Where Curiosity Leads, Discovery Follows.

A woman wearing a yellow dress giving a speech at a podium in front of a NASA and Langley Research Center backdrop with an audience in the foreground.

Background

Meet the Founder 

Rudo Kashiri

Rudo Kashiri is a science educator, children’s book author, and founder of Curious Minds Explorers Publishing. With over two decades of experience, she is passionate about making science both accessible and engaging for children everywhere.

A retired NASA science educator, Rudo designed hands-on learning experiences and educational activities that connected young learners to NASA’s groundbreaking space missions. Today, she draws inspiration from her grandchildren, weaving together captivating storytelling, interactive science, and cultural creativity in her children’s books.

Beyond writing, Rudo actively supports educational initiatives and champions diverse representation in the STEM field. She frequently shares her love of science through workshops, school visits, and community events. Inspired by her father’s love of books and storytelling, Rudo remains deeply committed to igniting curiosity and sparking wonder in the next generation of explorers.

Our mission is to spark curiosity and inspire a love of learning by blending captivating stories, hands-on science, cultural wisdom, and diverse perspectives. Through characters like Ambuya, we connect children to heritage, storytelling traditions, and science in ways that are fun, inclusive, and meaningful. We believe every child deserves the chance to imagine, explore, and see themselves as part of the world of discovery.

Our Mission 

Learn more

What Makes Us Different

At Curious Minds Explorers Publishing, we bring science to life by blending imaginative storytelling with hands-on activities that kids can enjoy at home or in the classroom. Our stories feature characters of different ages and perspectives, helping children connect with the world of discovery in meaningful ways. Each activity is aligned with education standards to support real learning. With monthly packets, seasonal programs, and a focus on fun, inclusion, and accessibility, we’re here to spark curiosity in every young explorer.

Animated astronaut sitting on a stack of books, reading a book, with stars around.

 Meet the Characters 

Meet the Curious Minds Explorers: Where Every Adventure Begins with a Question.

A boy sitting in a swivel chair at his desk, stretching with arms wide open, showing excitement about space and gravity. Behind him on the wall are two space-themed pictures: one of a planet with a ring and the moon; the other of a rocket launch near planets and stars. The boy has short dark hair, wears a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and red sneakers.

Colin

The Science Sleuth Who Solves Mysteries with Curiosity.

An elderly woman with glasses and a purple headscarf shows children a flashlight in a bowl, while a window in the background depicts a sunny sky. The woman says, "Sunsets are like nature's fire show."

Nouria

The Adventurous Spirit with a Heart Full of Curiosity.

A cartoon boy is sitting on a wooden park bench, licking an ice cream cone with a dog sitting next to him. The boy has short black hair, a light blue T-shirt, and shorts. The dog is black and white with a bowtie around its neck, and has a cute expression with big eyes.

Itai

A Scientist Who Turns Playtime into Discovery Time.

Two young girls playing with toy cars, airplane, doll, and a puppy indoors.

Zora and Lily

Twin Explorers with Imaginations as Big as the Universe.

A girl with curly black hair, wearing a yellow top and blue jeans, sitting on a bed and looking out the window at the night sky with stars. There is a night lamp with celestial designs on the bed.

Nashe

A Curious Girl With a Notebook Full of Questions About Cosmos

An elderly woman with gray hair and glasses reading a space-themed book to two young girls, all smiling. They are sitting in a cozy room with a window, bookshelf, and curtains in the background.

The Wise Grandmother Who Guides Young Minds Through the Wonders of Science.

Ambuya

 Our Educational Approach

We believe that children learn best when they are curious, engaged, and active participants in their own learning and discovery. Our approach follows a simple but powerful path:

  • Storytelling First – A relatable adventure sparks interest.

  • Real Science Connections – Concepts are naturally woven into the narrative.

  • Hands-On Exploration – Activities invite kids to test, build, and experiment.

  • Reflection & Creativity – Journals and prompts deepen understanding.

  • Aligned with Standards – Designed to support NGSS, valuable both at home and in classrooms.

✨ This approach blends literacy, science, and creativity to build confidence, problem-solving skills, and a lifelong love of learning.

A boy and a dog in a garden with red roses, a bee flying, and city buildings in the background.
Cartoon boy standing on scale in classroom, with world map behind him in the top image and moon image behind him in the bottom image, illustrating weight on earth and moon.
Illustration of Earth with satellite orbit paths and six satellites orbiting around it in space.
Cartoon illustration of two young girls and a dog in a spaceship cockpit, all wearing space helmets and suits, with the Earth visible through the window in the background.
A young boy sitting next to a large green bucket filled with water, a rubber duck, a small toy sailboat, and a spoon. The boy is looking at the objects with curiosity and has a thought bubble above his head asking why some objects float and others si
An elderly woman with glasses and a purple headscarf shows two children a science experiment with a flashlight and a bowl of liquid in a classroom.
Two girls walking outdoors on a sunny day, holding ice cream cones, with a small dog beside them. There are trees, bushes, and a stone wall in the background.
An astronaut playing basketball on the moon, with planet Earth in the background and a distant meteor in space.
An elderly woman with gray curly hair and glasses pointing at a blackboard with a stick. The blackboard shows a sunny weather scene with ice cubes melting under the sun, with a glass of water with ice cubes on her lap.
An elderly woman and two young girls sit outdoors on a sunny day, with colorful butterflies flying in the sky and a happy dog sitting nearby. They are gathered around a white sheet with rocks, sticks, leaves, and flowers on it.
A woman and a girl lying in bed outdoors at night, stargazing and pointing at the sky, with the girl holding a constellation book.
A hand-drawn illustrated weather notebook showing the sun, clouds, heat waves, melting ice, and melting puddle, with notes about weather conditions and temperature.
An illustration showing the reason why stars twinkle. It depicts the Earth's atmosphere with the word 'ATMOSPHERE' in the middle, with zigzag arrows from a star at the top through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, indicating how atmospheric laye
Two children in astronaut suits sitting on a moon-like surface, eating cookies, with stars and planets visible in space background.
Grandmother with two young girls and a dog playing on a porch. The girls are holding rubber ducks, and one is splashing water in a red container. The scene is outdoors with green bushes and a tree in the background.