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STEM Tuesday– Chemistry– Book List

By on February 3, 2026   /   Chemistry, STEM Tuesday  

 

Chemistry is everywhere! It helps us understand how the world works. Explore many aspects of chemistry with biographies, a cookbook, a graphic novel, a study guide, amazing true tales, and several fascinating informational texts!

Cover of the book Who Was George Washington Carver?

Who Was George Washington Carver? by Jim Gigliotti

This book introduces Carver, a famous American agricultural scientist, educator, and scientist. Born into slavery in 1864, Carver became the first Black student at Iowa State Agricultural College and then its first Black professor. His research with plants which focused largely on peanuts, revolutionized Southern agriculture.

Cover of the book Maria Orosa Freedom Fighter, Scientist and Inventor from the Philippines

Maria Orosa Freedom Fighter: Scientist and Inventor from the Philippines by Norma Olizon-Chikiamco

This book shares the inspiring biography of a remarkable woman who studied chemistry and pharmaceutical science and created super-nutritious foods to save the lives of many people in the Philippines during a time of crisis.

Cover of the book The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements The Powers, Uses, and Histories of Every Atom in the Universe

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements: The Powers, Uses, and Histories of Every Atom in the Universe by Lisa Congdon

Learn about all 118 elements in this book for children age 10 and up. The book includes images that take the reader on a periodic table journey. Along the way it also includes infographics and information about scientists.

Cover of the book Science Comics The Periodic Table of Elements Understanding the Building Blocks of Everything

Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements: Understanding the Building Blocks of Everything by Jon Chad

Mel, an anxious chemistry student, dreams of the land of the elements in this graphic novel. Readers learn about the elements and periodic table as Mel and Hydrogen battle against their evil nemesis Elemancer. The book’s imaginative and interesting story are likely to appeal to older elementary and middle school students and provide a fresh approach to understanding the periodic table.   

Cover of the book Chemistry for Curious Kids

Chemistry for Curious Kids: An Illustrated Introduction to Atoms, Elements, Chemical Reactions, and More! by Lynn Huggins-Cooper

This book provides clear, easy to follow explanations that support understanding of the states of matter, chemical building blocks, the periodic table, and scientific tools. Illustrations, questions, and thoughtful arrangement of key ideas make complex chemistry content accessible.  Other titles in this STEM series focus on biology and science and math.

 

Cover of the book The Complete Cookbook for Young Scientists

The Complete Cookbook for Young Scientists: Good Science Makes Great Food: 70+ Recipes, Experiments, & Activities (Young Chefs Series) America’s Test Kitchen

This book explains everyday cooking phenomena and helps children understand the “why” in food preparation. It’s full of hands-on experiments that explain how chemical interactions transform food. It will encourage young chefs to ask questions, observe, measure with precision, collect data, analyze, and answer the food science questions they find intriguing.

Cover of the book The Radium Girls

The Radium Girls: Young Readers’ Edition: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark by Kate Moore

This book is the true and shocking story of hundreds of girls who worked in factories, painting watch dials with radium. With each new dial, they licked the paintbrush to create the finest possible tip. At first the fact that they glowed was a marvel but the novelty turned controversial and horrifying as radium poisoning overtook them. Their heroic courage and resolve led to advances in laboratory regulations and research.

Cover of the book Our World in Pictures The Elements Book

The Elements Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table (DK Our World in Pictures)

With remarkable pictures and text, this book offers a fascinating tour of the elements, substances that cannot be broken up into smaller ingredients. It looks at the unique and sometimes surprising properties of the elements and explains where they come from, what they can do, and how they can be used.

Everything You Need to Ace Chemistry in One Big Fat Notebook by Jennifer Swanson

This book uses diagrams, graphics, mnemonic devices, and compelling characters to delve into atoms. elements, compounds, mixtures, the Periodic Table, chemical reactions, chemical calculations, and so much more. It’s a great companion for students studying for a chemistry exam.

Cover of How Do Molecules Stay Together?

How Do Molecules Stay Together?: A Book About Chemistry by Madeline J. Hayes

This book uses a question-and-answer format to explain a variety of chemistry concepts: atoms, elements, compounds, states of matter, and chemical reactions. It includes a simple and effective explanation of condensation, evaporation, freezing, and melting. The book is part of the How Do Series.

Cover of the book the Disappearing Spoon

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean

This book is full of fun and fascinating chemistry stories. Anecdotes of adventure, conflict, drama, and obsessions reveal how elements influenced our world. First published in 2011, this book continues to bring the history of chemistry alive.

