Los Angeles, CA, March 29, 2013 - Best-selling authors and bloggers Ponn, JuJu (12), GiGi (11) and JoJo (9) Sabra announce the new release of: ‘What Is STEM?’ book one of the Emmy and Ott - The STEMBots kids book series. To be released on March 30, 2013, the book aims to “Make Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Fun and Easy for kids aged 4 to 12 years.”
In the attempt to make STEM subjects more practical, approachable, easy-to-understand and fun, best-selling authors and self-proclaimed STEMologists, Ponn, JuJu (12), GiGi (11) and JoJo (9) Sabra, created early-reader level books that will help build kids’ language and STEM-literacy skills at the same time.
Introducing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) To Early Readers
‘What Is STEM?’ is a 30-page colorful kids illustrated book, written in fun and easy rhymes, taught by robot characters Emmy and Ott - the world’s first STEM robots, also known as STEMBots. The book uses rhymes to help children memorize concepts for a fun and playful way to learn and includes a 4-page Glossary of Terms.
‘What is STEM?’ is available through Amazon.com. During the official launch from March 30- April 3, 2013, the book will be available FREE in digital format for Kindle readers. After April 3, the book will be $2.99.
“Parents can see the practicality of how, where, and when to infuse STEM into their kid’s daily lives, which can have a profound ability to spark the interest of their kids in these subjects. It’s unfortunate that these subjects are typically known as ‘difficult, boy-only, analytical, unapproachable’ classes. Our goal is to share our colorful and adorable STEMBot characters to excite parents, and demonstrate to kids that Science, Engineering, Technology and Math CAN be fun and easy”, says Ponn Sabra.
Kids need a way to make Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math interesting to them, for their future careers. Right now, one-third of fourth graders have lost an interest in Science, and about 50 percent of eighth graders are not interested in Science or find it unimportant to their education and future.
Despite spending the second most on education, the United States doesn’t rank well compared to the rest of the world. American students rank 28th in Math literary, 24th in Science literacy, and 20th for degrees in Natural Science and Engineering. It is predicted that by 2020, 58 percent of the workforce will be STEM-related jobs. The U.S. is not creating enough STEM-graduates to meet this demand. To stay competitive, our country needs need to build more interest in these subjects and is why President Obama prioritized STEM education in his 2013 inaugural address. In short, we need more STEMologists.
A STEMologist, according to the Sabra’s, is “an expert or someone studying how to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fun and practical for all”. The Sabra’s emphasize its value for girls, women and minorities, the under-represented groups in STEM fields.
Free Bonus Gifts For Kids
To further interest kids in these subjects, the Sabra’s offer free bonus gifts with the purchase of the “What is STEM?” book, such as:
An audio recording of the “What is STEM?” book,
Coloring pages of Emmy and Ott throughout the book, and
The opportunity for other kids to participate in weekly contests and challenges to build future STEMologists.
The Sabra Sisters are homeschooled by their mom, Ponn Sabra, a biologist and public health administrator who left her career to raise a family. She blends STEM into all the girl’s daily activities and explorations. JuJu, GiGi and JoJo Sabra have become award-winning inventors, professional bloggers, information product developers, website designers, coders, and best-selling Kindle authors while still tweens.
The Sabras hope to hear from other kids and parents who have also found creative ways to teach STEM at home.