Ada Lace Gets Famous

From Emily Calandrelli—Emmy-nominated host of Xploration Outer Space, host of Netflix’s Emily’s Wonder Lab, and graduate of MIT—comes the sixth novel in a fun illustrated chapter book series about an eight-year-old girl with a knack for science, math, and solving mysteries with technology.

When third grader and inventor extraordinaire Ada Lace learns her teachers are in dire need of new school supplies, she’s eager to lend a helping hand—but how? With a bake sale? A class carnival? Most ideas seem out of reach for a kid like her, until Tycho suggests Ada try her hand at posting informational videos. If she’s able to build up a big online viewership, she could easily raise funds for their school. And with Nina as her visionary director, Milton as her comedic cohost, and Ada as the scientist star, making fun videos will be a piece of cake!

Or so they think. What starts as an earnest try at making fun, science-based shorts ends up being a whole mess for Ada and the gang as they gain popularity and take on peer pressure, trolls, and tests of their friendships. With her rising internet stardom, will Ada be able to stay true to herself?

Emily Calandrelli is an MIT engineer turned Emmy-nominated science TV host. She’s the host and coexecutive producer of Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix, featured as a correspondent on Netflix’s Bill Nye Saves the World, and an executive producer and host of Fox’s Xploration Outer Space. Emily is the author of the picture book Reach for the Stars, the science experiment book Stay Curious and Keep Exploring, and the science chapter book series the Ada Lace Adventures. The third book in the series was launched to the International Space Station through the Story Time from Space program. Learn more at TheSpaceGal.com.

Tamson Weston is the author of Hey, Pancakes!, illustrated by Stephen Gammell, and has over fifteen years experience in children’s book publishing. She works as a freelance editor and has edited books by acclaimed authors such as Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, and Dan Santat, among others. She has an MFA in writing and literature and enjoys running, biking, swimming, and lifting heavy things. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at TamsonWeston.com.

Renée Kurilla is a children’s book author and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator. She loves drawing nature, animals, and working on projects that require a little bit of research! Some of her author-illustrator titles include the It’s Fall!, It’s Winter!, and The Flower Garden (a 2026 Illinois Monarch Award nominee). She has illustrated many books for other authors as well including Just Because by Matthew McConaughey, Today at School by Jessica Young, Farm Boots by Lisl H. Detlefsen, and the Ada Lace Adventure series by Emily Calandrelli.

Renée has a BFA in illustration and a minor in graphic design from Lesley University College of Art & Design. Before transitioning to a full-time career in children’s books, she was a lead artist at FableVision Studios in Boston for ten years. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her illustrator husband, their nine-year-old daughter, a corgi puppy named Yoshi, and a million stuffed animals.