Cover of the book Marie Curie for Kids

Marie Curie for Kids: Her Life and Scientific Discoveries, with 21 Activities and Experiments by Amy M. O’Quinn

Learn about Marie Curie in this engaging book. Many are familiar with Curie’s brilliance in chemistry and physics as the first woman to win a Nobel Prize through boiling mercury off to reveal pure radium metal. Alongside Curie’s brilliance in atomic physic discoveries, the reader learns about Curie’s role as a mother, her scientific partnership with her husband, inclination to forget sleeping and eating, refusal to monetize her scientific discoveries, and her health concerns. Twenty-one hands-on activities and experiments further the text, along with a list of resources and interesting sidebars.

 

This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

New Realeases Nov 2025

Bev Schellenberg is an author (A Prince Among Dragons; A Princess Among Dragons), as well as a writer of creative nonfiction, poetry, and picture books. She’s an advocate of STEM who was a science fair national winner and high school robotics club sponsor, and passionate about young people discovering, following the passion inside them and flourishing. She’s taught grades kindergarten to grade 12 and is currently an academic advisor, careers teacher, and armchair futurist. Learn more about Bev at BevSchellenberg.com.

 

 


Carolyn Pfister is a STEM Content Developer, writer/illustrator, and coordinator of the California Early Math Project. She is interested in encouraging family and community STEM opportunities and maintaining 

children’s early love and success with math and science. Carolyn writes a monthly Substack on behalf of the California Early Math Project – https://carolynpfister.substack.com/. Learn more about Carolyn at Carolynpfister.com

 

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Interview with Best-Selling Author Tracy Wolff

By on February 2, 2026   /   Author Interviews  

Flat lay of The Aftermyth on Greek ruins and alphabet fabric

Do your students love fantasy and mythology? Have they plowed through every Percy Jackson book and Rick Riordan Presents? Look no further than the newest Greek-myth-inspired The Aftermyth by best-selling author Tracy Wolff!

Penelope Wolff is pumped to follow her family tradition of attending Anaximander’s Academy. But when even arriving on time proves to be a challenge, she soon discovers that nothing is going to plan. And Penelope has always relied on having a plan. This fast-paced Greek-mythology-fueled romp has it all: fantasy adventures, magical group competitions, and an all-you-can-eat Candy Room!

Please join me in welcoming Tracy to From the Mixed-Up Files to discuss her book, inspiration, and transition from a YA superstar to rising middle grade phenom!

Interview with author Tracy Wolff

Katie: Tracy, thank you so much for swinging by From the Mixed-Up Files to chat about your *80th* book yet first middle grade novel. Wow! We are delighted to have you join the fun that is writing for middle grade readers.

First question, if you were at a school visit with a roomful of upper elementary kids, what would be your quick elevator pitch for why they should read Penelope’s story?

Tracy: Oh, that’s such a fun question! First of all, I have to say thank you so much for having me. I’m a big fan of the site and am thrilled to be here talking about The Aftermyth.

As for the elevator pitch, I think something like this might work: Penelope Weaver has spent her life dreaming of being old enough to go to the mystical, magical Anaximander’s Academy and join Athena Hall, just like her parents and grandparents before her. But from the second she sets foot on school grounds, nothing goes as it’s supposed to. She’s assigned to the “wrong” hall, the muse who is supposed to guide her is sleep deprived and even more confused than Penelope is, the labors she has to perform before graduation are truly bizarre, and the school grounds keep shifting beneath her feet at the worst possible moments. Plus there are snakes—so many snakes—and a vulture named Agatha who has a penchant for swooping down and picking up wayward students whenever she feels like it.

Katie: Penelope is such an interesting character, particularly in the contrast between who she thinks she is supposed to be and who she is in the process of discovering herself to be. Does Penelope have much in common with you as a kid? If not, where did you find inspiration for her personality?

Tracy: There are parts of me in Penelope, of course. I think most writers can’t help but put parts of themselves in their main characters, and I’m no exception. But the main inspiration for Penelope’s personality is my college roommate and best friend, while there is a ton of me in Penelope’s roommate and best friend, Fifi. In fact, one of the many reasons writing The Aftermyth was so much fun is I got to see myself, and the beginning of our friendship, through my bestie’s eyes. What’s even better is that, as soon as my best friend started reading, she recognized us, and our friendship dynamic, as well. 😊

Katie: Oh, I love that! Next up, what is your favorite Greek myth book? I’m a D’Aularies’ girl myself, but my newest favorite is She Speaks by Honor Cargill-Martin. Why were these the stories you chose to set the foundations for Anaximander’s Academy?

