Engineer Someday: A Bilingual Book Building STEM Dreams
Engineer Someday: A Bilingual Book Building STEM Dreams
Jay Flores’ new children’s book gives kids a visual—and bilingual—entry point into the world of engineering.
Ask engineers when they first learned what engineering actually was, and the answer often isn’t until high school—or even college. Despite early interests in building, tinkering, and problem-solving, many kids grow up without seeing the word engineer attached to something or someone they can relate to.
That’s exactly what Engineer Someday sets out to change.
This bilingual picture book by longtime STEM advocate Jay Flores introduces children to a world of engineering careers through colorful illustrations and playful rhymes.
The book is now available in hardcover and paperback. Image: ASME
Each page highlights children in learning environments with different engineering professions, presented in both English and Spanish.
By combining diverse language and imagery, the book helps children from all backgrounds, especially Hispanic and Latino communities, see themselves in roles like civil engineer, biomedical engineer, or software engineer.
“When I graduated, I was the only Latino in my mechanical engineering class,” Flores said in a 2024 interview with Mechanical Engineering magazine. “It’s about representation. If I can see it, I can be it.”
That theme carries through all of Flores’ work, from his classroom outreach to his high-energy STEM demonstrations, like the ones he brought to the stage at the 2025 ASME Gala.
So who is this book for? What inspired it? And how can simple visuals shape the future of STEM? We spoke with Flores to find out.
Was there a particular moment that inspired you to write this book?
JF: When I was a child, I was endlessly curious. I loved exploring, building things to fuel my imagination, and asking “Why?” about everything around me. However, I never saw how those interests pointed toward a specific career path. I didn’t know that curiosity could become engineering until much later. Engineer Someday is my way of giving children the chance to see that their questions, creativity, and play can connect to exciting career options. I wanted to create a resource that could plant that seed of possibility earlier in a child’s journey. The idea was to make engineering approachable, fun, and inclusive for kids who might not otherwise see themselves in that role.
What can you tell us about the illustrations?
JF: The illustrations were intentionally designed to be vibrant, playful, and filled with detail that sparks curiosity. Each page introduces a different type of engineer, and the art brings their world to life in a way that children can immediately connect with. We wanted kids to be able to see themselves in those roles, whether it is designing bridges, creating video games, or exploring space. The visuals are just as important as the words in showing that engineering is creative and exciting.
How might parents or teachers use this book to inspire curiosity in children?
JF: Parents and teachers can use the book as a starting point for conversations about how the world works and how engineers play a role in shaping it. Each character and scenario can lead to simple activities, questions, or even small experiments at home or in the classroom. It is not just about reading the story, but about opening the door to hands-on exploration and helping children see that their natural curiosity is the first step toward becoming an engineer.
If you had seen this book as a kid, which type of engineer do you think would have been your favorite?
JF: As a kid, I probably would have been most fascinated by the mechanical engineer or the aerospace engineer. I was always curious about how things moved and how things worked, and the idea of building something that could fly or travel into space would have captured my imagination right away. I was also always playing in boxes which inspired the illustrations on the aerospace page.
You often talk about the importance of representation. How does this (bilingual) book help in that regard?
JF: Representation is powerful because it tells kids that their identity and background are an asset in STEM, not a barrier. By making the book bilingual, we are not only reaching more families but also affirming that language and culture are part of a child’s journey in learning and discovery. For a young reader to see characters who reflect diverse experiences and to read a story in the language spoken at home helps them feel that they belong in the world of engineering.
How has the reception been thus far? Any plans for future books?
JF: The reception has been heartwarming and encouraging. Engineer Someday earned 30-plus five-star reviews on Amazon in its first month! Parents and teachers are saying the book is perfect for young readers, that it sparks curiosity, and that the bilingual format helps children feel included. Many reviewers commented that the playful approach and the 10 different engineering disciplines presented in the book invite children to dream big and think about what type of engineer they “might be someday.”
I am already exploring ideas for future books. Some of those ideas include companion books where the characters dive deeper into each individual engineering field (ie. Mechanical Engineer Someday, Aerospace Engineer Someday). I also plan to build interactive resources and activity kits so children can experiment and build alongside reading. I want to keep creating stories and experiences that invite children to imagine themselves as engineers, today and in the future.
