By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – At the University of Illinois’ Grainger College of Engineering, students and a professor are cranking out children’s books.

The purpose, says Jenny Amos, is to turn grade school kids on to engineering.

“There’s a lot of areas that are not well covered in books for children,” said Amos, adding the next book is about how apps are developed and how they work. “Those are areas where we can educate students about engineering.”

Amos is a teaching associate professor of bioengineering. She also runs the Illinois organization of Engineering Ambassadors.

With a newly-earned master’s degree, Taylor Tucker is the author of the just-published book.

“The book was a wonderful opportunity to speak to young readers and foster their interest in that type of career,” Tucker said. “Really, the underlying narrative of the book is to look at the world around you with a curious eye and to follow things that interest you.”

Jenny Saves a Convertible is on amazon.com.

EA Engineering Ambassadors (illinois.edu)

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]