We’re loving the new PBS Kids series "Lyla in the Loop"! Bright and busy 7-year-old Lyla and her sidekick, Stu, along with a diverse group of friends and family in their neighborhood, explore foundational computational thinking, leading to hilarious disasters that call for creative solutions.
The show celebrates flexibility and problem solving, exploring varied topics like running a restaurant, building a train set, connecting with the family’s Jamaican roots, or finally learning all the steps to the Carrot Cake Dance!
To celebrate Lyla, here are five fun, STEM-focused books to help kids sharpen those fantastic problem-solving skills.
1. Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty – Like Lyla, Ada loves to try new experiments and isn’t afraid to get messy while learning what works.
2. What Do You Do with a Problem? By Kobi Yamada – Sometimes problem-solving requires a mindset shift when challenges get too big. This thoughtful book tackles that dilemma for elementary learners.
3. The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman – Can’t get enough of the Carrot Cake Dance from "Lyla in the Loop"? Or do you just love solving puzzles? Check out this fun and accessible mystery for kids, complete with a carrot cake recipe.
4. Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems by Carey Sookocheff – There’s no learning about problems without learning to think of solutions! Follow this humorous journey as a girl encounters, thinks, and acts her way through everyday scenarios.
5. The Deductive Detective by Brian Rock – Solve this mystery through the process of elimination, using elementary math and logic skills, to find out who among a group of animal suspects stole the cake! (Extra mind-bending puzzles included.)
We hope one of these books becomes your next favorite. Happy reading!
Follow Us