Coming October 13, 2026
June's Solar Oven

Join June in an exploration of solar energy, engineering, and trial & error, because STEAM is everywhere and for everyone!

Part of STEAMWORKS, a series of fiction picture books for ages 4-7 that relate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to kids' everyday lives.

June is determined to have the best day--building the best solar oven to cook the best pizza crackers. But when science club suddenly changes locations, June freezes. She hates new places. Still, science is her superpower, and she knows she needs to show up. With a few deep breaths and her noise-canceling headphones, she's ready.

At the club, June and her friends troubleshoot their solar pizza oven, experimenting with the best way to layer the toppings so the sun can melt the cheese just right. Can they harness solar energy to make the perfect pizza cracker?

Extend the learning beyond the story with expertly crafted back matter, including additional information about solar energy and experimentation and fun STEAM activities.

STEAMWORKS features children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific and mathematical thinking to solve everyday problems and answer questions that matter to them. Playful stories and extension activities ignite excitement for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and empower children as thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators. STEAMWORKS picture books are available in Spanish.