Posts Tagged children’s books

STEM Tuesday– Cryptography (Math)/Spy Science– In the Classroom

By on December 10, 2024   /   Cryptography/Spy Science, STEM Tuesday  

In my former career, I worked with communications and communication security (which included cryptography). It is a topic that will always be near and dear to my heart. This month, I read the following books:

 

How to Be an International Spy book

How to Be an International Spy by Andy Briggs

This book covers lots of different topics associated with being a spy. The science around it all ranges from psychology to quantum physics. It includes lots of practice activities to help you fully engage in the topic.

 

Top Secret Science Book

Top Secret Science: Projects You’re Not Supposed to Know About by Jennifer Swanson

If you’re looking more for the history of secret projects, this is the book for you. It looks at a variety of programs that were run in secret.

 

Can You Crack the Code book

Can You Crack the Code? by Ella Schwartz and Lily Williams

If your goal is to learn how to create and crack secret codes, you might want to check out this book. It does a great job of covering the major cryptography methods. There are lots of secret codes to practice with, too.

 

 

Rather than making up activities to go along with these books, I want to share some of the fabulous resources that are already out there that would pair well with this month’s theme.

Check out “The Farm”

The CIA may be a secretive organization, but they’ve got an online presence. There are stories, games, activities, and other things for young readers to explore on their CIA Spy Kids site: https://www.cia.gov/spy-kids/games

They’ve also developed lesson plans for teachers: https://www.cia.gov/spy-kids/parents-teachers

Delve into Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity ensures that electronic devices are protected from criminal or unauthorized use. There are lots of career opportunities in cybersecurity, so it’s a great topic to learn more about.

The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Center for Infrastructure Assurance & Security (a.k.a. UTSA CIAS) has lots of resources for teachers and students on their website. Their activities cover grades K through 12. Here’s their main page: https://cias.utsa.edu/k-12

Their Cyber Games are found here: https://cias.utsa.edu/k-12/cybersecurity-games

Microsoft and Minecraft teamed together to provide resources for teaching cybersecurity, too. Check that out here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/blog/2023/10/elevate-cybersecurity-expertise-with-microsoft-and-minecraft-education

Learn About Public Key Encryption

Public Key Encryption is used to secure many different types of transactions on the internet, from email to online store payments. This video from PBS NOVA labs does a great job of explaining at a high level how public key encryption works: https://youtu.be/5xI4IJbHDiM?si=mM6cZJdTDUjeqVOs

NOVA Labs also has a cybersecurity game online: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/lab/cyber – there is an educator guide to go along with it.

Cryptography in History

Pretty much all the books this month talk about the long history of secret-keeping (and cryptography to help with that). Here are some web sites that explore cryptography in history.

“The Secret Code of Lewis and Clark” activity: https://lewisandclarktrail.com/legacy/secretcode.htm

“Cryptology in the American Revolution” videos from NSA’s National Cryptologic Museum:
https://youtu.be/0smfiPWSHCQ?si=0ATj8hRevfpze0vo
https://youtu.be/WXEX7xFIz9E?si=AWh8GF4B7yD1Uo35

The National Cryptologic Museum also has videos on Steganography, Ciphers, or Visual Signaling during the American Revolution. For these and other videos, check out this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWvkfYC3snpVYffYpKwjsbxwDO9IaNli7&si=3mYvmWEirAtp035P

More Resources

There are lots of cryptography and spy-related museums and websites out there to explore. Here are a few more you might want to check out.

The Spy Museum in Washington, DC: https://www.spymuseum.org – if you can’t get there in person, they also have some resources and activities online. They even have a podcast and a YouTube channel.

In the New York City area, there is the Washington Spy Trail. This includes a series of historic sites on Long Island that are associated with George Washington’s circle of spies during the Revolutionary War. If you’re lucky, you can tour some sites in person. If not, you can learn about some of it online: https://washingtonspytrail.com

You can learn more about American Civil War spies online: https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/spies.htm – each spy is associated with at least one National Park.


