In an ongoing effort to inspire intellectual curiosity and foster the next generation of problem-solvers, creators, and engineers, IEEE TryEngineering has announced the launch of a comprehensive new STEM book series tailored specifically for young readers. Developed in collaboration with the Lerner Publishing Group, the collection targets children between the ages of 8 and 12, aiming to make rapidly evolving technological concepts both approachable and deeply engaging for middle-grade learners.
The technologies shaping the modern world—spanning artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, ocean exploration, advanced communications, semiconductors, and signal processing—are advancing at an unprecedented pace. Ensuring that young learners grasp these fundamental concepts early on is widely viewed by educators and industry experts as essential to preparing tomorrow’s workforce. To bridge this gap, the newly released series translates complex engineering principles into age-appropriate explanations, supported by real-world examples and interactive design challenges designed to cultivate critical thinking and natural curiosity.
The initiative, titled Tomorrow’s Technology With TryEngineering, Powered by IEEE, draws its foundational framework from a rich repository of educational ebooks and multimedia resources already available through the TryEngineering platform. To ensure technical accuracy and depth, TryEngineering partnered closely with several specialized IEEE groups. These collaborators include the IEEE Communications Society, the IEEE Computer Society, and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, alongside the Transportation Electrification Council.
Designed for versatile application, the books are well-suited for integration into traditional classrooms, school and public libraries, or home-learning environments. By connecting abstract STEM concepts to tangible items children encounter in their daily lives—such as personal computers, smartphones, and emerging transit systems—the series helps students draw meaningful lines between classroom learning and the technology-driven world around them.
Six Core Topics in the Collection
The comprehensive collection comprises six distinct volumes, each focusing on a pillar of modern technology and engineering.
Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Smart Technology delves into the algorithmic systems that power everyday tools like streaming services, search engines, and modern health care applications. Beyond explaining the mechanics of how artificial intelligence operates, the book introduces young readers to pressing ethical considerations associated with the technology. Topics such as algorithmic bias, deepfakes, content hallucinations, and digital privacy are addressed in a manner appropriate for tweens, helping them critically evaluate one of the most influential and fast-moving technological shifts of the modern era.
Communication Technology: From Morse Code to Smartphones takes readers on a historical and forward-looking journey through human connectivity. The text traces the evolution of message-sharing from early methods like smoke signals and semaphore towers to conventional telephones and modern wireless networks. Furthermore, the book looks ahead to how engineers are currently reshaping the telecommunications landscape through innovations like sixth-generation wireless networks and space-based architectures, while spotlighting promising career pathways in both telecommunications and aerospace engineering.
Electric Vehicles: Powering the Future of Transportation examines the sweeping transformation currently underway in global mobility. The volume covers a broad spectrum of electrified transit, including electric cars, e-bikes, e-scooters, and electrified rail systems. Young readers can discover the underlying engineering principles of hybrid and fully electric vehicles, explore the electrochemistry and mechanics behind advanced battery systems, and learn about the crucial roles engineers play in designing smarter, more sustainable urban and regional transit infrastructure.
Ocean Engineering: Protecting Our Ocean Environments highlights the vital ecological role that the world’s oceans play in sustaining planetary health, emphasizing the urgent need for careful environmental stewardship. The book illustrates how engineers deploy specialized submersibles, autonomous floats, and advanced measurement tools to study the complex underwater realm. It also details the engineering strategies utilized to monitor and mitigate marine pollution, protect fragile habitats, and safeguard oceanic ecosystems for future generations.
Semiconductors: The Building Blocks of Modern Electronics directs its focus toward the microscopic hardware that underpins virtually every electronic device in use today. Microchips, which drive everything from smartphones and personal computers to household appliances and industrial machinery, rely fundamentally on semiconductor technology. Readers are introduced to the physics of conductors and insulators, the intricate manufacturing processes required to fabricate microchips, and the reasons why semiconductor engineering remains a vibrant, fertile ground for ongoing technological innovation.
Signal Power: The Hidden Waves Behind Modern Tech explores the sophisticated ways engineers analyze, manipulate, and transmit signals to optimize the performance of modern systems. Whether ensuring that a mobile phone call connects clearly despite ambient background noise or utilizing a sensitive medical device to monitor a patient’s vital signs, signal processing is a cornerstone of contemporary life. The book breaks down different categories of waves, outlines the general signal processing workflow, and introduces students to rewarding career paths within the discipline.
By grounding complex scientific and engineering principles in practical, real-world applications, the Tomorrow’s Technology With TryEngineering series aims to demystify innovation for young learners. The books serve as a bridge, helping children understand the mechanisms of the digital and physical infrastructure surrounding them while encouraging them to adopt the analytical mindset of professional engineers and creators.
The complete book collection is currently available to educators, parents, and young readers through major distribution channels, including Amazon, Bookshop, and the official Lerner Publishing Group catalog. Additional information regarding the series and related educational resources can be accessed directly through the TryEngineering web platform.
