When it comes to meaningful summer learning, two essential ingredients rise to the top: STEM exploration and literacy development. Maker Maven and Book Creator are joining forces to offer educators, families, and districts a multimodal approach to keep students engaged, curious, and learning all summer long.

Whether you're hosting summer camps, running a drive-thru literacy event, or just looking for independent enrichment resources, this dynamic partnership offers tools, ideas, and ready-to-go resources that support both hands-on creation and reflective storytelling.

The Maker Maven mission: STEM with a literacy heart

Founded by J'amie Garcia, Maker Maven was born out of a passion for both STEM and literacy. Jamie’s background in libraries and classroom literacy shines through in every Maker Maven resource.

J'amie’s “Maker Trifecta” is a guiding framework for designing rich, multimodal learning experiences:

• Print (literacy and reading material)
• Digital (edtech tools like Book Creator)
• Hands-on (STEM activities and tools)

This approach ensures students engage multiple modalities, build connections to real-world applications, and develop the confidence to tinker, test, and tell their learning stories.

Examples from Maker Maven in Action

• 3D Doodler challenges paired with Capstone books like 3D Pens for Beginners.
• Makey Makey kits that turn bananas into piano keys, paired with graphic nonfiction from the Science Comics or History Comics series.
• Cricut STEM projects that tie into entrepreneurship, creativity, and family literacy events.
• A Science & Engineering Reflection Journal created in Book Creator to guide students through the design process—from defining problems to reflecting on outcomes.

Real-world impact: empowering community connections

Maker Maven brings learning to life at the district level through events like Lamar Consolidated ISD’s drive-thru family literacy night. At this innovative event, families received:

• A physical STEM activity kit
• A digital library of curated STEM eBooks
• A QR code to access Book Creator and other digital reflections

By aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this initiative delivered inclusive, engaging, and purposeful summer learning—meeting families where they are and sparking curiosity that extends beyond the classroom.

Student voice, choice, and storytelling

Both Maker Maven and Book Creator believe in giving students:

• Choice in what they read and explore
• Voice in how they reflect and share
• Opportunities to create something meaningful

From procedural writing and engineering logs to digital portfolios and graphic storytelling, students can use Book Creator to document their projects, prototype ideas, and publish reflections in multimodal books they’re proud to share. The Maker Maven STEM planning journal is the perfect place to start.

Book Creator Bright Ideas: summer STEM + literacy resources

To complement Maker Maven’s hands-on kits, Book Creator offers a robust set of digital tools that help students document their STEM journeys, reflect on learning, and share their creations.

Featured STEM Challenges:

• A 2–4 day challenge using mostly home supplies
• Real-world prompts (like designing a buoyant boat or solving a maze)
• Opportunities for students to personalize their books

These challenges work beautifully for:

• Independent learning libraries
• STEM on the road kits
• Summer camps and family events