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STEAM Up Your Classroom with STEM/STEAM books!

By on March 22, 2022   /   Award-winning MG STEM Books, STEM Tuesday  

 

Happy Spring!  Now is the best time to talk to your kids or students about science. After all, it’s ALL around them.

Not sure where to start? STEM Tuesday can help!  Look at our site! Each month comes with a Book List for the topic we are covering that month. Just search by topic on our home page HERE

Then click on the search by topic part and you’ll get a drop down menu where you can select the topic you’re looking for. Most of the books on the list are already attached to Bookstop so you can just click on the title and ORDER and you’re done!

 

 

If you’re looking for more ideas of STEM/STEAM books for kids, check out STEAM Team Books! It’s a website that highlights the amazing fiction and nonfiction books that have come out that year.

​STEAM-related books bring the spirit of inquiry, discovery, and creative problem-solving to your learners

while engaging them in rich literacy experiences.

 

Here are some suggestions from the STEAM Team members for “Books for Kids Who Like…” 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! 
If you use STEM Tuesday to choose books for your classroom and/or to do activities in your classroom, let us know.

Is there a topic that we haven’t covered that you’d like to see?

Leave us a comment below or send an email to stemmuf@gmail.com

Have a STEM-RIFIC DAY!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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STEM Tuesday — Diversity in STEM– Interview with Ella Schwartz

By on March 22, 2022   /   Diversity in STEM, STEM Tuesday  

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the fourth Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math!

Today we’re interviewing Ella Schwartz, author of STOLEN SCIENCE: Thirteen Untold Stories of Scientists and Inventors Almost Written out of History.  

Mary Kay Carson: Tell us a bit about your book Stolen Science.

Ella Schwartz: Stolen Science is the story of thirteen scientists and inventors who performed ground breaking work but did not get the credit they deserved. I know first-hand just how hard it is for women to be successful in the field. We’ve made great strides in recent years, but time and again women and marginalized groups have had to claw their way to success in the sciences, only to have their discoveries stolen from them – and that’s not fair! I set out to write Stolen Science to finally give credit where credit is due!

MKC: Why did you choose to write the book? 

Ella: Picture a scientist in your head. Chances are, that scientist is white, male, and often dead. As a woman with a background in science and engineering, I very rarely got to see someone who looked like me represented in my field. That’s what I set out to fix when I began writing Stolen Science. I feel deeply that children today need to see diversity represented in the sciences. Young girls, children of color, and immigrants must be inspired by example to pursue STEM fields. I set out to write Stolen Science with that goal in mind.

MKC: Stolen Science features lesser-known individuals, many who lived in the 1800s. How did you learn about them?

Ella: When I began researching this book, I wasn’t sure what I’d find. I knew there was probably plenty of scientists who had performed brilliant work that never got the credit they deserved, but I never expected just how many stories I’d uncover! Some of the stories from the 1800s were tricky to research, but thankfully these stories are beginning to come to light. For example, Mary Anning is one of the scientists I feature in the book. I’m pleased to see a lot of recent publications on this fierce and brave scientist.

MKC: It sounds like you spent some quality time in research archives and libraries. Do you have a favorite discovery you’d like to share?

Ella Schwartz writes fiction and nonfiction books for young readers. She is always asking questions and trying to learn new things. The books she writes are for kids who are just as curious as she is. Find out more about her and her books at www.ellasbooks.com.

Ella: The research for this book was, at times, intense! One of my favorite stories in the book is on Jo Anderson, an enslaved man who invented the mechanical reaper that became the backbone of the industrial revolution. There hasn’t been a lot of research on Jo Anderson so telling his story required me to dig deep into research. I knew this was a story that deserved to be told and I was honored to tell it. But I also knew this was a big responsibility. I had to get the story right. I’m very grateful to the staff at the Wisconsin Historical Society for sharing original letters and documents on Jo Anderson that helped me form the true story of this incredible man.

MKC: Why do you choose to write STEM books? Is it your background?

Ella: I do have a STEM background! I received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering and have had a twenty+ year career in cybersecurity. When I’m not writing, I work as a cybersecurity professional on federal government initiatives. I started writing STEM books because a writing mentor once told me “write what you know.” That seemed to make sense at the time. But I kept on writing STEM books because I truly feel STEM must be open for everyone. It doesn’t matter what your gender, color, background, or religion is. STEM is for you.

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Your host is Mary Kay Carson, author of Wildlife Ranger Action Guide, The Tornado Scientist, Alexander Graham Bell for Kids, Mission to Pluto, and other nonfiction books for kids. @marykaycarson

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When the World Runs Dry: Author Interview + Giveaway

By on March 21, 2022   /   Author Interviews  

When I saw the topic for this book, I was excited to read it. I recently began seeking out books on sustainability as it is a personal interest of mine. I expected that When the World Runs Dry would be solely about drought. I didn’t realize how little I knew about the many ways our water can become unusable.

When the World Runs Dry touches on so many different water-related issues that have occurred throughout the United States and the world. It also shares personal stories of those affected and their efforts to help their community get back their clean water source. I got a chance to learn more with author Nancy F. Castaldo just in time for World Water Day, March 22.

