Although students do need hands-on experiences to master key skills in science, technology, and engineering, Cummins asserts, K-12 teachers should also help students understand key STEM concepts by reading, writing, and talking about the work of professional scientists and engineers. Cummins lists high-quality texts that help young people appreciate science and engineering real-world work as a series of intriguing practices--developing theories, making predictions, talking and writing in specialized ways, and so on. While letting students enjoy these sometimes dramatic narratives, however, teachers should ensure kids understand underlying concepts about the specialized practices engineers and scientists engage in and how professional vocabulary and skills like math or using technical equipment operate in STEM-related projects. The author describes a lesson series she taught 5th graders centered around books from Houghton Mifflin's "The Scientists in the Field" series. She then describes practices she followed for using such texts to deepen students' understanding.