Bridges and Tunnels: Investigate Feats of Engineering by Donna Latham, illustrated by Jen Vaughn. The latest title in the illustrious “Build It Yourself” series, this book boasts 25 activities all centered around the physics and engineering of bridges and tunnels, with descriptions of more than 25 famous bridges and tunnels to match. Sounds complicated? It isn’t. Featuring clear diagrams, charts, and vocabulary-rich “Words to Know” boxes on most spreads (sample words or phrases defined: hydraulic, compression, pile driver, tetrahedron), kids won’t have any problem deciphering the concepts explained. They’ll also have a relatively easy time drawing parallels to what they might have learned at school (i.e. Newton’s Third Law of Motion) or what they observe in everyday life by reading the “Did You Know?” prompts. (Sample fact: Engineering relies on triangles to construct trusses, a network of beams and bars.) Completing some of the projects could be challenging (a craft stick beam bridge, a marshmallow geodesic dome), but an adult or an older sibling should be able to provide all the help kids might need. Plus, “Try This” extension activities such as using a drinking straw and a piece of uncooked spaghetti to explain compression and tension provide the basic building blocks of knowledge needed along the way. Backmatter includes a glossary, list of resources, and an index. Ages 9-12

Simply put, the line of “Green & Groovy Crafts” books published by Downtown Bookworks are outstanding. Printed on recycled paper with soy ink, each book encourages kids to go beyond what’s included in the kits (glitter, ribbon, pliers, duct tape, wooden wheels) by reusing common household objects like egg cartons and light bulbs that might normally be chucked in the trash. With 64 pages and more than 60 possible projects kids can pick and choose from (there are more than 100 in some of the books), these treasure troves of creativity are sure to keep idle hands and minds busy throughout the summer. The Crafty Princess by Laurie Goldrich Wolf (Ages 6+) is a perfect choice for any girl still into glitz and glam. A satin slip cape, a bubble wrap handbag, and a woven-ribbon keepsake box are just a few of the many crafty concoctions available for the making. With Garbage Flowers by New Yorker cartoonist Eric Lewis (Ages 12+), kids use the pliers and wire stems provided to make funky flower bouquets out of headphones, slinkies, nail polish bottles, and more. My personal favorite? The Lonely Sock Club by Laurie Goldrich Wolf (Ages 6+). Ridiculously adorable sock puppets! Fuzzy pom poms and googly eyes are included. A new kit promising boy-centric projects (i.e. slingshots, light sabers) is due out in August: Boy-Made by Laurie Goldrich Wolf (Ages 6+).

Frederick Douglass for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities by Nancy I. Sanders (America's Black Founders, A Kid's Guide to African American History). Don’t let its textbook appearance fool you. This activity book covering the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential orators and abolitionists is just the right blend of clearly conveyed historical facts, spirited storytelling, and engaging extension activities (Bake your own Maryland Beaten Biscuits! Make a paste to keep flies away! Host an oratorical contest!). Stretching from Douglass’s boyhood in early 1800s Maryland when he was a slave to his time in New York as a free man to the years Douglass spent speaking out against slavery to the publishing of his autobiography and his friendship with a number of U.S. presidents, Douglass’s courageous fight for the equality of all people is movingly described. Dozens of black-and-white photographs and period paintings are scattered throughout, as are informative sidebars dedicated to showcasing other prominent leaders such as Reverend James W. C. Pennington; William Lloyd Garrison, the editor of the abolitionist newspaper the Liberator; and women’s rights advocate Sojourner Truth. Classrooms are closed for the summer but teachers take note: this is an excellent educational tool for next year that will fit right into your curriculums and won’t put students to sleep. Backmatter includes timelines of the Civil War and of Frederick Douglass’s life, an afterword, a list of resources and websites to explore, and an index. Ages 9+