Publisher Description

Sail across sanddunes and streams on a handmade boat in Book 3 of the Challenge Islandseries!Finding themselvestransported to a magical island once again, Daniel, Joy, and Kimani emerge froma mysterious cave to see blue waters—they're by the beach! And in the neardistance, 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 stashedaround the cave, the friends must build themselves a blowcart and use windpower to sail across the bumpy beach. But how do they make a cart fast andsturdy enough to carry the three of them? See what surprises are in store forthe three friends in this new Challenge Island adventure!Included at the back ofthe book are cool facts about real sea pirates and ships, plus fun STEAMactivities you can do at home, like how to build your own blowcart and makepirate treasure slime.From the world's #1 STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program and education enrichmentprogram, Challenge Island® presents an exciting new adventure for smart, curiouskids. This is Book 3 in the Challenge Island series.

Author Biography

Sharon Estroff is the founder and creator of ChallengeIsland, a STEAM program created for children's education and enrichment toteach twenty-first-century skills through project-based learning. Sharon isalso an author and an award-winning elementary school teacher, parenting andeducation expert, speaker, and freelance writer with work published in numerouspublications, including Scholastic, Parent andChild, Woman's Day, and GoodHousekeeping. She continues her passion in children's education byrunning the Challenge Island program from her home in Atlanta, Georgia.Joel Ross is an award-winning author of bothchildren's and adult books. He has received the Cybils Award among otherhonors, and was also named to the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. Joellives in Santa Barbara, California.Mónica de Rivas is a children's book illustrator who haspublished her work internationally, from Europe to North America to Asia. Eversince 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, andspecializes in digital illustration. Mónica currently lives in Spain.

Review

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 Vinci–inspired 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 SciencePraise 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

Promotional

AWARDS: submit for STEM/STEAM book awards, i.e. CBC's Best STEM Book Awards, Mathical Awards
ADVERTISING: social ads/AMS ads to drive preorders
EVENTS: nationwide events at bookstores and libraries to celebrate book launch in conjunction with National STEM Day 11/8, hosted by local franchisees
REVIEWS: review outreach to children's/MG book media, including trades, blogs, bookstagrammers, parenting/family media
ONLINE: promotion on ~100 of franchise social media channels and local news media coverage of Challenge Island events
PROMOTION: DRC via Edelweiss; giveaways on Goodreads and LibraryThing
TRADESHOWS: giveaways/features at ALA

Long Description

Sail across sanddunes and streams on a handmade boat in Book 3 of the Challenge Islandseries! Finding themselvestransported to a magical island once again, Daniel, Joy, and Kimani emerge froma mysterious cave to see blue waters--they're by the beach! And in the neardistance, 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 stashedaround the cave, the friends must build themselves a blowcart and use windpower to sail across the bumpy beach. But how do they make a cart fast andsturdy enough to carry the three of them? See what surprises are in store forthe three friends in this new Challenge Island adventure! Included at the back ofthe book are cool facts about real sea pirates and ships, plus fun STEAMactivities you can do at home, like how to build your own blowcart and makepirate treasure slime. From the world's #1 STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program and education enrichmentprogram, Challenge Island

Review Quote

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 Vinci-inspired 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

Promotional "Headline"

AWARDS: submit for STEM/STEAM book awards, i.e. CBC's Best STEM Book Awards, Mathical Awards ADVERTISING: social ads/AMS ads to drive preorders EVENTS: nationwide events at bookstores and libraries to celebrate book launch in conjunction with National STEM Day 11/8, hosted by local franchisees REVIEWS: review outreach to children's/MG book media, including trades, blogs, bookstagrammers, parenting/family media ONLINE: promotion on ~100 of franchise social media channels and local news media coverage of Challenge Island events PROMOTION: DRC via Edelweiss; giveaways on Goodreads and LibraryThing TRADESHOWS: giveaways/features at ALA

