STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday– Mountains– Book List

By on March 3, 2026   /   Mountains/Rainforests/Cloud Forests, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

 

Mountains are some of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth, towering above clouds, shaped by volcanoes and glaciers, and home to incredible plants, animals, and people. From icy Himalayan peaks to rugged mountain ranges around the world, these powerful landscapes shape ecosystems and challenge explorers. The books below invite middle grade readers to discover the science, adventure, survival, and wonder found at the top of the world.

Mountain: Go On a Grand Tour of the Highest Places on Earth by Jason Bittel and Sandra Neuditschko

This browseable guide showcases mountain ranges, plateaus, volcanoes, and tepuis across the world. From the pink sand of Mount Roraima to the Himalayan glaciers, the book’s breathtaking landscapes and close-up photos of mountain-dwelling creatures highlight the geographic and ecological diversity of the planet’s mountains.

 

 

 

There’s a Mountain in this Book by Rachel Elliott and Genevieve Lacroix 

With clever die-cut flaps and interactive gatefolds, the book takes readers on a global trek through mountain ecosystems, geology, and wildlife. Engaging visuals and tactile exploration make learning about Earth’s peaks fun, informative, and perfect for curious young explorers.

 

 

 

At the Top of the World: The greatest mountains on Earth (and how to climb them) by Robin Jacobs and Ed J. Brown 

An engaging, beautifully illustrated guide to eight of Earth’s most iconic peaks, merging mountain geology, ecosystems, cultural stories, and climbing challenges. Accessible text explains routes, risks, gear, and knots with vibrant visuals that inspire curiosity and adventure. Perfect for young explorers and budding climbers alike.

 

 

 

Map & Track Mountains by Heather C. Hudak 

Part of a larger series about biomes and their animal inhabitants, this short book is packed full of facts. Each spread features a different mountain range, including some lesser-known ranges like the Harz Mountains in Germany and the Virunga Chain in east Africa. Sidebars focus on one species at a time, mapping its habitat and describing conservation efforts.

 

 

 

Spin to Survive: Frozen Mountain by Emily Hawkins and R. Fresson

In this immersive, “choose-your-own adventure” story, each page presents a new dilemma…and the consequences could be life or death. After disaster strikes in the Alps, readers must rely on their own wits (and a bit of luck!) to avoid avalanches, altitude sickness, frostbite, bears and more. The book comes with a game spinner that adds a unique element of chance to the reading experience.

 

 

 

Danger on the Mountain! True Stories of Extreme Adventure by Gregg Treinish and Kitson Jazynca 

A thrilling collection of true adventure tales that plunge readers into wild mountain quests, extreme terrain, and close encounters with nature’s fiercest challenges. Gregg Treinish’s real-life exploits, told through gripping, kid-friendly storytelling, inspire courage, curiosity, and respect for the natural world while keeping young explorers on the edge of their seats.

 

 

 

Survival Scout: Lost in the Mountains by Maxwell Eaton III 

The first in a graphic novel series, Scout and her brother set off on an epic backpacking adventure, only to immediately get lost. Instead of panicking, Scout gets to work, taking an inventory of their belongings, building a shelter, and signalling for help. Visual diagrams, wilderness survival tips, and plenty of humorous moments make this a captivating read for adventurous kids!

 

 

book cover of "Mountains" by Sarah EasonMountains by Sarah Eason

Sarah Eason’s newest book, due to launch this August, explores the interconnected systems and special adaptations that allow plants and animals to thrive in mountain habitats. Eason highlights the important roles that various plants and animals play in their ecosystems, from the symbiotic relationship between birds and trees in the Rocky Mountains to the importance of mountain gorilla poop!

 

 

 

Mountains: Explore Earth’s Majestic Mountain Habitats by Charlotte Guillain and Chris Madden

A richly illustrated journey through the world’s mountain landscapes, blending science, wildlife, and cultures. Clear, engaging text uncovers how different species survive at high altitudes and how mountain habitats shape life. Perfect for curious readers, this book inspires wonder and respect for Earth’s towering ecosystems.

 

 

 

Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop 

A poetic and fascinating account of a scientific expedition to study elusive snow leopards. Blending field science with stunning photography and heartfelt narrative, this book brings readers into Mongolia’s rugged wilderness. Educational and moving, it highlights conservation challenges while celebrating the beauty of one of the world’s most mysterious big cats.

 

 

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

Author Lydia Lukidis

 

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 60+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025), DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner for the Canada and North America division, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, a Cybils Award nominee, and winner of the Dogwood Readers Award. A science enthusiast from a young age, Lydia now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.  Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.

 

 

author Callie Dean

Callie Dean is a researcher, writer, and musician living in Shreveport, LA. Her first picture book, Marvelous Mistakes: Accidents That Made History, will be published in 2026. For more information, please visit https://calliebdean.com.

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STEM Tuesday– Chemistry– Author Interview

By on February 24, 2026   /   Chemistry, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

We are excited to be talking with Jon Chad, author/illustrator of the Physics of Life  SCIENCE Comics,  and the new Solvers comics about Math.

