A Fatima and the Flying Farm in Sokoto

Fatima and the Flying Farm in Sokoto A STEM Exploration Africa BookTired of dusty farms and endless struggles, young Fatima dreams of something bigger: growing crops in the sky. When the harsh Sokoto sun withers the fields around her, she doesn't wait for the rain to change - she builds a solution herself.Using hydroponics, solar power, and smart sensors, Fatima designs Nigeria's first flying hydroponic farm - a drone-powered garden that grows fresh vegetables in mid-air, no soil required. But turning a dusty dream into a working invention isn't easy. Her first flight ends in a hard crash. Her tablet cracks, a blade snaps, and her plants wilt in the dirt. Undeterred, Fatima rebuilds - and soon her flying farm is soaring high above the rooftops of Sokoto, until a new problem strikes mid-flight and she has to think fast to save her crops.Told through eight fast-paced chapters, this vibrant picture book follows Fatima's journey from doubt to determination, showing young readers that failure is just part of how real inventors learn.Packed with real STEM learning, each page pairs the story with STEM Facts and STEM Ideas that introduce big concepts in kid-friendly language - hydroponics, aeroponics, smart farming, renewable energy, and sensor technology - plus a glossary of "Flying Farm Words to Know" and a hands-on STEM Challenge Activity where kids design and build their own flying farm.The book also includes a bonus 11-day STEM Challenge Journal, with a new build-it-yourself experiment for every day - from paper bridges and parachutes to catapults and homemade water filters - turning reading time into a full week (or more) of hands-on discovery.Written by award-winning educator and STEM advocate Elijah Adewale Ebunoluwa, this book is part of the STEM Exploration Africa series, created to inspire the next generation of African innovators, leaders, and dreamers.Perfect for: - Kids ages 6-11 curious about science, engineering, and technology- Parents and teachers looking for STEM read-alouds with real educational content- Classrooms and homeschool STEM units on agriculture, renewable energy, or invention/design thinking- Anyone who loves a story about a girl who turns a big dream into something realCan Fatima save her community's food supply, one flight at a time? Find out in this inspiring story of curiosity, resilience, and the power of STEM.