Tracy: Oh, wow! I’ve never heard of that book, but now that I’ve looked it up, I’m dying to read it. I, too, am a D’Aularies girl because they make the myths so interesting and engaging for all ages. But just this past weekend I found a book called Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes. I haven’t started reading it yet, but I have a feeling once I do, it’s going to become a favorite. Having just looked up your favorite, She Speaks, I find it telling that Cargill-Martin, Haynes, and I all focus on many of the same women in Greek Mythology. I can’t speak for either of them, but I know that these myths are incredibly compelling to me because they tell stories of women who are vilified by Greek writers (most of whom were men), and blamed for things that are far outside their control.

In The Aftermyth, I take on the Pandora’s box myth because it is a myth that has always infuriated me. Pandora was created by two male gods—Zeus and Hephaestus—to punish two male titans—Prometheus and Epimetheus. Zeus had all the gods give Pandora gifts to make her attractive to the titans, cursed her with unending curiosity, gave her a jar filled with all kinds of evil, then told her not to open it. Yet, somehow, she’s the one who gets blamed for releasing all the bad things into the world? It’s absurd and completely unfair. The Aftermyth is my attempt to right (and write) old wrongs, to tell herstory instead of history, and maybe change the way people think of these myths and the women they portray. And it’s not just Pandora—it’s Echo and Andromeda, Medea and Jocasta, Persephone and Meghara, Penelope and Helen… the list goes on and on. And don’t even get me started on poor Medusa …

Cover of The Aftermyth showing sprayed edges

Katie: Since this is your first middle grade novel, can you tell us a little about your writing journey? What was it about this story that made you want to write for a middle grade audience?

Tracy: I have wanted to write a middle grade novel forever, partly because I love reading middle grade novels—I’ve read hundreds of them with my boys as they were growing up—and partly because it is an age that always confounded me as an English teacher. When kids first go to school and learn to read, story time is one of their favorite times of the day. Yet by the time I got them in high school and college, many of those same students hated reading. I always wondered why that was—what happens during the middle grade years to turn so many kids against reading so completely? The Aftermyth is my small attempt to grab some of those readers before they learn to hate reading and show them just how fun story time can be, even when there are so many other things claiming their attention. I’m really lucky to be able to partner with Simon and Schuster in this quest, as they are just as passionate as I am about turning kids into lifelong readers.

The Aftermyth series starts when Penelope and her friends are thirteen, but it will follow them through their six years at Anaximander’s Academy, growing as they grow. For me, there’s something so exciting about being able to tell the story of Penelope, Fifi, Arjun, Paris, Sullivan, and Kyrian as they experience their first taste of independence in book one and then continue their journey until they come of age in the last book in the series. It’s both an honor and a responsibility to tackle all the issues that come with growing up, and I take it very seriously even as my goal is to make the journey as joyous and interesting and thought-provoking for my readers as I can.

Katie: What advice would you give to fledgling middle grade authors or those thinking of making the switch to middle grade?

Tracy: Oh, I don’t know if I’m the one you should be asking this question of, as my first middle grade book has just come out! I will say that middle grade is such an incredible age to write for. The stories are so much fun to tell and the characters are a joy. The only advice I have is don’t be afraid of trying something new. As long as they respect the middle grade space and its readers, they should jump in with both feet.

Katie: What are some of your favorite middle grade books or series?

Tracy: Oh, there are too many to name, honestly. Right now, I’m a massive fan of The Swifts by Beth Lincoln. It’s funny and charming and so whimsical it’s impossible not to fall in love with it. Other series I adore include Amy Kim’s The Rema Chronicles, The False Prince series by Jennifer A. Nielsen, the Percy Jackson books (obviously) by Rick Riordan, the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, James Ponti’s City Spies, and Tom Angleberger’s Origami Yoda series. There are more, but we’ll be here all day if I list them all!

Katie: Great list! My fifth graders definitely agree with all those choices. Is there anything else that you would like readers to know about Penelope or about your upcoming projects? (My fifth graders noticed the “book one” on the cover…)

Tracy: Oh, yes, there are definitely more books to come in the series. I can’t give out the myth book two will deal with yet, but I can say it was definitely mentioned in my answer to your third question …

As for what I want people to know about Penelope, I guess I have to go with my favorite thing about her—Penelope’s a fighter. Even when things are going bad all around her, she keeps pushing, keeps going, keeps doing what she knows is right because she believes something better for her friends, her school, and herself is right around the corner. It’s an important lesson, and one I think we all could use reminding of from time to time.

Katie: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round so …

Lightning Round!

Yellow graphic lightning boltKatie: Aphrodite, Athena, Hades, Poseidon, or Zeus Hall?