Excerpt from Book

Chapter 1 The passengers swayed as the subwaysquealed to a halt. They were packed in tight, so Daniel had to be extra carefulnot to smoosh the bakery box he was carrying. His grandma had sent him and Joy homewith two doughnuts... though there was only one left. The doors slid open. Daniel stepped out onto the platform andreached into the box for the last doughnut. Chocolate-glazed, his favorite. But before he grabbed it, Joy darted past, knocking his elbow. "Watch out," he said. "This is it!" Joy stood in the middle of the platform and spreadher arms wide. "This is the spot!" "Even more than the school bathrooms?" Daniel asked as the trainrumbled away. "Definitely! I told you I''d find the least-magical islandy placein the whole city." "''Islandy'' isn''t a word." "Island-ish, then," Joy said. "And I also told you thateven in the least magical place, I can still do a trick." Daniel snorted. "You cannot." "Sure I can. Look at the train." Daniel turned to watch the train disappear into the tunnel. "It''sgone." "That''s my trick. Abracadabra--it vanished!" "That''s not magic. Magic is..." He started for the stairs that ledup to the street. "It''s zooming across the world in two seconds, from a snowyplayground to a sunny beach." "Or from an elevator into a rainforest?" Joy asked, trotting besidehim. Daniel smiled, because that''s exactly what had happened to them.Twice now they''d been summoned to a tropical island with their friend Kimani toface new adventures and tests. Not tests like school, though: tests likechallenges. And both times, they''d passed... barely. "What if we mess up the next time we''re called to the island?" heasked Joy, taking the doughnut from the box and smelling its fudgy sweetness. "We''ve messed up every time!" she said. "Can I have a bite?" "You already ate yours." "Which is exactly why I need a bite of yours." "Just one," he said, handing her the doughnut. She took a bite, and withher mouth full said, "Remember what Captain Wei said?" Captain Wei was the mysterious drummer who had summoned them tothe island with a magical drumbeat. Joy thought she was a pirate captain too,but Daniel wasn''t so sure. He made a face. "She said there''s a greater challenge waiting forus." "Would you stop worrying about that?" "I''m not worried." "You''re worried- ish ," Joy told him. "And I meant, do youremember what she said about messing up? She said we''re good at workingtogether to solve problems because we keep trying and failing until finallysomething works." "So we''re good at messing up?" "The best!" She gestured wildly with Daniel''s doughnut. "That''s why--hey!" A texting teenager bumped into her, knocking the doughnut from herhand before vanishing into the crowd. "Oops," Joy said. "Well, that was a failure," Daniel said, watching hisdoughnut roll across the floor, leaving a trail of chocolate glaze. "It wasn''t my fault!" Joy told him. "And you know I''m right. Weand Kimani make a great team." That was true. The three of them each had special strengths. Joywas energetic and fearless, and knew how to tie a million knots. Kimani wassmart and organized, and wrote things in her little notebook. And Daniel wasathletic and cautious and, uh... good at making friends with parrots? "I guess," he said, tromping toward the stairs. "But Captain Weireally did say there''s a bigger challenge waiting for us." "Yeah," Joy said. "I can''t wait." "Just as long as there aren''t any more monster snakes." "Ooh! Do you think there''ll be penguins next time?" Daniel stopped midway up the stairs, in a patch of the daylight thatstreamed into the subway station from the street. He stared at Joy. "On atropical island? No." The crowd bustled around them. A bunch of businesswomen, theirshoes going click-clack-click . A man with a cane, tink-tunk-tink . Anolder couple carrying shopping bags, thup, swish, thup . "Then how about hoverboards?" Joy asked. "Oh, sure," Daniel said. "There will probably be penguins riding hoverboards." "Don''t be silly," Joy said. "Penguins can''t..."She trailed off when the click-swish-tunk sounds of thecrowd changed. Boom-badoom-doom-boom-ba-BOOM. Boom! Boom-badoom-doom-boom-ba-BOOM. "Boom!" Joy yelled, grabbing Daniel''sarm. "Hold onto your haircut--here we go!" The drumbeat pounded faster, fierce andhappy, echoing through the train tunnel. The daylight at the top of the stairsglowed brighter and brighter, and the air suddenly smelled of ocean breezes. Boom-badoom-doom-boom-ba-BOOM. Then the drums whooshedthem away. Daniel felt himself swooping upward like sparks rising from acampfire. The subway station disappeared, and Daniel fell--down, down, down! He landed on his feet, gentle as butterfly''s whisper. He wasstanding beside Joy in the dark. He could make out the inside of a cave withbrilliant sunlight pouring through an opening in front of them. Daniel blinked and saw a shadow in the brilliant light. A hugefigure, silhouetted against the sun. Like a troll or a cyclops... that turned toward them and let loose acry.

Description for Sales People

Excellent, proven, (and fun!) cross-curricular STEM/STEAM content. The third in a series of books focusing on practical applications of science/math skills in exciting tropical island settings. This project-based learning approach will help establish the Challenge Island brand with the end consumers (teachers, librarians, parents, kids). Each book will have a 5-page nonfiction appendix with more detail about the science/math skills used in the story, along with details about future career options. Challenge Island programming has been featured in 6000 schools and community locations; one million children served to date. Book will be used in programming at Challenge Island franchise locations nationwide in connection with local schools at after school enrichment programs, school field trips; preschools; public libraries; summer camps; PTAs; city parks departments; JCCs, YMCAs, Girl Scout Troops, etc. Book series reflects Challenge Island proprietary curriculum, offering engaging journeys into new worlds of adventure and imagination (a welcome reprieve from the increasingly digitalized and high-pressure childhood experience) and encouraging values such as: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, flexibility, sociability, initiative, leadership, perseverance, grit, and public speaking. Challenge Island has over 100 franchises worldwide who will participate in promotion and are located in: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, KS, LA, MD, MI, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, Puerto Rico, SC, TN, TX, UT, VI, Washington DC, WI; Egypt, the Philippines, Singapore, and Switzerland. Print-on-demand hardcover will also be available Lexile 640L; F&P Text Level R

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