STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday – Deep Space and Beyond — Book List

By STEM Tuesday on July 10, 2018 / Space, STEM Tuesday

Young readers will head into deep space with these titles to explore asteroids, black holes, and the geology of the solar system. They will discover the enormity of the universe and the people who work to understand it. This list will inspire new adventures and help readers discover our place among the stars.

Impact!: Asteroids and the Science of Saving the World by Elizabeth Rusch and Karin Anderson

This Scientists in the Field series title introduces readers to the researchers who study asteroids. The author concludes the book with a list of methods that might be used for dealing with any asteroid that threatens Earth.

Black Holes: The Weird Science of the Most Mysterious Objects in the Universe by Sara Latta

Young readers will discover the early expiration of black holes and the studies that have led to our understanding. Pair this book with the next title on our list to compare and contrast two information titles on the same topic.

A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano and Michael Carroll

A humorous introduction to the complex science of black holes. Lots of space facts and answers about galaxies. Michael Carroll’s illustrations are coupled with real telescopic images to help readers visualize how light bends and identifying a supernova. Includes a timeline, glossary, and index.

Voyager’s Greatest Hits: The Epic Trek to Interstellar Space by Alexandra Siy

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voyager mission in this informative and engaging title. Learn about the scientists, how the probes work, where they’ve been and what they’ve seen.

Mission to Pluto: The First Visit to an Ice Dwarf and the Kuiper Belt by Mary Kay Carson and Tom Uhlman

In Carson’s Scientist in the Field title, young readers will explore Pluto through the discoveries made with the New Horizons mission and it robotic spacecraft. Readers will see how scientists built New Horizons, and follow it three billion miles across the solar system.

Science Comics: Rockets: Defying Gravity by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd

Readers of graphic novels will enjoy exploring 2,000 years of rockets, including information on gravity, force, and acceleration in this nonfiction comic.

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh

A space mission has thousands of people working behind the scenes to bring astronauts to space and safely home. This book peels back the curtain to reveal those important jobs. Young readers might discover the career that speaks to them.

The Hubble Cosmos: 25 Years of New Vistas in Space by David H. DeVorkin and Robert W. Smith

This National Geographic book is a wonderful reference book for middle grade readers who will enjoy the story and photographs of this important telescope. Includes more than 150 photos!

Dr E’s Super Stellar Solar System by Bethany Ehlmann and Jennifer Swanson

Join National Geographic Explorer Dr. Ehlmann (member of NASA’s Mars Rover Curiosity mission) and nonfiction author Jennifer Swanson on a tour of the soar system’s geology. A fun pairing of stories and facts.

STEM Tuesday book lists prepared by:

Nancy Castaldo has written books about our planet for over 20 years including her 2016 title, THE STORY OF SEEDS: From Mendel’s Garden to Your Plate, and How There’s More of Less To Eat Around The World, which earned the Green Earth Book Award and other honors. She strives to inform, inspire, and educate her readers. Nancy also serves as the Regional Advisor of the Eastern NY SCBWI region. Check out her 2008 title LEAP INTO SPACE and her new release, BACK FROM THE BRINK: Saving Animals from Extinction. www.nancycastaldo.com

Patricia Newman writes middle-grade nonfiction that inspires kids to seek connections between science, literacy, and the environment. The recipient of a Sibert Honor Award for Sea Otter Heroes and a two-time recipient of the Green Earth Book Award for Plastic, Ahoy! and Sea Otter Heroes, her books have received starred reviews, been honored as Junior Library Guild Selections, and included on Bank Street College’s Best Books lists. During author visits, she demonstrates how her writing skills give a voice to our beleaguered environment. Visit her at www.patriciamnewman.com.

STEM Tuesday: STEAMing Up your Summer Reading List!

By STEM Tuesday on July 3, 2018 / Book Lists, Nonfiction, STEM Tuesday

Are you settling in to those dog days of summer? The sun. The heat. The pool and the sand? Well, don’t forget to pack a book in your bag for the beach. A great book can provide hours of fun. Why not add some STEAM or STEM books to your summer reading list? Here are some great ones for you to check out.

