Challenge Island | The World's #1 STEM and STEAM Program
The World's #1 STEM/STEAM Program Providing Award-Winning Afterschool Classes, In-School Field Trips, Camps, Girl Scout Workshops, Parties, and More! Featuring F2F and Virtual Options.
Praised as a "Great STEAM-infused addition to the fiction section of any elementary or middle school library” by the SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL and included on the CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCILs November Hot List of "Anticipated Bestsellers"!
The Challenge Island STEAM Adventure Books
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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 kids can do at home including building a bridge, making a slime ocean, and creating cool paper sharks.
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Once again Daniel, Joy, and Kimani are transported to a mysterious island! This time, they're high in the canopy of a rainforest, surrounded by amazing plants and animals. But they can't stay long. They need to escape the rainforest before sunset by mastering the force of friction and 'flying' along ziplines between the trees. They speed onward, eager to meet the mysterious person who summoned them to the island … then stop when they discover a baby monkey in danger. Can they save the monkey and leave the forest in time? STEAM activities kids can do at home include building pulley and ziplines.
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Finding themselves transported to a magical island once again, Daniel, Joy, and Kimani emerge from a mysterious cave to see blue waters—they’re by the beach! And in the near distance, across large sand dunes and up a hill, stands a familiar tall tower. There, the pirate Captain Wei awaits with all the answers to their questions… if they ever reach the tower in time. Using items stashed around the cave, the friends must build themselves a blowcart and use wind power to sail across the bumpy beach. But how do they make a cart fast and sturdy enough to carry the three of them? See what surprises are in store for the three friends in this new Challenge Island adventure!
About the Authors & Illustrator
Sharon Duke Estroff
Author
Sharon is the Founder and CEO of Challenge Island. She is an award-winning educator and author and an internationally syndicated parenting/education journalist whose work is featured in scores of regional, national and international publications. She lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, 4 children, and 3 mini goldendoodles.
Joel Ross
Author
Joel is the author of twelve middle-grade novels including The Fog Diver and the Alley & Rex series. He's won Cybils and YouPer awards, and appeared on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. Joel, his wife, son, dog and cat live in Santa Barbara, CA.
Mónica de Rivas
Illustrator
Monica is a children’s book illustrator who has published her work internationally. Ever since she was a young girl, she loved drawing, reading, and writing stories. She studied illustration at the School of Art and Design San Telmo, Malaga and currently lives in Spain.
The Reviews are In!
School Library Journal
“This is the first in a series that combines adventure and STEAM with a little bit of magic…Estroff’s clever prose helps readers think, plan, and create [along with the characters]. VERDICT: A great STEAM-infused addition to the fiction section of any elementary or middle school library."
The Children’s Book Council
The Bridge to Sharktooth Island: A Challenge Island STEAM Adventure is included in the Children’s Book Council’s Hot Off the Presses Booklist. “This unique online bibliography features anticipated bestsellers, either recently published or forthcoming, published by CBC members.”
Hudson Valley Parent Magazine
“The Bridge to Sharktooth Island artfully intertwines action-packed fantasy with real-life engineering. Cautious Daniel, his brave cousin Joy and their studious new friend Kimani find themselves suddenly stranded on a mysterious island surrounded by sharks where they must work together to build the strongest bridge they can to get to safety!
Education News Today
“The New Challenge Island chapter book series is perfect for fans of The Magic School Bus and Magic Tree House, but with a spectacular, hands-on STEM/STEAM twist that educators and students will love.”
A Net in Time Blog
“One thing I like is that readers have a choice…Will they wait and let the trio figure it all out OR will they try to figure things out before moving on in the story?…A variety of activities are at the close of the book from bridge-building, to sharks facts to doing art or math. It’s a full-ahead STEAM adventure!”
Frugal Navy Wife Blog
”My little heartbreaker loves to read and he loved reading 'The Bridge to Sharktooth Island’ with his beanbag crocodile by his side. This is a great book and my kiddo sure enjoyed it!”
NASA News Today
“Making this book series even more groundbreaking is the fact that readers can experience the same STEAM adventures as the characters in the story in real life, through one of Challenge Island’s 120 franchise locations.”
Meet The Characters
Hi, I’m Joy!
I'm an ordinary kid. I like climbing trees and skydiving. At least, I would like skydiving if my parents ever let me try!
Hi, I’m Daniel!
I'm an ordinary kid. I like playing sports and video games, and just hanging out with friends, doing nothing.
Hi, I’m Kimani!
I'm an ordinary kid. I like reading and drawing and reading and libraries. Also, books.
Hi, I’m Davinci!
Avast, matey! I’m Davinci Pretty parrot! Davinci! Walk the plank. Way! Swab the deck, landlubber! Hard to port!
STEAM + Reading = STREAM
Combine the Magic of Challenge Island Programs with the Magic of Reading
Choose Your Book Series Field Trip Package
During our ONSITE Book-Series Field Trips, your students will work together to conquer special book-related challenges, just like the characters do in the story.
Treasure Chest Package
This gem of a schoolwide STEAM adventure is our most exquisite option: A 1.5-hour field trip, individual books for every child, book companion guides for every teacher and a schoolwide virtual author visit!
Palm Tree Package
This breezy schoolwide or grade level STEAM adventure includes a 1.5-hour field trip, a book and book companion guide for each participating classroom + a book purchase option for individual students!
Pineapple Package
This sweet STEAM adventure includes a 1.5-hour field trip, a book for the school library, teacher companion guides for participating classrooms + a book purchase option for individual students.
Book Series Program Gallery
Contact Us About Programs and Packages
We will design the perfect Challenge Island Book Series Adventure for your school, group or organization!
Read an Excerpt from the Book