SpaceX and Tesla Motors Engineer Elon Musk (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

Are you a fan of computers? When Elon Musk was growing up, he taught himself computer programming so he could design his own games. As an adult, he set out to design much more complex tech inventions. Musk started his first tech company when he was twenty-four and quickly made a fortune. Then he moved on to bigger projects. He started a company called SpaceX to build reusable rockets―and possibly pave the way for a human settlement on Mars. His other company, Tesla Motors, makes electric cars, which Musk hopes will replace gas-powered vehicles. Then there's the Hyperloop, Musk's vision for a superfast new form of transportation. Find out how Musk defied the odds to build his tech empire―and maybe even change the world.

Children's Books

Doeden, Matt

Biographies

Lerner Publications ™

Minecraft Creator Markus "Notch" Persson (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

Do you play computer games? If you do, you've probably played Minecraft. When Minecraft creator Markus Persson was young, he wasn't very interested in the games themselves. He was more interested in the programing instructions in the computer's manual. By the time Persson was eight years old, he was writing code for his own computer games. When he was eighteen, Persson landed his dream job as a video game programmer. In 2009, he designed Minecraft in a single weekend. In the game, players use blocks to build whatever they choose. Persson wanted to let players use their imaginations, and the idea paid off. Today, Minecraft is one of the most popular computer games in the world. Although Persson doubts he will ever top this success, he continues to develop games, while fans wait for what's next.

Cornell, Kari

Humor & Entertainment

Urban Biologist Danielle Lee (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

After earning degrees studying animal behavior, Danielle Lee wanted to share her love of science with young people. Through urban outreach she has brought budding scientists into professional labs. She's walked them through the steps of the scientific method. And she's shown them that science doesn't have to be intimidating. In her popular Urban Scientist blog, Lee shares backyard science and outreach work. She also writes about her own research and other women and people of color. Discover what this influential scientist is doing to encourage the next generation of scientists.

Mars Science Lab Engineer Diana Trujillo (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

When Diana Trujillo was little, working for NASA was her greatest dream. She loved to gaze at the stars in the sky. She also enjoyed math and art. Then she learned that engineers use math and art in their work. So Trujillo decided to be a NASA engineer. Although she didn't speak English, she was determined to live her dream. Trujillo believed in herself enough to move from Colombia to the United States to learn English. After years of hard work, she earned a degree in aerospace engineering. She quickly got a job at NASA and worked on the Mars rover Curiosity. She became the lead engineer on her team. Today, Trujillo is a mentor to other women and immigrants. She is also a role model to young scientists. She believes everyone can find a connection between what they love and science.

Nintendo Video Game Designer Shigeru Miyamoto (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

Do you play video games? If you do, you've probably played a game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto pioneered a new kind of game based on story and characters, rather than competition with other players. As a child, Miyamoto was fascinated by animated movies. He drew his own cartoons and designed children's toys. In college, Miyamoto studied art and design. He was hired as an artist at Nintendo, a toy company that was just starting to make video games. At Nintendo, Miyamoto designed classic games such as Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. The follow-up Super Mario Bros. became the best-selling video game of its time. Today, Miyamoto still makes popular games for Nintendo, and fans can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Astronaut Ellen Ochoa (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

When Ellen Ochoa was young, male American astronauts walked on the moon. But girls were not allowed to be astronauts. Girls didn't often study science either―but Ochoa didn't let that stop her. In high school, Ochoa loved math and science. In college, she studied physics and engineering, and later she became a scientist and inventor. Eventually NASA began accepting women into their astronaut training program. While there, Ochoa developed technology, became the first female Hispanic American astronaut, and logged 1,000 hours in outer space. Learn about Ochoa's hard work and perseverance on her journey toward becoming a scientist, inventor, and astronaut.

Schwartz, Heather E.

Space Engineer and Scientist Margaret Hamilton (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

Have you ever watched video of astronauts walking on the moon? Margaret Hamilton programmed software that helped get them there. As a girl, Hamilton loved math and science. She grew up during a time when very few women studied computer science, but Hamilton knew she wanted to write code. As an adult, she worked on NASA's Apollo program, creating computer programs to guide spacecraft to and from the moon. This included the 1969 Apollo 11 mission―the first spaceflight that landed humans on the moon. In 2016, Hamilton was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work. Learn how Hamilton's passion for math and computers played a key role in space exploration.

Di Piazza, Domenica

NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

What do you want to be when you grow up? When Katherine Johnson was young, women weren't expected to go into the math and science fields. Johnson loved math, but she never thought she could be a mathematician. After studying math in school and teaching for a few years, she learned that the organization that would later become NASA was hiring women to complete mathematical equations. As an African American woman, Johnson had to work hard to earn the respect of her coworkers, but they soon came to rely on her brilliant calculations. Her contributions to the US space program helped send astronauts to the moon. Learn how Johnson broke barriers as a female African American mathematician.

Have you ever looked up at the twinkling stars in the night sky? Nancy Grace Roman looked up and never looked back. Roman was fascinated with the stars ever since her mother showed her the constellations. She read every book on astronomy she could find and even started her own neighborhood astronomy club for girls. But many of the people around her didn't think science was the right field for a woman. Academic advisers in high school and even college tried to dissuade Roman from pursuing astronomy. She worked hard to eventually become NASA's first Chief of Astronomy and, ultimately, the "Mother of Hubble." Learn how Roman's passion for astronomy and her tireless work on the Hubble Space Telescope project helped scientists capture breathtaking images of deep space.

NASA Astronomer Nancy Grace Roman (STEM Trailblazer Bios)

Cutting-Edge Military Tech (Searchlight Books ™ ― Cutting-Edge STEM)

Self-steering bullets, drone swarms, and super-soldiers are at the front lines of tomorrow's military. Discover how these breakthroughs and more will help the next generation of US soldiers spy, fly, and fight. Take a jaw-dropping look at the future of military tech.

Education & Reference

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Lerner Publications ™ publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Lerner Publications ™