The Little Katie Series by Carmela Dutra

In this week's 2nd episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Carmela Dutra, the author of the Little Katie series.  The series consists of  illustrated children's books designed to get kids interested in STEM and STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math).  There are currently 2 books in the series:

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Use your imagination and take a walk on the moon side of things with Little Katie and Smudge! Discover why satellites are so important, explore information about spacesuits, imagine flying in a rocket ship, uncover facts about landing on the moon, learn about who landed on the moon first, and much more! (Source)

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It's cool to code! Join Little Katie and her puppy, Smudge, as they learn about the exciting world of coding. Little Katie believes anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Kids will be introduced through storytelling to the basic concepts of coding. This STEAM concept book includes activities so future kid coders will be thrilled to put their own imaginations to work. (Source)

Little Katie and her dog, Smudge are best friends who love discovering and learning together.  Smudge goes with Little Katie on her adventure to the moon, and even helps her when Little Katie's momma teaches her about coding. 

Genres:

• Children's Literature
• Education and Reference
• STEM/STEAM

What I loved:

• Little Katie's curiosity and inquisitiveness.
• Her relationship with Smudge who encourages her and accompanies her on all of her adventures, helping her to learn as she goes.
• How I learned something new from each book!
• Carmela's website has free activity pages that go with each book so readers can keep learning with some hands-on fun.

Who should read the Little Katie Series?

• Children: Each book is geared for a specific grade level (ranging from 3-6)
• Parents and Teachers.
• Anyone who loves books about a young person exploring the world around her and learning as she goes.

Quotes:

• "What do you think it's like to walk on the moon?  Unlike the earth, there is no gravity on the moon to hold you down, so walking can be a lot of fun!  Just be careful not to jump too high, or you might not come back down." -Little Katie Goes to the Moon
• "'An algorithm gives the computer step-by-step directions to follow, telling them exactly what to do.  This is called problem solving.  We can think of an algorithm like a recipe.'   'Is it kind of like when we bake cookies?' asked Katie. 'Exactly,' said Momma. 'You start from the beginning and work your way to the end.  But, computers don't speak English like you and me.  They have their own languages.'" -Exploring Steam with Little Katie: Coding

Lorenzo the Bear

Carmela also has a previous series featuring Lorenzo the Bear.  This series focuses on friendship and loyalty as Lorenzo and his friends go on a series of adventures.  We didn't talk as much about this series in the podcast, but you can learn more about Lorenzo here.

Where you can find Carmela online:

Website: http://carmeladutra.com/

Blog: http://carmeladutra.com/a-blog-for-your-thoughts/

Activities: http://carmeladutra.com/little-katie/activities/

Facebook: @AuthorCarmelaDutra

Twitter: @carmy4077

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Author Bio:

Carmela Dutra is an award-winning author, storyteller, illustrator, wife and mother. She is currently residing with her family in the California Bay Area.

Nothing is more magical for a child than being transported to a new world where they can explore and discover unknown things.  Carmela is very passionate about children’s literacy, which is the main reason she started writing for her niece and nephew. With no intention of her work ever going public, she wanted to create something fun and special for them to enjoy.

She is best known for her frequent visits to classrooms in her community, where she shares her series and encourages children to set free their own creativity through writing, and drawing.

 In addition to writing and illustrating, Carmela Dutra is also a professional photographer. Working with children is her passion! Whether she captures their whimsical nature through the lenses of a camera, or with her stories, she hopes to encourage children to find their own passion for reading and writing.

“Literature has the ability to open up a whole new world to children, but we need to have a share in helping them to find that door and open it with them. Let’s set the example and help to foster this love of reading in our little ones. ”   ~ Carmela Dutra~ (Source)

To listen to the interview with Carmela please click here.