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The Bridge to Sharktooth Island: A Challenge Island STEAM Adventure
For fans of The Magic School Bus and Magic Tree House, new friendships, mysterious forces, and an island adventure awaits in The Bridge to Sharktooth Island as you delve into the mechanics of bridge-building fun!
"This story introduces three fifth graders forced to use their individual strengths and talents to work together and problem-solve their way out of trouble. Estroff's clever prose helps readers think, plan, and create with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). These are perfect for a technology-focused classroom and lessons, as well as adventure-loving students. Expressive illustrations throughout the chapters help readers to see the models as they are envisioned by the characters. Fun additions at the end of the story include shark facts, Leonardo da Vinci-inspired experiments, and instructions for readers to create their own truss bridge. This is a great STEAM-infused addition to the fiction section of any elementary or middle school library."
-- School Library Journal
One minute Daniel and his cousin Joy are playing in the snow--and the next they are stranded on a mysterious island surrounded by sharks!
Where are they now and how did they get here? And how will they get back home?
With new friend Kimani, the kids find clues to these and other mysteries. To escape the island, they have to work together and build a bridge to safety!
This thrilling adventure is packed with fun STEAM activities you can do at home: build your own bridge, mix up a blue slime ocean, and design ferocious paper sharks.
From the world's #1 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) education enrichment program, Challenge Island(R) presents an exciting new adventure book series for smart, curious kids.
"This story introduces three fifth graders forced to use their individual strengths and talents to work together and problem-solve their way out of trouble. Estroff's clever prose helps readers think, plan, and create with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). These are perfect for a technology-focused classroom and lessons, as well as adventure-loving students. Expressive illustrations throughout the chapters help readers to see the models as they are envisioned by the characters. Fun additions at the end of the story include shark facts, Leonardo da Vinci-inspired experiments, and instructions for readers to create their own truss bridge. This is a great STEAM-infused addition to the fiction section of any elementary or middle school library."
-- School Library Journal
One minute Daniel and his cousin Joy are playing in the snow--and the next they are stranded on a mysterious island surrounded by sharks!
Where are they now and how did they get here? And how will they get back home?
With new friend Kimani, the kids find clues to these and other mysteries. To escape the island, they have to work together and build a bridge to safety!
This thrilling adventure is packed with fun STEAM activities you can do at home: build your own bridge, mix up a blue slime ocean, and design ferocious paper sharks.
From the world's #1 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) education enrichment program, Challenge Island(R) presents an exciting new adventure book series for smart, curious kids.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Duke Estroff
4 books9 followersI am the author of a new parenting advice book called Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? The Essential Scoop on Raising Modern Jewish Kids (Broadway Books, 2007).
I also write a syndicated parenting column which appears in 50+ publications across the United States, Canada and Israel and am a feature writer for Parents Magazine and numerous other local, regional and national periodicals.
As a mother of four school-age children and a former elementary school teacher (I taught in Atlanta public and private schools for fifteen years), my material comes straight from the trenches of modern parenthood.
I am so thrilled that my book has been embraced by Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike. I welcome questions and comments from all my Good Reads friends!
Happy Reading!
I also write a syndicated parenting column which appears in 50+ publications across the United States, Canada and Israel and am a feature writer for Parents Magazine and numerous other local, regional and national periodicals.
As a mother of four school-age children and a former elementary school teacher (I taught in Atlanta public and private schools for fifteen years), my material comes straight from the trenches of modern parenthood.
I am so thrilled that my book has been embraced by Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike. I welcome questions and comments from all my Good Reads friends!
Happy Reading!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 16, 2021
My 9 year old, who hates to read, finished the book in one sitting. She just couldn't put down the book., and remarked there should be a sequel. Now she's patiently waiting to Book 2.
A good book to get kids interested in reading. The story builds upon teamwork and persistence in their efforts to achieve a goal. A great way to introduce kids to these skills. Can't wait for Book 2!
A good book to get kids interested in reading. The story builds upon teamwork and persistence in their efforts to achieve a goal. A great way to introduce kids to these skills. Can't wait for Book 2!
December 21, 2021
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
This story starts with two cousins playing in the snow who are then magically whisked away to a tropical island where they meet another kid who has also been mysteriously transported to the island. After you apply suspension of disbelief that these three kids aren’t freaked out about being randomly teleported to a tropical island, this is a great adventure story. The best part is the STEAM connection where the kids are tasked through a poem they find in a treasure chest to build bridges that will help them get from a rock in the middle of the ocean to the island. There’s some cool projects in the back, like how to make a bridge of toothpicks and gumdrops. Overall, a fun book.
