“Book Drop” Activate! TPT's new children's series encourages literacy and science learning.
Get to Know “Book Drop”
“Book Drop” is a new children’s series from Twin Cities PBS that explores Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through the perspective of two curious siblings, Isaiah and Ellie. Whether it’s designing water bottle rockets, maintaining a garden, or building obstacle courses, they love to learn by trying new activities. When Isaiah and Ellie run into a problem they can’t solve, they call on their animated friends, Kitty and Leo, at the Book Drop headquarters for assistance. Together, with the help of the Book Drop computer voiced by Whoopi Goldberg, Kitty and Leo search for a storybook that will inspire their real-life friends. In addition, Kitty and Leo invite extra help from a real-life professional working in STEM to bring the story to life.
“I think kids and parents will love watching the interactions between the real and animated characters and will really connect with the curiosity of the characters!” says Katie Hessen, TPT’s Manager of Children's Media and Education and Executive Producer of “Book Drop.”
Problem Solve Like a Scientist
“Book Drop” in the Community
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the goal of "Book Drop” is to introduce 4-8 year olds to STEM learning. Literacy is a key learning goal for this age group, and each episode incorporates read-alouds from STEM-focused storybooks. “Book Drop” invites learners to think like scientists. Instead of presenting singular solutions to the situations that Isaiah and Ellie face, the characters find inspiration from books and mentors and creatively solve their problems. And just like scientists, they encourage learners to ask questions, conduct observations, and test their predictions. The series features energetic animation and catchy music that make learning fun. Characters zoom through space. Trucks transform into space shuttles. At the same time, Isaiah and Ellie deal with scenarios that kids their age will find relatable, like reorganizing a messy playroom or finishing a class science experiment.
Alongside the episodes, TPT's Center for Lifelong Learning team created standards-aligned resources and implemented educational programming with community partners and families. The Lifelong Learning team partnered with over 20 libraries nationwide to share episodes and in-person activities with youth and their families. Families also received “Book Drop” kits, including the featured storybooks and materials needed to continue learning at home. Partnerships with libraries deepened the project’s impact nationwide and connected TPT with families across the country. “It was wonderful to see how this program gave libraries the confidence to continue to incorporate STEM in their programming in a fun and engaging way!” says Julie Noyes, TPT’s Lead Administrative Specialist and Co-Producer of “Book Drop.”
Watch full episodes of “Book Drop” on the Twin Cities PBS YouTube channel Download the free education resources at TPTLearn.org
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JUNE 2025
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