Jon Chad

 

Because this month’s topic is chemistry,  we are specifically talking about this book:

                                            Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements

                                                                                                      Periodic Table Comic by Jon Chad

 

 

JS: How did you get the idea to write this awesome book and why did you choose to make it a graphic novel? 
Jon C.: I was asked by my publisher, First Second, if I would be interested in doing a Science Comic about chemistry, specifically the periodic table of elements.  I find chemistry extremely fascinating, and I was eager to tackle it in a way that could connect to young readers.  When I make a STEM comic, I like to play around with genre and narrative as not only a way to make the work have more appeal and excitement, but also as a way to create stakes and tension in a way that draws the reader in.  There isn’t a need to fully silo off nonfiction from fiction in comics.  Readers are astute enough to know the difference between the two.  

 

When I am figuring out what sort of narrative framework I will use in a book, I try to find some sort of connection between the genre and the topic.  As I researched and thought about the periodic table, I was ensorcelled by how distinct the different sections are.  I started to view the table as a thing to explore, rather than look at.  That thought, plus the realization that the table itself looks like a top-down map from old dungeon-delving games like The Legend of Zelda, gave me the idea to frame an exploration of the periodic table and its distinct, interesting sections as a dungeon crawler.  From that point, I started working out who would be the hero, who would be the villain, and what sort of narrative beats I could map onto the conveyance of information to keep the reader hooked.

 

JS: Do you think graphic novels are a good way to help kids to understand difficult topics?  And if so, why? 
Jon C.: I think there is tremendous value in using comics to communicate STEM ideas; from the large complex ones, to the smaller, less complex ones.  Everybody’s brains are wired differently, and people connect to, and retain, facts in different ways.  Personally, I have a difficult time reading.  I struggle with mistakenly rereading the same word or line over and over.  Information presented solely through text is not an efficient way for me to learn.  Seeing pictures/diagrams/examples in conjunction with text is a much more accessible way for me to retain information.  It is why my research always includes documentaries and interviews with living scientists/experts.  Making STEM graphic novels have the ability to connect to a reader that might otherwise not engage with a topic.

 

JS: Clearly you are both author and illustrator of this book. What advice would you give to authors who want to write graphic novels, but won’t be the illustrator?
Jon C.: My biggest piece of advice would be to practice thumbnailing your own comic pages as you script them out.  Thumbnailing is the stage of comics making where you make a quick, small drawing of what a page might look like, where the dialogue might go, how many panels there are, etc.  Even if it is just a bunch of stick figures and simple shapes for the background, thumbnailing can help you figure out whether your vision of a panel or page is doable by an artist.  Even if you don’t turn those thumbnails over to a cartoonist, you will have considered the flow and density of your work during its creation, and that will pay off big time. 

 

JS: How hard is it to condense complex topics to the format of a graphic novel?
Jon C.: On the whole, the process for creating a comic about a complex topic, and one with less complexity is almost the same.  The biggest difference is what is my own personal level of knowledge on the topic upon starting the comic.  When I’m making a STEM comic, long or short, I am trying to communicate some larger takeaway about a topic.  It’s impossible for me to say everything I want to about chemistry in 122 pages of comics, so I make sure that everything I’m putting into the book funnels back to my one core takeaway.  In my volcano book, it was how volcano shape and eruption strength were all on a spectrum that was dictated by magma viscosity.  In my periodic table book, my core takeaway is about identifying periodic trends and the characteristics of each section of the table, rather than a deep dive on each individual element. As long as I’m keeping that core, digestible takeaway in mind, I can tackle very complex topics.

 

JS: What would you like readers to get out of this book?
Jon C.: For my book Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements, I want to get young readers excited about chemistry, and what makes up the world around us.  There are a lot of stand-out elements to fawn over in the book, but as I eluded to before, the most important takeaway are the periodic trends that I illustrate near the end of the book.  Having an understanding of the periodic table and trends as a whole can give us an idea of the properties of a given element just from their position on the table.  You can also use these trends to predict whether an element will be stable or reactive, malleable or rigid, solid or gaseous, etc.

 

JS: How would you like teachers/librarians to use this book?
Jon C.: My hope is that educators and librarians use this book either to engage readers that are having a hard time connecting with prose or spoken instruction, or as gateway material for a reader who is interested in science and is not quite at the grade level where a full chemistry curriculum is taught.

 

JS: Can you give any tips to writers who want to break into nonfiction children’s books?
Jon C.: Good question!  The first thing that jumps to mind is to familiarize yourself with different national- and state-based standards and curriculums.  I’ve found these resources invaluable in figuring out what sort of topics young readers will have potentially been exposed to, based on their grade.  I’ve also used these sorts of guides in seeing what sort of information is taught in the subsequent grades.  I like to include information in my books that is one step above the intended grade levels of my books.  Even if the topic that I am writing about is not actively covered in the target grades that my publisher is aiming for, I can still use something like the common core to see what they are learning.  I can extrapolate trends from that, and approach my topic the same way.
I would also recommend finding any combination of adults, experts, and young people to give your writing a once over, even in the preliminary steps. Getting the right measure of information that is clear and not bogged down in specifics and still accurate can be a real balancing act.

