experiment, so they use their imagination at home. This story focuses on the fun story of two friends who explore science, something that may be considered boring, but hey make it seem oh so fun!
3. I chose to include this book because we are talking about science and literature in our class and when I saw a book about science, I wanted to include it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022 Cybils Early Reader Finalist

This one does a great job of blending Ty's imagination with the real world, making the switch between them almost seamless, which is how it feels for the kid living in a rich fantasy world of their own. It also highlights the warm family dynamic, where the big brother supports his admiring little brother.

[Anina Falco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story! It showed children using their imagination and sibling love. It also showed that you can make anything happen at home with your family. This is an excellent message for all children, but I would recommend this story to children in kindergarten to third grade. The story also offers an example of science that can safely be performed at home!

[LaSheba Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! Ty and his older brother Corey visit a science museum. They enjoy being scientists and use the power of imagination to continue their adventure. The book has a cute and simple storyline with fun illustrations. It's a part of the Ty's Travels "My First I Can Read" series. 🧪🔬🤴🏾💕

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ty and his brother Corey visit the museum of science, but Ty isn't old enough to visit the lab, so after a day of exploration in the museum, Ty's family sets up a science lab in their home for Ty to enjoy time being a scientist with Corey.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty and Corey take a trip to the museum and get to see scientists at work as well as having butterflies land on them! Since Ty is too small to go into the museum's science lab, the brothers come up with the idea of creating their very own lab at home.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate how the author shows the creativity and inventiveness of these children. When Ty is disappointed to not be old enough for the lab at the museum, he and his brother Cory create their own lab at home with help from their parents. Terrific early reader series.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ty helps his brother Corey have fun with science after they find that Corey is too young to participate in many of the activities on a museum visit. A nice easy reader about enjoying science and helping others.

[Constance Thurman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ty's travels: Lab Magic." This book explores how TY gets creative using different techniques doing science experiment. This book has a creative illustarion the style is fun and adventrous. Children will enjoy this read because it show different ways on how they can experience science.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty's Travels is a fun early chapter book series celebrating Black Boy Joy and the power of creativity. This one is perfect for anyone who enjoys science.

[Lauren B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book wee kids won't realize that he's pretending. Great series.

[Erica Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supportive older brother

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun story. With the bright and delightful illustrations accompanying the story, you could really feel how much fun the children were having.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Future Scientists

Per my 6 y/o niece, it made her want to be a 'little' scientist. Great book regarding the imagination and allowing kids the opportunity to explore.

[Jocelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute entry in the Ty’s Travels series

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story with lovely colourful illustrations, great for children who like science.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn't give my 7 year old daughter any trouble.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ty and Corey make slime together.