Maker Martha - Making the Band

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the authors imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

LITTLE SIMON

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First Little Simon hardcover edition March 2018

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Designed by Laura Roode.

The text of this book was set in Caecilia.

Jacket illustrations by Xindi Yan

Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available for this title from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-5344-0911-8 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-5344-0910-1 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-5344-0912-5 (eBook)

Should we just... start? Bella Diaz asked, glancing at her watch.

Lets wait a few more minutes, Emily Adams suggested.

Yeah, agreed Maddie Wilson.

The three friends were at their craft clubhouseformerly known as the old shed in Bellas backyard. Usually, it was four friends, but Sam Sharma was nowhere in sight.

The craft clubhouse was filled with all sorts of materials the kids used for their crafty projects. They had a Sewing Station, where Maddie could often be found. There was a Coding Corner, with a computer that Bella had installed. Emilys Carpentry Cabinet contained tons of tools, gadgets, and materials like nuts and bolts. And Sams Painting Pavilion housed different color paints and about a million brushes of different sizes.

But where was Sam?

Sorry I am late! someone shouted as the shed door flew open. There was Sam, breathless. I had to clean my hamsters cage. It takes forever! he explained.

Maddie nodded sympathetically. I know what thats like, she said. I mean, having to do chores. Its my job to set the dinner table every night!

Youre both lucky, said Bella. Since my dad is a chef, he uses every pot and pan when he cooks. And guess who has to clean up? But the other night, doing the dishes actually gave me an amazing idea for a new crafting project. Behold!

Bella handed an object to each of her friends.

Scrub brushes? asked Sam, confused.

Right now, yes, said Bella. But were going to transform them into: Brushbots!

Bella opened her notebook to a diagram. A Brushbot is a battery-powered scrub brush that can move on its own, she explained.

And sort of looks like a robot! Thats genius! exclaimed Sam.

The first step was for each of them to attach a battery pack to a scrub brush. The kids continued working, carefully following Bellas instructions.

Before we decorate them, lets try them out! Bella suggested. On the count of three. One, two...

THREE! everyone yelled, flipping the switches.

Nothing happened.

What did we do wrong? Maddie asked.

Maybe these batteries are duds? suggested Emily.

Bella looked concerned. But theyre brand-new, she said.

Are they the right kind of batteries? asked Sam.

Bella pulled out a battery and examined it. Then she started to laugh. I think I know what went wrong. You see how each battery has a plus sign at one end and a minus at the other?

The other three nodded.

Well, to make the connection, positive and negative need to be in the right positions. Once we do that...

The friends rotated the batteries and flipped the switches. The Brushbots started working immediately!

Next they got to work on decorations. The hours flew by as they glued, sewed, and painted. When they were done, they set the Brushbots on a shelf to dry. Sams looked like a metal insect, with bug eyes and antennae cut from an old hanger. Maddies was wearing a beret and a coordinated outfit. Emilys had nuts and bolts glued on in cool patterns. And Bellas looked like a real robot, with electric wires wrapping around in all different directions.

Bring on the dirty dishes! said Bella.

Maddie laughed. I think I like mine too much to use it for chores! she admitted.

Emily and Sam nodded in agreement.

You guys! said Bella, though she knew her friends were right. Her Brushbot had turned out really cool too.

Looked like shed have to keep doing the dinner dishes the old-fashioned way... for now.