Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor

Frank Einstein loves nothing more than inventing things in his grandpa Al’s fix-it shop. But when he kickstarts the creation of two sentient self-assembling robots, Frank realizes he can now create anything. And with the Midville Science Fair looming, he, his friend Watson, and his robot helpers Klink and Klank prepare to rock the science world by creating an antimatter motor. But Frank should beware, because the devious T. Edison is lurking about, and he’s determined to sabotage Frank at all costs.

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor is the first in a new series for younger readers that marries practical science with a spirit of anarchic wonder. And it’s no surprise that a book designed to bring science to younger minds is a pet project of Jon Scieszka, whose Guys Read brand has lured in new readers for years now.

With fun, detailed illustrations for scenes and scientific principles, the art of this series is accessible in a MythBusters blueprint-drawing sort of way. Admittedly, the first book feels a little crowded trying to lay the groundwork for the series (Frank’s family, Edison, the robots, etc.), but that’s a small quibble for a series with this much potential to be great.