A wacky and unique way to experience science:

Flying Machines: How the Wright Brothers Soared by Alison Wilgus Illustrator Molly Brooks (First Second Books)

* A 2017 NSTA Best STEM book

Take to the skies with Flying Machines

Follow the famous aviators from their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, to the fields of North Carolina where they were to make their famous flights. In an era of dirigibles and hot air balloons, the Wright Brothers were among the first innovators of heavier than air flight. But in the hotly competitive international race toward flight, Orville and Wilbur were up against a lot more than bad weather. Mechanical failures, lack of information, and even other aviators complicated the Wright Brothers’ journey. Though they weren’t as wealthy as their European counterparts, their impressive achievements demanded attention on the international stage. Thanks to their carefully recorded experiments and a healthy dash of bravery, the Wright Brothers’ flying machines took off.

50 Wacky Inventions Throughout History: Weird inventions that seem too crazy to be real! by Joe Rhatigan (Author), Celeste Aires (Illustrator) – (Walter Foster Jr)

With 50 Wacky Inventions Throughout History, history has never been so fun–or wacky

Have you ever heard of a bike TV? Or a bird diaper? 50 Wacky Inventions Throughout History describes 50 inventions that seem too crazy to be true–but are Whether useful, entertaining, or just plain silly, these mind-boggling inventions and gadgets from yesterday, today, and tomorrow will surprise and delight fun-fact lovers of all ages.

Learn about the Creatures you might find in the Ocean:

Sea Creatures by Seymour Simon (HarperCollins)

Dive into the wonderful world under the sea with Sea Creatures, a gorgeous informational picture book from award-winning science writer Seymour Simon!

Ranging from tiny single-celled creatures to the larger-than-life whales, the ocean is filled with life. Some sea animals live in the darkest depths of the ocean, while others live close to sunlight. From camouflage to way of communicating to existing symbiotically, sea creatures are some of the most adaptable animals on Earth.

With clear, simple text and stunning full-color photographs, readers will explore the deep blue sea and meet all types of aquatic friends.

Absolute Expert Dolphins by Jennifer Swanson (NGKids Books)

Kids who have a laser focus on dolphins will learn everything they’ve ever wanted to know about them in an eye-catching, page-turning book for aspiring experts, featuring exclusive content from a National Geographic explorer currently in the field.Hey, dolphin fin-atics Get ready to dive into the world of your favorite fabulous marine mammals in this action-packed book chock-full of awesome facts, photos, and fun Join National Geographic explorer and dolphin expert Justine Jackson-Ricketts to get the latest, most up-to-date dolphin intel straight from the field, plus fun facts, in-depth info, and awesome trivia about every kind of dolphin under the sun (and beneath the waves). It’s the ultimate book to help YOU become an absolute expert on one of your favorite topics.

Quiz your friend with fun facts about scientists!

Galaxy Girls: 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space
by Libby Jackson (Harper Collins)

Filled with beautiful full-color illustrations, a groundbreaking compendium honoring the amazing true stories of fifty inspirational women who helped fuel some of the greatest achievements in space exploration from the nineteenth century to today—including Hidden Figure’s Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson as well as former NASA Chief Astronaut Peggy Whitson, the record-holding American biochemistry researcher who has spent the most cumulative time in space.

Up & Down: The Adventures of John Jeffries, First American to Fly
by Don Brown (Charlesbridge Publishing)

The incomparable Don Brown chronicles the ballooning misadventures of John Jeffries, scientist and aviation pioneer.

Swept up by the European ballooning craze of the 1780s, Dr. John Jeffries longed to become the first person to fly across the English Channel. But first he had to outwit a rascally copilot, keep the balloon from bursting, and avoid crashing into the sea. The good doctor’s quick-thinking solutions will surprise young readers–and keep them giggling. Orbis Pictus and Sibert Honor winner Don Brown tells this quirky true story with his usual accuracy and heart.

Discover interesting info on animals all around you!

The Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery (HMH BFYR)

This myth-busting new addition to the critically acclaimed Scientists in the Field series by Sibert medal winning team Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop is perfect for nonfiction readers looking for more female scientist narratives, or a fresh perspective on an underrepresented animal–Hyenas

Timely and inspiring, The Hyena Scientist sets the record straight about one of history’s most hated and misunderstood mammals, while featuring the groundbreaking, pioneering research of a female scientist in a predominately male field in this offering by Sibert-winning duo Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop.

