As part of Engineering Day at the Library invite local engineers and engineering students to talk with students about math, science, and technology and conduct hands-on projects. Engineers might discuss books that influenced them as young readers.

Engineering requires an interest and solid foundation in math and science. Have children hunt for books related to science and technology Or, ask children for their suggestions of math- and science-related books they've liked and for brief reviews. Topics are wide open. Do they like detective stories and does the hero use science, math or technology to crack the case? Hand out Engineers Week bookmarks to all who participate. Some suggested titles follow:

Career Guidance

"I Want to Be...an Engineer," Stephanie Maze, et al (Grades 4-6); "The Fantastical Engineer: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to Careers in Theme Park Engineering", Celeste Baine (Senior High School & up); "Is There an Engineer Inside You?", Celeste Baine (Young Adult); "Cool Careers for Girls in Engineering", Ceel Pasternak, et al (Young Adult); "Cool Careers for Girls in Computers", Ceel Pasternak, et al (Young Adult); "Girls & Young Women Inventing: Twenty True Stories About Inventors Plus How You Can Be One Yourself", Frances A. Karnes, et al (Young Adult).

Engineering

"Engineering Projects for Young Scientists," Peter Goodwin (Gr. 6-10); "New Roads," Gail Gibbons (Gr. K-4); "The Story of the Statue of Liberty," Betsy Maestro (Gr. 3-5); "The Most Amazing Science Pop-Up Book," Jay Young (Gr. 5-Adult);"The Magic School Bus Inside the Water Works," Joanna Cole (Gr. 3-5); "How Science Works," Reader's Digest (Family); "Underground, The Way Things Work," David Macaulay (Family); "Building a Road", Henry Pluckrose, Teri Gower, illustrator (Preschool, Kindergarten); "Building a House", Byron Barton (Preschool, Kindergarten); "Truss Fun," David E. Harris, PhD, PE (high school and older; bridge building principles and experiments), "Engineering the City: How Infrastructure Works--Projects and Principles for Begineers", Matthys Levy & Richard Panchyk (Ages 9 and older: Chicago Review Press). "Incredible Everything" and "Incredible Explosions," Richard Platt, ill. Stephen Biesty, 1997 and 1996 (intermediate and up).

Human Body

"Fascinating Body Facts," Rowan B. Murphy (Gr. 6-12); "For Your Own Protection: Science Stories," Vicki Cobb (Gr. 3-6); "The Magic School Bus Inside the Body," Joanna Cole (Gr. 1-4). "Walter Wick's Optical Tricks," Walter Wick (intermediate).

Land

"The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth," Joanna Cole (Gr. 1-4). "Round Trip" Ann Jonas (all ages); "Paris Underground," Tamara Hovey (intermediate).

Nature

"Illustrated World of Nature," Michael Chinery (Gr. 4-9); "Nature," Jerry DeBruin (Gr. 4-up); "Young Scientists Explore: Animals," Jerry De Bruin (Gr. 4-up); "The Nature Book," Midas Dekkers (Gr. 3-7);"The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane," Joanne Cole (Gr. 1-4)

Science

"The Berenstain Bears Lost in Cyberspace", Stan and Jean Berenstain (Preschool-Gr. 3); "50 Nifty Science Experiments", Lisa Taylor Melton, et al (Gr. 4-7); "The History of Technology (Bravo Series)", Luca Fraioli, et al (Young Adult); "All About Light", Melvin Berger (Gr. 1-4); "All About Electricity", Melvin Berger (Gr. 1-4); "The Science Book of Magnets", Neil Ardley (Gr. 1-3); "Blue's Science" (Preschool); "The Science of Machines", Neil Ardley (Gr. 1-3). "Starry Messenger: ...Galileo Galilei," Peter Sis (primary through intermediate).

Science Fiction

"Fantastic Voyage," Issac Asimov (Gr. 7-up); "Wild Inventions," Issac Asimov (Gr. 5-7); "Travels Through Time," Issac Asimov (Gr. 5-6); "Journey to the Center of the Earth," Jules Verne (Gr. 6-up, Introduction by R.A. Lowndes); "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel", Robert Heinlein (Gr. 6-up); "A Wrinkle in Time", Madeline L' Engle (Young Adult).

Sea

"Explorers," Dennis B. Fradin (Gr. 4-6); "Treasures in the Sea," Robert McClung (Gr. 4-6); "The Discovery of the Titanic," Dr. Robert Ballard (Gr. 7-12); "The Science Book of Water", Neil Ardley (Gr. 1-3).

Space

"Space," Susan Harris (Gr. 6-up); "How the Universe Works," Heather Cooper and Nigel Henbest (Gr. 4-7); "Do Stars Have Points?: Questions and Answers about Stars and Planets", Melvin Berger, et al (Preschool - Gr. 3); "I Am an Astronaut", Cynthia Benjamin, Miriam Sagasti, illustrator (Preschool); "Let's Look at Flying Machines", Nicola Tuxworth (Preschool, Kindergarten); "DK Space Encyclopedia (Gr. 4 and up); "DK Eyewitness Books: Astronomy, Chemistry, Force and Motion, Technology", (Gr. 4-7).

Our thanks to Leslie McMaster, a teacher in Austin, Texas, for help in compiling this list. 

For a comprehensive list of resources, see the article by Justina O. Osa and Steven L. Herb, "Engineering Resources for Children --Kindergarten Through 12th Grade: A Case for Dispositional Learning" published in the journal Science & Technology Libraries, vol. 19 No. 3/4, 2001, pp 87-103. Reprints available for a fee from the Haworth Press, 1-800-342-9678, or getinfo@haworthpressinc.com.

To help us develop an expanded children's reading list, see the "National Engineers Week Book Hunt." We hope you'll reproduce and post it. Mail a copy of the responses to National Engineers Week, 1420 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314.