Publisher: Chronicle Prism
Genre: Children’s science experiments
Formats: $22.95 hardcover | $15.99 ebook
Released: March 5, 2024
Emily Calandrelli is an MIT engineer turned science TV host. She’s the host of Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix, the Emmy-nominated host of Xploration Outer Space on FOX, and the author of the Ada Lace Adventures and Reach for the Stars. She has worked with Bill Nye, Will Smith, and Cardi B to promote STEAM and has been featured on the Today Show and the Drew Barrymore Show. She enjoys sharing her love of science with her followers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Stay Curious and Keep Exploring is a sequel to Calandrelli’s 2022 book of the same name, with 50 home science experiments for the whole family. Color illustrations accompany every experiment, along with instructions and materials to get started, sections to record notes, and fascinating facts about important people in science history.
When asked what contributed to the book landing on the New York Times bestseller list, Calandrelli said: “The fans of my Netflix show, Emily’s Wonder Lab, were dying for more seasons because (as they will tell you) the show introduced their families to science experiments in a fun, accessible way. After watching, many families told me that their child would proudly state, ‘I want to be a scientist when I grow up!’ I had a spreadsheet of experiment ideas for dozens of additional EWL episodes that never got to be, so instead I put them all in this book.”
With the title, Calandrelli drew on her existing following by using the show’s tagline, which fans would recognize. Calandrelli also made a point to share with her followers the process of creating the book and tapped into the values behind her approach to science that are reflected in her show and other content. “When I was genuinely surprised by a reaction from an experiment—I shared my unbridled joy (rather than acting like, ‘oh yes, yes, I’m a serious scientist, I expected this,’), and then spoke about the value of fun and joy when it comes to teaching science to kids.”
If she couldn’t get an experiment to work, she shared about it on her social media and took ideas from her fans. Some of those tips were included in the book. “When the book came out, I think, my followers felt like they were purchasing the future seasons of Emily’s Wonder Lab that never aired and the end product of something they were an active participant in the creation of over the last year.” She added, “I would recommend being totally transparent about the challenges, the ups and the downs, and the surprising moments that found you along the way. … Being honest helps build a bridge of connection.”
Emily Wenstrom is a freelance writer and platforming expert and writes award-winning speculative fiction for teens and adults as E. J. Wenstrom.
E. J. Wenstrom believes in complicated heroes, horrifying monsters, purple hair dye and standing to the right on escalators so the left side can walk. She writes dark speculative fiction for adults and teens, including her new release, a young adult dystopian novel titled Departures (August 10, 2021). When she isn’t writing fiction, E. J. Wenstrom is a regular contributor to DIY MFA and BookRiot, and co-hosts the Fantasy+Girl Podcast. Learn more at her website.
