A STEAM Story

( science, technology, engineering, art, and math)

Author: Jonathan Litton
Illustrator: Magali Mansilla
Publisher:  QEB Publishing (October 2018)

• Pages: 24
• Size: 8 x 8

This STEAM story introduces different concepts of art, including drawing, design, and mixing colors through a story

many children can relate to.

Suzy and Max are hoping to sell home-made cookies at a table outside their house. Unfortunately, they look on as
people walk right past their stand. Suzy decides the cookies probably look a bit plain, so she and Max dash back into the
house and make them look like stars and rockets. The cookies turn out just as they’d imagined. But still to one stops
to make a purchase.

Not noticing the table, the art teacher proceeds to walk by when Max yells out and invites him to have a cookie.
The teacher admits that he hadn’t seen the table and suggests some great ideas to help them get noticed:

• staging (he suggests they go look at storefronts)
• paint a sign

The kids fix an elevated plate to showcase the cookies. Then, while they are painting the sign their teacher helps them
turn some accidental splatters into creative splashes of color. They also learn to blend colors to come up with those
they don’t have.

So now the cookies are bright and fun shapes, they are on a decorative display and there is a sign indicating that they
are selling cookies.

But will that be enough?

My Thoughts

What Concerned Me: Though this is a small concern, the story and illustrations felt a bit flat. More like a step by step procedure rather than a fun story that intertwines learning. But again, not a big concern.

What I Liked Most: I did like that it illustrates, even in a small way, how art can make a huge difference. I think parents
and teachers will probably be happy to see the last part of the book has a section titled The Art Behind The Story. This
offers some questions regarding the key points of the story and also invites children to share their thoughts. I have to be honest, having gone through the disappointment of a lemonade stand when I was young, I actually

stopped the car years later and ran over to a lemonade stand and gave the kids some money for a drink. But I told them I didn’t have time to wait for a drink. Honestly. There was no way on God’s green earth that I would have ever taken a sip of
it! I know, but I’ve watched kids prepare food before!

However, I knew the importance of supporting their efforts!