Building Curiosity & Creativity After School: When One Robot Turns Playtime into Possibility

There’s a Robot at My Afterschool  is part of the seven-book There’s A Robot! series by Dr. Carlotta A. Berry, with illustrations by Anak Bulu. And this one? It brings engineering joy straight into a space many kids call their second home: afterschool.

Meet Malachi. Meet Curiosity. Meet Possibility.

Malachi is a 10-year-old who loves spending time with a robot named Curiosity at his afterschool program. While other kids may head to the gym or craft table, Malachi heads straight to code.

But here’s the twist: He doesn’t just play with the robot — he improves it.

Through clever coding and creativity, Malachi enhances Curiosity’s abilities. Suddenly, the robot isn’t just “his thing.” It becomes everyone’s thing. The excitement spreads. The room shifts. Engineering becomes social. Innovation becomes

communal.

And by the end of the day? Malachi doesn’t just want to play with robots.

He wants to build his own.

Why This Book Matters

This story quietly delivers powerful lessons:

• Representation in STEM – A young Black boy as the coder, creator, and innovator.

• Engineering Design Thinking – Identify a need, iterate, improve, test.

• Collaboration Over Competition – Technology as a connector, not a divider.

• Agency Through Coding – Kids don’t just use technology. They shape it.

Afterschool programs are often where curiosity flourishes without the pressure of grades. This book highlights those informal learning spaces as powerful incubators for robotics, creativity, and confidence.

Robotics Beyond the Classroom

a boy plays basketball with a robot during his afterschool program

At NoireSTEMinist, the mission is clear: Bring robotics to the street. To community centers. To afterschool programs. To living rooms.

Malachi’s story reflects what happens when access meets imagination.

When a child sees a robot and thinks:

• “What if I change this?”

• “What if it could do more?”

• “What if I built one myself?”

That is the spark.

And sparks build engineers.

For Parents, Educators, and Program Directors

This book works beautifully for:

• Elementary STEM read-alouds

• Afterschool robotics clubs

• Coding bootcamps for beginners

• Black STEM book collections

• Conversations about innovation and ownership

Pair it with:

• A simple Scratch activity

• A LEGO robotics demo

• A design challenge: “Upgrade a robot for your community”

Let the story become the launchpad.

a boy holds an instrument to fix a robot while talking to his afterschool counselor

The Bigger Picture

There’s a Robot at My Afterschool reminds us that exposure matters. Access matters. Representation matters.

And sometimes, all it takes is one robot named Curiosity to change how a child sees their future.

Because when kids start asking how robots work…They’re already halfway to building them.

There's A Robot At My Afterschool is available in the NoireSTEMinist® shop and everywhere that books are sold.