The Questioneers #1: Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters; Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts

The stars of their own picture books, Rosie Revere, Iggy Peck and Ada Twist, join forces in a new chapter book series. The new series, titled ‘The Questionners’, is written and illustrated by the same duo that created the picture books and sees the STEM loving kids combine their brain-power and having all kinds of science and engineering themed fun.

Rosie Revere loves engineering projects. Things don’t always go to plan but that’s all part of the fun. Thinking, designing, creating, testing and problem solving are all things that excite her. And Rosie is going to need all of her engineering excellence to complete her latest project.

Star painter June, with her hands in casts following an accident, is facing the prospect of being unable to enter the art contest at the Blue River Creek Festival. Struggling for ideas, Aunt Rose and the Raucous Riveters need help and they know exactly who to ask. But with only two days until Art-A-Go-Go can Rosie come up with an incredible invention to solve the painting problem…

Andrea Beatty and David Roberts do what they do best, telling a funny STEM-themed story that is filled with engineering and scientific facts. The story takes its inspiration from the women riveters who worked in the factories during World War Two building war munitions and vehicles. The amazing women, who were represented by Rosie the Riveter, feature in the story as the Blue River Riveters. And what a delightful bunch they are - the kind group of straight-talking, no nonsense women who have built B-29 airplanes enjoy music and drinking cups of coffee and are the kind of people that you’d just love to hang out with.

Rosie and her friends, Ada and Iggy, are brilliant and epitomise everything about coming up with ideas to solve problems. They persevere, they overcome difficulties and most of all they have lots of fun! With wonderful personalities and an enthusiasm and passion for STEM that fizzes from the pages, the trio are sure to get children, particularly girls, thinking and believing that anything is possible and that they too can become an engineer.

Told over plenty of short chapters, the book is a great fit for children who are beginning to read longer books and building their reading stamina. An abundance of playful illustrations feature throughout that bring the action to life and I really like the simple colour palette of white, black and red. The book is really inclusive with characters spanning a vast age range, of different ethnicities and a lady in a wheelchair. Peppered throughout the book are lots of Rosie’s scribbles and engineering knowledge and back matter includes information on valves and an extended piece on the real riveters in World War Two.

Full of ambitious plans, teamwork, lots of excellent engineering and a fantastic female role-model, this first in a news series makes a most delightful read that offers many important positive lessons for young readers.

Recommended for 6+.