Janet Slingerland has written more than 20 books for children. Her book History’s Forgotten War Stories – https://www.12storylibrary.com/non-fiction/hidden-history/forgotten-war-stories-history – includes secrets and spies. To find out more about Janet and her books, check out her website – http://janetsbooks.com

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STEM Tuesday– Spy Science and Cryptography– Book List

By on December 3, 2024   /   Cryptography/Spy Science, STEM Tuesday  

From ancient ciphers to modern-day digital encryption techniques, this month’s book list explores the science, technology, engineering, and math that make code-making (and code-breaking) possible.

 

 

 

 

The Enigma Girls written by Candace Fleming

It all began with a letter in an unmarked envelope received by ten teenage girls. It was World War II, and the British were desperate to break the German Enigma code. Instead of turning to cryptographers, these women were responsible for Bletchley Park, a well-kept secret operating under the code name Station X. Award winning author Candace Fleming spins an engaging narrative based on true facts.

 

 

Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code by Rebecca Barone

Rebecca Barone jumps across the European continent to trace the history of the Enigma machine, an encryption device invented by the Germans and thought to be unbreakable. Barone highlights the international collaboration among Polish, French, and British spies and codebreakers that made it possible to break the Enigma cipher and secure victory for the Allies during World War II. This well-researched nonfiction book reads like a spy novel, and readers will be riveted from the first page to the last.

 

 

Can You Crack the Code?  written by Ella Schwartz and illustrated by Lily Williams

This book focuses on the history of ciphers and codes. It’s well laid out with great illustrations and would be a great fit for aspiring cryptographers and anyone who loves secret codes, ciphers, and puzzles. It includes historical stories and explanations on how letters, numbers, and symbols can translate into understandable text. The book also features sample codes to solve yourself and resources at the end.

 

 

Create Your Own Secret Language written by David J. Peterson and illustrated by Ryan Goldsberry

This how-to book will help children learn how to create their own secret language, codes, ciphers, and hidden messages. David J. Peterson is an expert language creator who invented languages for Game of Thrones, the Marvel Universe, and more. KIds can learn how to communicate in secret whether it’s written, drawn, or spoken. The illustrations are especially useful.

 

 

 

Code Cracking for Kids by Jean Daigneau

Another essential volume about codes and ciphers, this book provides a comprehensive history of “secret writing,” from hieroglyphics and invisible ink to ciphers, bar codes, and semaphores. Sprinkled throughout the text are instructions for 21 hands-on activities that give aspiring cryptologists a chance to try their hand at making and breaking their own codes.

 

 

CodeBreakers by DK Publishing

This book provides an overview of the greatest code makers and code-breakers in history through easy to read stories to engage young readers. Examples are deciphering the Rosetta Stone and cracking the Enigma code during World War II. The book includes a reference section with key facts, timelines, and a glossary of terms. It’s easy to navigate with eye popping illustrations.

 

 

Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers by Lee Francis IV, Roy Boney Jr., Arigon Starr, Jonathan Nelson, Renee Nejo, and Lee Francis III

Created by six Native American authors and illustrators, this fascinating graphic novel tells the history of Native American code talkers in the United States military. While the Navajo code talkers of World War II are the best known, this book sheds light on the many other tribes who served in Navy, Army, and Marines, beginning with the Cherokee and Choctaw during World War I. Because tribal languages were not based in Latin or written down, they became the basis for an unbreakable code that led to victories in both world wars. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in codes and cryptography!

 

 

Top Secret: Spies, Codes, Capers, Gadgets, and Classified Cases Revisited by Crispin Boyer

This book is essentially a kid-focused encyclopedia covering a slew of interesting and historical information in a fun and creative way, from Egyptian hieroglyphics to gaming nomenclature. Young readers will learn tricks of the spy trade, get the scoop behind sleuthing, and discover all kinds of skills, like how ninjas walked on water. The texts are easy to read and are paired with engaging pictures and illustrations.

