Foundation Year children are often excited about learning to read. Some 5- to 6-year-olds with well-developed literacy skills begin to read chapter books. Like older children and adults, they cannot read the whole book in one sitting. The learning experience described in the article provides an example of how the properties of materials (chemistry) can be linked to familiar technology through a focus on the simple, but functional, design of a bookmark. The bookmark creation allows children to express their creativity and engage in the creative process of design (Hathcock, Dickerson, Eckhoff & Katsioloudis, 2015). The bookmark is an example of a technological product that children may encounter or use regularly without thinking about how and what it is made of and how it works. Promoting reading and inspiring children to engage with longer books encompasses the Australian Curriculum General Capability of Literacy (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], 2018a). For teachers looking for STEM connections, science, technology and engineering are readily apparent with mathematics concepts -- such as measurement -- involved but not emphasized.