This story starts with two cousins playing in the snow who are then magically whisked away to a tropical island where they meet another kid who has also been mysteriously transported to the island. After you apply suspension of disbelief that these three kids aren’t freaked out about being randomly teleported to a tropical island, this is a great adventure story. The best part is the STEAM connection where the kids are tasked through a poem they find in a treasure chest to build bridges that will help them get from a rock in the middle of the ocean to the island. There’s some cool projects in the back, like how to make a bridge of toothpicks and gumdrops. Overall, a fun book.
January 25, 2022
As I picked up this book, I felt a sense of nostalgia for how long it had been since I'd read a book with such fun pictures and elementary-scaled text. I felt impressed at how the story got going so quickly. Almost immediately, the kids have magically transported away from a snowstorm to a sunny shore.
I'm studying Structural Engineering in school right now. The idea of bridge design is very familiar to me. I felt like the basic bridge design elements were explained, but some key load distribution elements were left out. I'm not sure the bridge they design would have held under as much load as it did. I get the premise though :). I'll look forward to sharing this book with elementary-age children when I get the chance.
I'm grateful for the chance to review this book via the Early Reviewers group on Library Thing
I'm studying Structural Engineering in school right now. The idea of bridge design is very familiar to me. I felt like the basic bridge design elements were explained, but some key load distribution elements were left out. I'm not sure the bridge they design would have held under as much load as it did. I get the premise though :). I'll look forward to sharing this book with elementary-age children when I get the chance.
I'm grateful for the chance to review this book via the Early Reviewers group on Library Thing
January 22, 2022
The action for this fantasy book is good. Daniel and Joy magically find themselves transported from their wintery homes to a rock in the tropical ocean. Their nonchalance on finding themselves transported and in different clothes was annoying. They should have been terrified. They have to use clues and materials to get themselves to land. Kimani appears with too little fanfare and the 3 work together to solve a problem and get off the island. I think there is a lot of potential here for making a book similar to breakout rooms--using codes and clues to get out. There wasn't really enough reader involvement in solving clues to make it a truly interactive breakout-like book.
November 22, 2021
Reviewed on behalf of Ascot Media Group, a complimentary copy given.
A good book with lots of opportunities for smart kids to think through problems.
Solve the riddle, use the available materials, get out of danger, work as part of a team utilizing the various team member skills.
Good STEAM activities included at the close of the book.
An enjoyable read, geared for 7-10 year olds.
There was a bit of a disconnect with the sudden transport away from home... it didn't make a lot of sense to me.
A good book with lots of opportunities for smart kids to think through problems.
Solve the riddle, use the available materials, get out of danger, work as part of a team utilizing the various team member skills.
Good STEAM activities included at the close of the book.
An enjoyable read, geared for 7-10 year olds.
There was a bit of a disconnect with the sudden transport away from home... it didn't make a lot of sense to me.
December 16, 2021
I read this book with my kids and they LOVED it! The characters are so relatable and Davinci, the talking parrot, was our favorite! This is a great adventure story which includes math, science, and problem-solving. My kids loved trying to figure out the clues the characters were given in the story. It was easy to read and a nice quality book. A must-have for every elementary and middle school library!
March 28, 2022
Not a whole lot of plot here. There's a time travel element which lands our main characters on a rock in the middle of the ocean overlooking a deserted (or maybe not so deserted) island. They have to engineer their way off the rock and get to the island without being eaten by sharks. Lots of wholesome teamwork and problem solving and some amusing kid banter. I learned what a truss is so I mean, it wasn't a total loss.
December 2, 2021
I received a complimentary copy.
A good learning adventure for younger minds. You get to learn about sharks and have a relaxing time on a mysterious island. The pages are made of stronger qulaity. The font is easy to read.
A good learning adventure for younger minds. You get to learn about sharks and have a relaxing time on a mysterious island. The pages are made of stronger qulaity. The font is easy to read.
December 22, 2021
As a teacher and a mom, I loved this book. My daughter's school brought in Challenge Island for a field trip and she came home asking for a copy of the book. The book itself is so colorful and heavy-duty. Both my students and my 8 and 10 year old loved the book! They couldn't stop reading and they absolutely loved the STEAM activities at the end of the book that allowed them to do the same challenges as the characters in the story. This is a really cool concept and a great new book in a genre of it's own!
Merged review:
This book is a great new addition to my classroom library. I love the way it brings STEAM and STEM into a fiction format. The characters are fun and my students and kids all loved the story. They especially loved the part in the back where the characters come back and tell the reader how to do the challenges in the book at home!
Merged review:
This book is a great new addition to my classroom library. I love the way it brings STEAM and STEM into a fiction format. The characters are fun and my students and kids all loved the story. They especially loved the part in the back where the characters come back and tell the reader how to do the challenges in the book at home!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews