Reading, MA — Reading fifth graders Abby Hayes and Ava Westover recently won a Regional People of Play Young Inventors Challenge hosted at Whitelam Books. They will be moving forward to the national competition held in Chicago.
The mission of the Young Inventors Challenge is to inspire the next generation to use creativity, critical thinking, and STEAM skills in the invention and innovation process and to connect with professionals in the game industry to mentor these young innovators in their design process.
Whitelam Books was selected by People of Play to host a regional event in October 2024. Reading students in grades 3 – 6 participated. “While all of the kids invented incredibly fun toys and games, Abby and Ava won for their creativity, originality, and educational component,” explains Whitelam Books owner Liz Whitelam.
The winning game, called “Breakfast Bop,” takes players on a journey through different countries to learn what people in those countries might typically eat for breakfast. The game also includes a foreign language component, as players learn the names of different food items in the native language of the country.
Abby and Ava have completed an online video to promote and explain Breakfast Bop to the judges at the People of Play, Young Inventors Challenge in Chicago on November 9. As regional winners, they will have the opportunity to get feedback on their idea from game industry professionals.
Whitelam Books, located at 610 Main Street in Reading, sells books, gifts, and a wide assortment of educational toys and games. Details for this and all special events can be found at whitelambooks.com or by following Whitelam Books on social media.
