Elinor Wonders Why: How to Carry a Cupcake

Elinor, Ari and Olive want to bring a cupcake to school to give to their teacher, Ms. Mole, for her birthday. But the last time Olive brought a cupcake, it got squished in her book bag. So Elinor and her friends need to figure out the best way to ”stop the squish“ and get the cupcake safely to school. On their walk home they notice that some animals, such as turtles and armadillos, are protected by hard shells. And coconuts are, too. Hmm, this may have given Elinor a perfect idea for transporting Ms. Mole’s cupcake!

This early reader graphic novel is part of the popular series from Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson, the creators of the Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS TV series Elinor Wonders Why. It focuses on a topic that spans several science subjects, examining the characteristics and needs of both animals and plants in life science, as well as the technology of structures and even some engineering. As always in this series, science facts are presented as discoveries resulting from the characters’ curiosity and their desire to solve a relatable problem. Sidebars with science facts and vocabulary words, along with their pronunciations, are interspersed throughout the story. An activity at the end of the book teaches how to test the strength of an eggshell. The engaging series, with bright visuals and simple text, encourages readers to have a curious mindset and use science to understand the world.