 

About the Book

Hi Nancy! Thank you for sharing When the World Runs Dry with me. Can you give us a short summary about this nonfiction book?

Hello! Happy to be here to discuss WHEN THE WORLD RUNS DRY.  Like me, and my readers, you’ve probably seen stories in the news about water quality and quantity. They seem to be everywhere. My latest book addresses those stories and provides readers with ways to help preserve and protect this precious natural resource. After all, WATER IS LIFE!

 

When did the come out?

The book hit bookstore shelves in January!

 

What is your personal connection to this topic?

Well, I need water to live, just like every other organism on our planet. I also was fortunate to have a mom who taught me that my voice mattered as she worked to keep our water supply healthy when I was a kid. We all should be concerned about keeping our water available and clean. Global water issues impact everyone.

 

About the Author

Tell us about you. Did you read a lot of nonfiction as a child?

I read everything – Nancy Drew mysteries, fables and folktales, and nonfiction. I can still picture my elementary school library’s nonfiction shelves. I loved poring over biographies about women. Marie Curie was a favorite. But even before I could read, I loved hearing my parents read nonfiction books and poetry to me.

It’s always so fun to see authors as kids!

Who are some of your favorite authors?

On the adult side, I am greatly inspired by Rachel Carson. When I talk about kidlit, I love so many of the books by my nonfiction author friends, including Patricia Newman, Deborah Heiligman, and so many others. I also love reading the poetry of Jeannine Atkins, Margarita Engle, and Joyce Sidman.

You mentioned tagging along with your mom when she petitioned in the neighborhood. At the time, did you understand the significance?

My mom was also my Girl Scout leader. She was a huge force in my life and for the girls in our troop. Yes, I was old enough to understand. My mom also brought me with her when she served as a US census taker. These experiences opened my eyes to the world around me.

 

Research/Writing

Did you travel to the locations mentioned in your book for research?

I was fortunate to be able to visit most of them. You’ll see my photos throughout the book from Flint, Tucson, California, Venice, Colorado, Hoosick, and New Hampshire. Speaking firsthand with people in these communities was essential for me.

 

Did you write a proposal on this topic for submission? If not, how did it come to be?

Yes, all my nonfiction books begin with a proposal that includes fragments of my research.

 

Have you made any changes in your own life as a result of your research?

While I was already aware of how I could conserve water in my own home, researching this book did change my shopping behaviors. I strive to use less energy and less plastic. I shop less for clothes and pay attention to the bathing and cleaning products I flush down the drain. In addition, my interest and activism in environmental justice issues increased.

 

You are the author of many nature/nonfiction books for all ages. What is your favorite age to write for?

I can honestly say I don’t have a favorite age to write for. Each story dictates the genre and age. For me, story comes first.

 

Information On Water

I loved your analogy comparing straws in a milkshake to too many people trying to access clean water. Can you explain?

If you’ve watched the movie There Will Be Blood, you might remember hearing Daniel Day-Lewis using the straws-in-the-milkshake analogy to describe underground reserves of oil. Like oil, water reserves also run underground under communities and homes. I borrowed that analogy to describe the pipes leading from these groundwater supplies to our homes, business, and schools.

 

What are the easiest changes people can make in their life?

In the book, I’ve included many ways that we can help preserve and protect our water resources. A great first step is to find out about your own water supply. Where does your water originate? Is it treated in any way? What might impact it? Knowing more about your own water will help determine the best way to protect it.

I hope that teachers and readers will find lots of ways to help in the last chapter of WHEN THE WORLD RUNS DRY. In addition, the Resources section will then point them to books to read, hashtags to follow, and videos to watch to provide jumping off points to more learning. I hope teachers will take a look.

 

Information for Teachers

I hadn’t heard about the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Can you tell us a bit more about this and how teachers can involve their students?

It’s a fantastic opportunity for curious, budding scientists and inventors. I was so impressed with the winning water-based inventions and was happy to include a couple in WHEN THE WORLD RUNS DRY. Teachers can find out more about it at https://www.youngscientistlab.com/challenge

 

Are you doing school visits related to this book? Tell us more!

Yes, I have been doing virtual visits throughout the United States for middle school and high school grades. I’ve loved hearing so many insightful questions from my readers.

 

Do you have a curriculum guide or discussion questions posted online?

Teachers can explore my recent LitLinks post on Patricia Newman’s blog to find an activity about drinking water for their students. https://www.patriciamnewman.com/litlinks-will-our-world-run-dry-easy-ways-to-help-students-raise-their-voices-about-water/.

 

How can we learn more about you?

Readers and educators can learn about me and my books from my website  https://nancycastaldo.com,  Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/naturespeak/ or follow me on  Twitter @NCastaldoAuthor.

 

Thank you for your time. This is such an important topic, and you did a great job breaking it down for your readers.

Thank you! One of my favorite quotes came from an Audubon magazine review: WHEN THE WORLD RUNS DRY is the book to read “if you want to go from depressed to fired-up and ready for action.” I’m hoping my readers feel the same way.

Nancy F. Castaldo will be giving a copy of When the World Runs Dry to a lucky reader. Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy. (U.S. addresses only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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