December 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 As tools for designing or programming technology become more widely available and makerspaces become increasingly popular, more kids will have these resources at their fingertips. The titles in the Makers as Innovators series aim to narrow down the vast field of possibility and introduce some kid-friendly options. In FIRST Robotics, the author runs through the process of starting an official FIRST-Robotics team, entering a cooperative competition, and the key ideas behind engineering robots with the LEGO sets each team uses. Though narrowly focused, each title presents enough basic concepts that students shouldn't have much trouble expanding beyond the fundamentals. The list of further resources in each entry, while not extensive, is still a useful addition.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)