The Surprise at Blowcart Beach: A Challenge Island STEAM Adventure

(Paperback)

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Description

Sail across sand dunes and streams on a handmade boat in Book 3 of the Challenge Island series!

Finding themselves transported to a magical island once again, Daniel, Joy, and Kimani emerge from a mysterious cave to see blue waterstheyre by the beach! And in the near distance, across large sand dunes and up a hill, stands a familiar tall tower. There, the pirate Captain Wei awaits with all the answers to their questions if they ever reach the tower in time.

Using items stashed around the cave, the friends must build themselves a blowcart and use wind power to sail across the bumpy beach. But how do they make a cart fast and sturdy enough to carry the three of them See what surprises are in store for the three friends in this new Challenge Island adventure!

Included at the back of the book are cool facts about real sea pirates and ships, plus fun STEAM activities you can do at home, like how to build your own blowcart and make pirate treasure slime.

From the worlds #1 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program and education enrichment program, Challenge Island presents an exciting new adventure for smart, curious kids. This is Book 3 in the Challenge Island series.

Reviews

Praise for The Bridge to Sharktooth Island, Book 1:

"This story introduces three fifth graders forced to use their individual strengths and talents to work together and problem-solve their way out of trouble. Estroff's clever prose helps readers think, plan, and create with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). These are perfect for a technology-focused classroom and lessons, as well as adventure-loving students. Expressive illustrations throughout the chapters help readers to see the models as they are envisioned by the characters. Fun additions at the end of the story include shark facts, Leonardo da Vinciinspired experiments, and instructions for readers to create their own truss bridge. This is a great STEAM-infused addition to the fiction section of any elementary or middle school library."
School Library Journal

"[The Bridge to Sharktooth Island] could provide a useful support for teachers and parents to involve children in STEAM and an engaging context for further STEAM and technological 'design and build' problem-solving."
Primary Science

Praise for The Race Across Anaconda Swamp, Book 2:

"For early grade readers who revel in science-based fiction, this is a winning read. Animals, physics, and habitats are among the topics covered, with lots of instances where the reader can predict and hypothesize along with the characters. Kimani, who is Black, has an impressive head for science and builds in many of the facts that help the group solve problems together. Sleek black and white cartoon art complements the text, adding visual clues. Science experiments and craft projects from each character are at the end."
Youth Services Book Review

"In this follow-up to The Bridge to Sharktooth Island, optimistic Joy, cautious Daniel, and studious Kimani find themselves transported once again to a magical island where they have to solve a series of puzzles to escape the middle of the rainforest before darkness falls. . . Supplementary materials at the back include STEAM projects and fun facts introduced by the main characters that a science-loving child will enjoy. The story is engaging, educational, and peppered with cute illustrations a fun purchase for the easygoing young reader in love with animals and books."
School Library Journal

Author Bio

Sharon Estroff is the founder and creator of Challenge Island, a STEAM program created for childrens education and enrichment to teach twenty-first-century skills through project-based learning. Sharon is also an author and an award-winning elementary school teacher, parenting and education expert, speaker, and freelance writer with work published in numerous publications, including Scholastic, Parent and Child, Womans Day, and Good Housekeeping. She continues her passion in childrens education by running the Challenge Island program from her home in Atlanta, Georgia. Joel Ross is an award-winning author of both childrens and adult books. He has received the Cybils Award among other honors, and was also named to the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. Joel lives in Santa Barbara, California. Mnica de Rivas is a childrens book illustrator who has published her work internationally, from Europe to North America to Asia. Ever since she was a young girl, she loved drawing, reading, and writing stories. She studied illustration at the School of Art and Design San Telmo, Malaga, and specializes in digital illustration. Mnica currently lives in Spain.