Tracy: For me? I’m Aphrodite all the way. For your readers? My publisher has actually put up a super fun quiz that will tell you which Hall you belong in. You can check it out here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/aftermyth-quiz . I totally want to know which hall you get!!!

Katie: The former archaeologist in me is not surprised to see I’m an Athena, ha. 

Best candy in the Candy Room?

Tracy: Anything sour

Katie: Dream job when you were a kid?

Tracy: Honestly? A writer. Or, sometimes, a make-up artist. But always a writer.

Katie: Superpower?

Tracy: Telekinesis or flight, preferably both.

Katie: Finally, where can readers find you if they want to reach out?

Tracy: They can email me on my website, tracywolffauthor.com. But they can also find me on IG at tracywolffbooks or at my Facebook group, the Wolff Pack.

Katie: Thanks so much, Tracy! The Aftermyth publishes tomorrow, Feb. 3rd, 2026. Order early for those gorgeous sprayed edges, and find out if you would have the courage to rewrite the stories of the past—or to rewrite your own story.

Tracy: Thanks so much for having me! It’s been so much fun!

Official bio for Tracy Wolff

Author Tracy Wolff photographed by Mayra G CalderonTracy Wolff is the #1 New York Times, #1 internationally, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of the Crave series as well as many other novels. A lover of mythology, vampires, and getting lost in a great book, she’s spent her whole life asking “what if” and “what happens next”—questions being a writer has helped her answer again and again. At six, she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow, a unicorn, and a shapeshifting prince—and at seven, she forayed into the wonderful world of middle grade literature with her first Judy Blume novel. A one-time English professor, she now devotes all her time to writing fun, action-packed, romantic stories with fantastical worlds and characters who leap off the page. She has written all her seventy-plus novels from her home in Austin, Texas, which she shares with her partner, her sons, and their three adorable dogs.

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The Literary Community Supports Minneapolis 

By on February 1, 2026   /   Oh MG News  
Middle Grade Authors

 

As we watch chilling news footage of ICE agents in Minneapolis, we are both horrified by the brutality and heartened by the thousands of individuals braving extreme temperatures to raise a unified voice in an effort to protect their neighbors and reclaim their city. 

Among those affected by the chaos, we find independent bookstores struggling to maintain sales, school librarians trying to nurture and protect their students, and members of the publishing industry stepping up to lend a hand. The broader literary community can help Minneapolis by staying informed and offering support.

 

Support Minneapolis Booksellers

According to a January 16 Publishers Weekly article, most bookstores admit that the presence of ICE agents in their neighborhoods has had a negative impact on business. However, they have remained open “as people come in looking for information, resources, and whistles” or for a quiet space to rest and gather their thoughts.

Some booksellers are going a step further. A January 28 Publishers Weekly article introduces Greg Ketter, owner of DreamHaven Books and Comics. When a local news station aired footage of Ketter, age 70, marching through tear gas and cursing at ICE agents near the site of Alex Petti’s death, the video went viral. DreamHaven’s website crashed from all the attention it received, and the store’s sales have increased tenfold over a typical January. 

Looking to order a book from an indie bookstore? You might consider supporting the booksellers on the front lines and ordering from a Minneapolis bookstore. To help you get started, here’s a list of local bookstores in the Twin Cities.

 

Support Minneapolis Librarians

Schools in Minneapolis are feeling the stress. According to a January 20 School Library Journal article, entire school communities are actively supporting frightened students and families. School librarians are facilitating online learning and curating lists of books to help students process difficult emotions and understand pertinent history.

The Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota, a division of the Minnesota Library Association, sent an email out to librarians and advocates. They thanked librarians for the work they are doing. And for those of us living outside the area, they shared ways to “support affected families and communities, including donating to a local food pantry, assisting an organization that is sending kids free books, patronizing MSP BIPOC-owned and immigrant-owned businesses, and calling legislators.”

 

The Literary Community’s Efforts to Support Minneapolis 

You may have heard about the recent Publishing for Minnesota Auction. The auction ran from January 29 to January 30 and included consultations with agents and authors, AMA sessions, portfolio reviews, critiques, autographed books, author visits, and more. According to the site, proceeds will “support organizations providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources to those in urgent need.”

But what if you missed the window for this auction? Are there still more ways to help? Absolutely. For those wanting to lend help, PEN America has put together an article about the many ways the literary community is stepping up to support Minneapolis. They also mention ways you can lend your support, “whether through donations, buying books, or reading about their experiences.”

While the effects of this present crisis are unimaginably stressful for the people of Minneapolis, it is reassuring to know that as protesters speak out against the assault on their neighbors, booksellers, schools, and librarians are actively caring for their communities. Let’s support them in any way we can.

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