 

 

 

How to Be an International Spy by Andy Briggs

Structured as a training manual for wannabe spies, this engaging book contains factoids about intelligence agencies around the world, demystifies the lingo used in espionage, and features profiles of real spies from history. There are extensive sections devoted to cryptography, digital espionage and cybersecurity, high-tech tools (including instructions for how to make your own), and even tips and tricks for conducting surveillance and going off the grid.

 

 

 

Top Secret Science: Projects You’re Not Supposed to Know About by Jennifer Swanson

Scientists have been on the front lines of secret projects throughout history, from encryption to weapons development to human experimentation. Part of the Scary Science series, the six short chapters in this easy-to-read book introduce readers to the Manhattan Project, Operation Vegetarian, Nazi experimentation, and more.

 

 

 

This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

Author Lydia Lukidis

 

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023), which is a Crystal Kite winner, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and Cybils Award nominee. A science enthusiast from a young age, she now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.

 

author Callie Dean

 

Callie Dean is a researcher, writer, and musician living in Shreveport, LA. She writes stories that spark curiosity and encourage kids to explore their world. Her first picture book will be published in 2026. For more information, please visit https://calliebdean.com.

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New books for the holidays!

By on December 2, 2024   /   Articles, New Releases  
Exciting new books coming out this month for the middle-grade readers on your holiday gift list.
The titles below include new additions to several New York Times Bestselling series, and two war-time historical fiction titles. Although intended for younger readers, A Sea of Gold, the latest by the amazing author/illustrator Patricia Polacco, would make a great companion to either of the historical fiction works.
Time for Kids has two new nonfiction titles coming out at the end of the month. One offers the “scoop” for young cub reporters, the other a thoroughly researched listing of amazing athletes.
Links are included to bookshop.org, which supports local booksellers. Want to learn more about the authors? Simply click on their names.
Happy shopping and reading!
Keeper of the Lost Cities Unraveled, Author: Shannon Messenger, Aladdin, December 2

The past and present unravel into staggering truths in this can’t-miss installment of the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series told entirely from Keefe’s point of view.
Please be careful. Please be happy. And PLEASE forget all about me. It’ll be better for everyone that way.
Those were the last words Keefe Sencen wrote to Sophie Foster before he ran away to the Forbidden Cities. He didn’t want to leave, but it was the only way to keep his friends safe while he figured out how to control his scary new powers and searched for answers about his past.
What he found was so much more than adventures in Humanland.
Where did he go? What did he do? And who did he meet while the rest of his friends worked to solve the mystery of Stellarlune? The answers go far beyond anything anyone could have ever imagined and give Keefe the power to change his destiny.

 

 The End of the Story, Author; Melissa De La Cruz, Roaring Brook Press, December 3

Return to the land of Never After for the last time in the riveting conclusion to New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz’s hit middle-grade series perfect for fans of The Land of Stories books. The Never After crew is back for a final epic adventure . . . With Queen Olga drawing ever nearer, Filomena and her friends race to find the last surviving fairy, Sabine, and protect her at all costs. For if Sabine dies, so does all of Never After. Without a moment to lose, Filomena, Jack, Alistair, Gretel, and the rest of the gang–along with some new pals like Captain Hook–set off for Pan’s Neverland to find Sabine. But even in Neverland, there’s mischief afoot. Pan is no ordinary boy, and the group discovers Sabine goes by another name in this mysterious realm: Tinker Bell! But trickster gods and undercover fairies are just the beginning for Filomena and her adventurous friends. As Olga’s evil forces close in, will Filomena find a way to protect the magic of Never After once and for all, and ensure a happily-ever-after for the End of the Story?

 

Swimming with Spies, Author: Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger, Scholastic Press, December 3

As war escalates between the Russians and Ukrainians in the port city of Sevastopol, can one girl and a pod of dolphins prove that communication is the greatest weapon of all?