Engineer Someday is available now in hardcover and paperback—perfect for classrooms, libraries, or the future engineer in your life. To purchase a copy or see Jay Flores on tour, visit jayfloresinspires.com/book.
Sarah Alburakeh is strategic content editor.
That’s exactly what Engineer Someday sets out to change.
This bilingual picture book by longtime STEM advocate Jay Flores introduces children to a world of engineering careers through colorful illustrations and playful rhymes.
The book is now available in hardcover and paperback. Image: ASME
By combining diverse language and imagery, the book helps children from all backgrounds, especially Hispanic and Latino communities, see themselves in roles like civil engineer, biomedical engineer, or software engineer.
“When I graduated, I was the only Latino in my mechanical engineering class,” Flores said in a 2024 interview with Mechanical Engineering magazine. “It’s about representation. If I can see it, I can be it.”
That theme carries through all of Flores’ work, from his classroom outreach to his high-energy STEM demonstrations, like the ones he brought to the stage at the 2025 ASME Gala.
So who is this book for? What inspired it? And how can simple visuals shape the future of STEM? We spoke with Flores to find out.
Was there a particular moment that inspired you to write this book?
JF: When I was a child, I was endlessly curious. I loved exploring, building things to fuel my imagination, and asking “Why?” about everything around me. However, I never saw how those interests pointed toward a specific career path. I didn’t know that curiosity could become engineering until much later. Engineer Someday is my way of giving children the chance to see that their questions, creativity, and play can connect to exciting career options. I wanted to create a resource that could plant that seed of possibility earlier in a child’s journey. The idea was to make engineering approachable, fun, and inclusive for kids who might not otherwise see themselves in that role.
What can you tell us about the illustrations?
JF: The illustrations were intentionally designed to be vibrant, playful, and filled with detail that sparks curiosity. Each page introduces a different type of engineer, and the art brings their world to life in a way that children can immediately connect with. We wanted kids to be able to see themselves in those roles, whether it is designing bridges, creating video games, or exploring space. The visuals are just as important as the words in showing that engineering is creative and exciting.
How might parents or teachers use this book to inspire curiosity in children?
JF: Parents and teachers can use the book as a starting point for conversations about how the world works and how engineers play a role in shaping it. Each character and scenario can lead to simple activities, questions, or even small experiments at home or in the classroom. It is not just about reading the story, but about opening the door to hands-on exploration and helping children see that their natural curiosity is the first step toward becoming an engineer.
If you had seen this book as a kid, which type of engineer do you think would have been your favorite?
JF: As a kid, I probably would have been most fascinated by the mechanical engineer or the aerospace engineer. I was always curious about how things moved and how things worked, and the idea of building something that could fly or travel into space would have captured my imagination right away. I was also always playing in boxes which inspired the illustrations on the aerospace page.
You often talk about the importance of representation. How does this (bilingual) book help in that regard?
JF: Representation is powerful because it tells kids that their identity and background are an asset in STEM, not a barrier. By making the book bilingual, we are not only reaching more families but also affirming that language and culture are part of a child’s journey in learning and discovery. For a young reader to see characters who reflect diverse experiences and to read a story in the language spoken at home helps them feel that they belong in the world of engineering.
How has the reception been thus far? Any plans for future books?
JF: The reception has been heartwarming and encouraging. Engineer Someday earned 30-plus five-star reviews on Amazon in its first month! Parents and teachers are saying the book is perfect for young readers, that it sparks curiosity, and that the bilingual format helps children feel included. Many reviewers commented that the playful approach and the 10 different engineering disciplines presented in the book invite children to dream big and think about what type of engineer they “might be someday.”
I am already exploring ideas for future books. Some of those ideas include companion books where the characters dive deeper into each individual engineering field (ie. Mechanical Engineer Someday, Aerospace Engineer Someday). I also plan to build interactive resources and activity kits so children can experiment and build alongside reading. I want to keep creating stories and experiences that invite children to imagine themselves as engineers, today and in the future.
Engineer Someday is available now in hardcover and paperback—perfect for classrooms, libraries, or the future engineer in your life. To purchase a copy or see Jay Flores on tour, visit jayfloresinspires.com/book.
Sarah Alburakeh is strategic content editor.
Jay Flores’ new children’s book gives kids a visual—and bilingual—entry point into the world of engineering.
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