Hello, friends! Our book today is SOIC & SOT: The Microchips, written by Jeffrey C. Dunnihoo and illustrated by Simona M. Ceccarelli, the tale of two young microchips fulfilling their destiny.

SOIC and SOT are best friends, even though they have never spoken. Growing up on neighboring packaging reels in a quiet warehouse, the two have always been able to see each other, but never able to speak – they don’t know how yet. One day, their box is selected and brought to a manufacturing room, and the friends are separated. SOIC is sent through a machine where he is picked up and placed into a mainframe, then attached using goopy silver stuff and a warm oven. The process is scary, but soon SOIC finds that he is not alone – he now has new friends to meet. And when he is connected to something called The Network, he begins to use his own voice to learn and listen to the wider world around him – perhaps even to recognize the voice of an old friend…

Absolutely FANTASTIC. This story had so many positive qualities – an in-depth yet easily-understood look at how computers are made; a powerful metaphor for growing up, leaving home, and finding your voice; a sweet story of how friendship can carry across distances. The illustrations are stellar, managing to make tiny bits of metal into sympathetic and adorable characters. And don’t miss scanning the QR codes hidden throughout the art, which take readers to a website that explains the story’s technology in more detail. There’s a small issue of titles that are indistinguishable from neighboring text, making them look like odd interjections, and some scary moments that might make younger bookworms a little nervous. But the length was great, JJ loved it, and so did I. An amazing way to help little ones connect with STEM, and we can’t wait to see more. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)