It’s February of 2014 in the seaport city of Sevastopol in Crimea. Sofiya Oleksandrivna only wants two things: to figure out a way to get Ilya Ilyich to stop bullying her, and to convince her mother to come back home. But as battleships come to populate the waters around their city and Russian forces, including Ilya’s father, start to make their presence known, an even greater threat takes over Sofiya’s life.

The only escape Sofiya has is the dolphinarium where her father is a trainer at the forefront of teaching sign language to a pod of dolphins. And now the Russian military has ordered the dolphinarium to hand over its animals for military use. As armed Russian troops invade Crimea and conflict and tension continue to rise, Sofiya will do everything she can to keep her pod safe. And what she knows better than any of the soldiers occupying her city, is that the most powerful force is communication.

Based on the true events of the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger depicts a familiar world where divisions are sown by hate, but where love can make a world of difference.

Wolves at the Door, Author: Steve Watkins, Scholastic Press, December 3

War. Wilderness. And the will to live.Asta and her younger sister, Pieta, have watched in terror as Hitler’s invasion spreads across Europe. Eventually, the war arrives in their city, bringing with it destruction and death. As the Nazis clash with Stalin’s Red Army and relentless bombing rains from above, the girls flee to their grandparents’ farm. But no place is safe. Surrounded by enemies, Asta and Pieta are presented with one chance at escape: a transport ship leaving from the Baltic Sea.

Getting from the farm to the coast is an impossible trip through a brutal war in the dead of winter. With food scarce, warm clothing lacking, and few resources, the sisters have little chance of making it. And Asta and Pieta are not alone in their plans–everyone is headed to the harbor with the same desperate hope. Securing a place on the ship will require nothing short of a miracle. Their dangerous journey is only just beginning, though, and the sisters can’t begin to imagine what they’ll have to sacrifice to survive . . .

 

A Sea of Gold, Author/Illustrator Patricia Polacco, Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, December 3

“An empathetic, heartbreaking look at how warfare can tear families apart–and how traditions still endure.” –Kirkus Reviews

Beloved and bestselling storyteller Patricia Polacco draws on her Ukrainian heritage in this picture book following one family’s history through the generations and the powerful bond of their love.
In the village of Cherinovska, Ukraine, a family raises sunlasknuk (sunflowers) through the generations. When war erupts, they’re forced to leave their beloved home for a faraway world: America. Arriving with nothing but the clothes on their back–and the seeds in one little girl’s pockets–can they make a living…and a new home?

 

 

Time for Kids* Kid Reporter Field Reporter: A How-To Book for Junior Journalists,

Author: Hannah Rose Holzer, Penguin Young Readers, December 29

Learn how to be a junior journalist with this TIME For Kids Field Guide!

This field guide teaches you how to write many types of articles across several different sections including News, Opinion, Reviews, Arts and Culture, Sports, and more! Learn how to be a journalist in this book that explains how to interview sources, cover sports events, critique restaurants, write features on impactful people, and create great articles. This guide also features biographies on several famous journalists throughout history, including Ida B. Wells and Nellie Bly.

Providing reliable sources for parents and educators for over 25 years, the TIME for Kids field guide is an excellent gift for young readers who want to learn more about the world and how to write about it.

 

 

Time for Kids* Amazing Athletes:101 Stars You Need to Know! Author: James Buckley, 

Penguin Young Readers, December 29

Learn about 101 of today’s greatest athletes in this TIME for Kids book!

The fact-filled TIME FOR KIDS: AMAZING ATHLETES includes biographies on 101 of today’s most impressive sports stars. Kids will be inspired by the careers of LeBron James, Simone Biles, Travis Kelce, Caitlin Clark, Coco Gauff, Nathan Chen, and more! Perfect for young sports fans, this book is a great introduction to the best of the best athletes across eighteen different sports.

Providing reliable news sources to parents and educators for over 25 years, this TIME for Kids book is perfect for sports fanatics and introducing different types of sports.

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