 

JS: What are you working on now?
Jon C.: I just wrapped up a wild west true crime story written by Steve Sheinkin called DIAMOND FEVER that comes out in May that I’m very excited for people to read.  I’m also in the middle of a book about veterinarian sciences, and one about the Voyager spacecrafts.  It’s been fun to work on such a wide array of nonfiction topics!

 

Jon, thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us today! Check out Jon’s other awesome books and learn more about him Here:  https://www.jonchad.com/
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STEM Tuesday– Chemistry– Writing Tips & Resources

By on February 17, 2026   /   Chemistry, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

Chemistry Love & The Power of (Word) Attraction

February

Can the month of love be the perfect month for a STEM Tuesday post on chemistry? 

Yes, it can. 

Love = Attraction

Chemistry = Attraction 

Chemistry = Love!

Creating a STEM-themed piece of writing or any other creative endeavor that readers love means creating an attraction, or chemistry, with the reader. Sound simple enough, right? But as we all find out one way or the other, creativity, like relationships, is anything but simple. 

So, how can we use chemistry to become more effective creators? Chemistry, in a nutshell, is the study of matter and how matter interacts. By knowing how our own creative matter interacts, we can create more satisfying work.

 

La Sorbonne. Amphithéâtre de chimie. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Building better bonds

Chemistry is dependent on the bonds formed between atoms. The quantum attractions and repulsions between atoms hold matter together in an almost infinite number of possible configurations. Different atoms form unique substances. The unique substances, for example, sodium and chloride, that react to form table salt, interact to form new substances, themselves unique in their properties.

Writing is a form of chemistry. Letters are our atoms. The way we combine letters in an almost quantum attraction binds the formation of a word. Words combine to form an idea. The ideas become sentences. Sentences become paragraphs. Paragraphs become chapters. Chapters become entire books. The possibilities are infinite!

We become better writers and creators when we learn the best ways to combine words to create the best chemistry with the reader. This is done by practice. It’s done by experimentation. Trying new and different words and combinations, tinkering with the order and meaning to produce the desired chemistry. Just as with the chemist, the process consists of trial and error. Scribbles, brainstorms, and notes become an outline. An outline becomes a draft. The draft is chisled, honed, and polished to a finished piece as we refine the chemical attractions and repulsions of different word combinations.

However, almost every novice or student chemist discovers early on that sometimes (often in my own personal case) the chemistry experiment fails. Sometimes it blows up. Sometimes it yields a stinky mass of goo that clears the laboratory and causes a visit by the local hazmat team. Sometimes it just fizzles out in utter defeat.

Writers experience much of the same with almost every first draft we create. It’s not just a novice creator thing either; it’s part of the process for every piece. And, just as the chemist needs to clean up the mess, analyze what went wrong, and plan for a different (and hopefully more positive) outcome with the next trial, the writer uses the first draft as a springboard to better things. 

The Chemical Attraction!

Writers need to find the chemistry with the reader. They need to create the attraction that keeps the eyes on the page and the reader’s boots on the story world’s ground. One learns how to use the words, sentences, and paragraphs to create an attraction that hooks the reader and then forms a strong bond to keep them reading.

In this STEM Tuesday month of February, use your time to brush up and reboot your writing and creativity by examining the chemistry in your work. Build better results by building better words, sentences, and paragraphs. When a creator uses their words with the right touch of chemistry, they create attraction to their ideas, and they might find they attract new ideas and new readers. 

Be inspired by the month of love and the somewhat questionable holiday of Valentine’s Day to create work where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 

 

Mike Hays has worked hard from a young age to be a well-rounded individual. A well-rounded, equal-opportunity sports enthusiast, that is. If they keep a score, he’ll either watch it, play it, or coach it. A molecular microbiologist by day, middle-grade author, sports coach, and general good citizen by night, he blogs about sports/life/training-related topics at www.coachhays.com and writer stuff at www.mikehaysbooks.com. Two of his science essays, The Science of Jurassic Park and Zombie Microbiology 101,  are included in the Putting the Science in Fiction collection from Writer’s Digest Books. He can be found roaming Bluesky under the guise of @mikehays64.bsky.social and @MikeHays64 on Instagram.

 

The O.O.L.F Files

This month on the Out Of Left Field (O.O.L.F.) Files, we dig deeper into the chemistry and writing connection with a dive into chemical bonding, chemical education, technical chemistry writing, and some chemistry jokes, because we all know how funny chemistry can be, right? If you doubt it, take a look at my chemistry grades in school. Now those were funny!

 

  • Atomic Hook-Ups – Types of Chemical Bonds: Crash Course Chemistry #22

 

 

 

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