Think drones have no place in the language arts classroom? Or that picture books are just for little kids? Think again.

Every year on April 23rd, the world celebrates World Book Day—a time to champion reading at every age. What better way to celebrate than with books that blend storytelling and computer science?

This year, introduce your students to the fascinating world of drones through picture books! Whether you're working with young learners or older students exploring STEM concepts, these books open doors to innovation, critical thinking, and creativity. We’ve curated eight drone-themed picture books (including one authored by a Robolink Ambassador) that are perfect for integrating into your classroom. Bonus? Each one includes a ready-to-go lesson idea to help you get started.

We couldn’t stop there. While we are partial to teaching STEM and CTE through drones, we understand that there are several mediums in which you can teach it! We’ve included three of our favorite children’s books to introduce students of all ages to the wonderful world of STEM careers. 

1. Anika and the Difficult Drone
Author: Kameel Vohra
Age Range: 3 - 6 years
This book focuses on principles of STEM: curiosity, perseverance, and patience. While it’s geared for younger students, this would be a great book to introduce students to the mindset and soft skills needed for tasks such as engineering, design, and experimentation.
Lesson Idea: Students reflect on a similar situation they’ve experienced and how they could have or applied some qualities that Anika did. Students can reflect through a written short answer response, or they can record their thinking in a podcast format using WeVideo.

2. T-Bone the Drone
Author: Shanda McCloskey
Age Range: 4 - 8 years old
Summary: Lucas and T-Bone the Drone save the day by working together to rescue the wiffle ball when it is hit over the fence where the scary dog lives.
Lesson Plan: Show this clip of “The Sandlot” and have students discuss how the movie would have changed had they had a drone. Hold the discussion live in class, or capture the conversation white sticky notes on a Figjam board (like this one).

3. Drones for Kids (Tiny Techs)
Author: Ecopunk Press & David Colello
Ages: 5 - 12 years old
This beautiful picture book introduces students to all the uses of drones as they read the book, diving into the world beneath the waves and soaring among the stars. This book is actually the fourth book in a ten book series that features STEM skills and technology.
Lesson Idea: Students work together to illustrate a class book with illustrations that depict themselves and their classmates using the drones as they were depicted in the book. Students can create their pages using traditional art tools, or make it digital by using Book Creator.

4. Pippa & Dronie
Author: Paul Mead
Age Range: 5 - 10 years old
Summary: Pippa and her drone, Dronie, embark on a journey across Australia, meeting real-life women using drones to make scientific discoveries. From helping track endangered animals to monitoring environmental changes, each encounter empowers Pippa—and readers—to see themselves in STEM careers. This story blends adventure with inspiration and introduces young readers to six real female role models working with drone technology.
Lesson Idea: Create a SchoolAI space for each of the female role models, like this one, so that students can “interview” them and dive deeper into their careers and contributions to science.

5. Drones, Drones, Everywhere!
Author: Ashlee Cooper & Faye Paige Edwards
Age Range: 3 to 12 years old
Summary: Drones, Drones, Everywhere! uses playful rhymes and vibrant illustrations to explore the many ways drones are used in our world—from exciting adventures to important jobs. It’s ideal for younger readers, but the text’s simplicity makes it a great anchor for older students to analyze purpose, tone, and author’s message.
Lesson Idea: Students use a graphic organizer on Kami or on paper to take notes and organize what they’ve learned!

6. Flight School for Kids: Learning to Pilot a Drone
Author: Brian Thomas
Age Range: 6 - 12 years old
Summary: A lengthier book that incapsulates all stages of flying a drone: understanding the parts, flying, features, and joining a drone community. It’s packed with hands-on tips, real-world examples, and plenty of inspiring ideas.
Lesson Idea: Students write a short story from a drone’s perspective on a mission. Keep it traditional with pen and paper or have students submit their responses to Short Answer for a gamified experience.

7. Flying Drones with Jaxon: The Beginner's Guide to Learning about Drones
Author: La’Quata Sumter
Age Range: 8 - 14 years old
We are especially proud to share this book, because it’s written by our very own Robolink Ambassador - La’Quata Sumter! This guide takes students through the basics of drone operation and explains how drones are used in industries like agriculture, security, and filmmaking. Its tone is friendly and relatable, making it a great companion for students preparing to fly drones for the first time.
Lesson Idea: Students create their own guide or diagram of a drone before they use it in their classroom. They can draw it on paper or use an AI image generator in Canva or Adobe Express.

8. Adventures with Leondaro the Drone
Author: John A. Purdy
Age Range: 9 - 11 years old
Summary: Leah loves photography but wants new ways to see the world. Enter Leonardo, her trusty drone! Together, they explore how aerial photography can tell better stories, solve problems, and offer fresh perspectives. The book reinforces teamwork, creativity, and the idea that technology can amplify student passions.
Lesson Plan: Students answer the question, if you could take a picture of anything using a drone, what would it be and why? Would you be able to take a picture of it with a traditional camera, why or why not? Capture the conversation with a Padlet discussion board.

Bonus! Books about Coding

Looking to keep the tech-themed momentum going? These books introduce students to the fundamentals of coding and computational thinking through storytelling.

9. Learn to Program (Kids Get Coding)
Author: Heather Lyons, Elizabeth Tweedale, and
Age Range: 6 - 10 years old
Summary: A bright and engaging intro to computer programming, this book uses real-life examples and vibrant illustrations to explain key coding concepts. It covers everything from understanding algorithms to creating simple programs, helping students see how coding powers their favorite games and apps.

10. Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding
Author: Linda Liuks
Age Range: 3 - 9 years old
Summary: Ruby is a curious, creative girl who invites readers into a whimsical world of logic and problem-solving. Through storytelling and playful exercises, kids learn core coding principles like breaking down big problems, creating step-by-step plans, and finding patterns—all without a computer.

11. How to Code a Sandcastle
Author: Josh Funk and Sara Palacios
Age Range: 4 - 8 years old
Summary:  From Girls Who Code comes this fun introductory book about coding. Pearl wants to build the perfect sandcastle, but every attempt fails—until she and her robot friend Pascal code their way to success. With fun illustrations and beginner-friendly explanations of sequences and loops, this book is a great way to show how coding can solve real-world (or beach-day) problems.

Wrapping It Up

Whether you’re reading about drones, role models, or robots, these books are more than just stories—they’re launchpads for creativity, exploration, and student voice. Picture books aren't just for littles, and STEM doesn’t have to be separate from literacy. When you bring both together, students soar.

Which book will you try first? Share your favorite titles or lesson ideas with us—we’d love to see your classroom in action!