EARLY READER • Ages 7–9
Early Reader Reading Challenge
Take off on your next reading mission. Explore S.T.E.A.M. stories, meet curious characters, and find new favorites.
Registration opens: Sept. 4, 2026
Challenge runs: Sept. 25 – Oct. 16, 2026
Ready to join the challenge?
Need help? Visit Beanstack Help & FAQs.
Explore this page
Your Mission
Start with the Base Goal, then keep reading to reach Bonus Goals and earn more virtual tickets.
Registration opens September 4. During the challenge, readers use Beanstack, an online platform, to track reading and submit virtual tickets.
Base Goal
Read or be read to for 150 minutes
Earn 5 virtual tickets and a reward package.
Bonus Goals
Read or be read to 30 more minutes
Earn 3 virtual tickets each time.
Virtual Tickets
Choose bonus drawings to enter
Use your virtual tickets for bonus drawings.
Rewards & Bonus Drawings
Every reading mission deserves to be celebrated.
Readers who complete their Base Goal earn digital badges, virtual tickets, a certificate of completion, and a reward package.
Keep going beyond the Base Goal to earn extra virtual tickets for bonus drawings.
Sneak peek below: bonus drawing items, reward package goodies, and certificate example. Reward package contents may vary; images show examples of possible items.
Submit virtual tickets by October 17
To enter bonus drawings, submit your virtual tickets in Beanstack by October 17, 2026.
Winners will be notified by email by November 1, 2026.
Author Messages • Ages 7–9
Meet Your Reading Guardians
Your Reading Guardians have special messages to share. Press play and learn about the stories they brought to life.
Watch a Message from Your Reading Guardians
Melissa's Message • 1 min. 13 sec.
Hear a quick message about slime, stories, and the power of staying curious.
Chiara's Message • 2 min. 33 sec.
Hear how a dream of visiting the Moon inspired a story about big feelings, friendship,
Featured Books by Your Reading Guardians
Co-author of Sloomoo: Making Friends
A graphic novel about Daisy, an 11-year-old with a love of slime and STEM, in a story about friendship, creativity, and connection
2026 Early Reader • Ages 7–9
Pick Your Next Book
Choose a book from the list below and start your reading mission. Most are available at your local library.
Need a printable version? Download the S.T.E.A.M. book recommendations (PDF)
An Unlikely Astronaut by Susan Kilrain
Annika Riz, Math Whiz by Claudia Mills
Art Monster: An Art History Chapter Book Mystery by Tevin Hansen
By the Numbers 3.14: 110.01 Cool Infographics Packed With Stats and Figures by National Geographic Kids
Charlotte Morgan and the Great Big Math Problem by Martin Tiller
Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet (Cosmic Collisions Book 1) by Marc J. Kuchner
Dinosaurs: Fact Tracker, a Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Geeger the Robot Goes to School (series) by Jarrett Lerner
How to Spacewalk: Step-by-Step with Shuttle Astronauts by Kathryn D. Sullivan
Leo & Orbit Space Science Adventures: A Science Comic Book for Kids by Starseed Learning Books
March of the Mini Beasts (The DATA series Book 1) by Ada Hopper
Math Dragon by Tevin Hansen
Misty Copeland: Ready-to-Read Level 3 (You Should Meet series) by Laurie Calkhoven
Molly and the Mathematical Mysteries: Ten Interactive Adventures in Mathematical Wonderland by Eugenia Cheng
Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams by Chiara Colombi
Saved by the Smell (My Mad Scientist Mom series) by Jarrett Lerner
Science Comics: Human Spaceflight: Rockets and Rivalry (Science Comics series) by Andy Hirsch
Siberian Tiger vs. Brown Bear (Animal Battles series) by Nathan Sommer
Sloomoo: Making Friends by Melissa de la Cruz
Space: Fact Tracker, a Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs by Shirley-Raye Redmond
The Math Wiz by Betsy Duffey
The Mystery Monster (Paige Proves It Book 1) by Amy Marie Stadelmann
What Is AI? by Weston Locher
Where Is Our Solar System? by Stephanie Sabol
Where Is the International Space Station? by Dana Meachen Rau
Who Was Frida Kahlo? by Sarah Fabiny
Who was Jane Goodall? by Roberta Edwards
Who Was Katherine Johnson? by Shelia P. Moses
Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? by Roberta Edwards
Who Was Louis Braille? by Margaret Frith
Who Was Steve Jobs? by Pam Pollack
Who Was Vincent van Gogh? by Paula K. Manzanero
Who Would Win?: The Ultimate Rumble Collection (Who Would Win? series) by Jerry Pallotta
Looking for book ideas now?
Visit the S.T.E.A.M. Book Recommendations section on the Resources page to find suggested books by reading level, including past challenge recommendations.
Readers may choose books from any level, but prizes are awarded by age category.
Questions?
Visit the FAQs on the Resources page.
Email steamracetospace@gmail.com.
2025 Bonus Drawing Winners
Congratulations to the 2025 Bonus Drawing winners! These readers won bonus drawing items and an invitation to the Splashdown Celebration.
See what readers earned and which schools were represented.
Aarin P
Running Springs Elementary
30 Second Dance Party button
Aditya N
Eastshore Elementary
Sky Zone guest pass
Adlin L
Villa Park Elementary
San Diego Zoo or Safari Park tickets
Aiden N
Running Springs Elementary
Andrea Brown book bundle
Amelia G
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary
30 Second Dance Party button
Amelia K
Patton Elementary
Hope & Inspiration book bundle #2
Annamirilla J
Nohl Canyon Elementary
Chromebook
Bruce B
Circle View Elementary
30 Second Dance Party button
Byron (Tobias) D
Sequoia Elementary
Zoom call with Laura Resau
Daniel L
Homeschool
Sky Zone guest pass
Derek L
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary
Mini Mod™ Launch Set
Jasmine A
Anaheim Hills Monterssori
30 Second Dance Party button
Jaxon J
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary
Illustrated book bundle
Jennifer C
St. Johns Episcopal
Irvine Lanes giftcard
Joshua McC
Santiago Elementary School (TK-5)
Sky Zone guest pass
Leyla T
Patton Elementary
Zoom call with Laura Resau
Maile K
John H. Eader Elementary
Hope & Inspiration book bundle #1
Marcelo H
Panorama Elementary
Pretend City tickets
Matthew C
Fletcher Elementary
Sky Zone guest pass
Matthias C
Fletcher Elementary
30 Second Dance Party button
Max R
Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science
30 Second Dance Party button
Nathan Y
Brywood Elementary
Bytes & Bots gift certificate
Noam G
Rossmoor Elementary
$20 Amazon giftcard
Nora S
Walnut Elementary
Charlesbridge ASTRONOMY book bundle
Nyle D
Arroyo Elementary
Bazic Products backpack
Siena R
Newport Coast Elementary
Charlesbridge ART book bundle
Talan L
Cadence Park
Club for the Future bundle
William C
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley
Sky Zone guest pass