Beastly Brains by Nancy Castaldo (HMH BFYR)

In Beastly Brains, Castaldo delves into the minds of animals and explores animal empathy, communication, tool use, and social societies through interviews and historical anecdotes. Researchers from Charles Darwin to Jane Goodall have spent years analyzing the minds of animals, and today’s science is revolutionizing old theories and uncovering surprising similarities to our own minds. Humans are not alone in our ability to think about ourselves, make plans, help each other, or even participate in deception. You’ll think differently about the animals on this planet—maybe it’s their world and we’re just living in it!

Enjoy some science with your fiction book!

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty (Random House BFYR)

A lightning strike gave her a super power…but even a super genius can’t solve the problem of middle school. This smart and funny novel is perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, Rain Reign, and Counting by Sevens.

Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn’t remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she’s technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test–middle schoolLucy’s grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that’s not a math textbook ). Lucy’s not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy’s life has already been solved. Unless there’s been a miscalculation?

Lucy’s Lab: The Colossal Fossil Fiasco by Michelle Houts (Sky Pony Press)

Lucy accidentally overhears her parents talking about the family getting a second pet. But what pet should they get?At school, Lucy’s class is learning about fossils and the plants and animals that left them behind.One afternoon, Lucy finds a special rock, and Miss Flippo gets very excited But when Lucy’s precious fossil goes missing, everyone in Room 2C is a suspect. . . .

Know of a great STEM/STEAM book to recommend? Add it below. Happy Science Reading!

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This post created by Jennifer Swanson, award-winning author of 35 nonfiction books for kids. When not writing, Jennifer can be found reading about cool science facts. You can find her at www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com

STEM Tuesday – Shining the Light on Technology, Engineering, and Math — Interview with Author Elizabeth Rusch

By STEM Tuesday on June 26, 2018 / Engineering, Math, STEM Tuesday, Technology

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

Today we’re interviewing Elizabeth Rusch! She’s the author of this month’s featured technology/engineering book, The Next Wave: The Quest to Harness the Power of the Ocean. This fascinating installment in Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Scientists in the Field series tackles the engineering challenge of turning ocean waves into useable electricity. As Horn Book‘s glowing review explains, “Rusch fully explores the engineering process, capturing the determined, entrepreneurial spirit of the profiled engineers as well as the need for creative problem-solving and ingenuity, a test-and-retest mentality, a high tolerance for failure, and perseverance through the quest for research funding.” The Next Wave received starred reviews from both Kirkus and School Library Journal.

Mary Kay Carson: Why did you decide to write The Next Wave?

Elizabeth Rusch: I keep a folder of clippings of newspaper and magazine articles that interest me. Once in a while, I read through them to see if there are any topic hiding in there that I might want to cover. About ten years ago I found that I had clipped a bunch of articles on scientists developing these cool devices to harness the movement of ocean waves and turn it into electricity. One Oregon scientist Annette von Jouanne was not only inventing clever devices but also finding ways to support other engineers and inventors in their work. I thought she would be a perfect place to start. I interviewed her and accompanied her as she tested a new device that bobbed up and down in the water and wrote an article about her work for Smithsonian magazine. As I was reporting and writing that piece, a little voice kept saying: Kids would find this fascinating – they love the beach, the ocean, invention, and environment. So I expanded my research to include the stories of other ocean energy inventors, such as “The Mikes” —Mike Morrow and Mike Delos-Reyes—childhood friends who were developing and refining a device that sits on the ocean floor that they first designed in college.

MKC: What was writing about engineering like?

Elizabeth: I loved covering a new, evolving renewable energy field. Engineers have already pretty much figured out great ways to harness solar and wind energy but ocean energy was and is still wide open. We don’t yet know the best way to take the up and down motion of waves and turn it into electricity. That means that all devices being invented and tested are wildly different. So I got to witness history in the making. Mike Morrow invited me to his lab, which was big cluttered shed in his backyard. It was like being in the garage with Steve Jobs as he invented his computer. I also observed tests in these huge wave flumes and basins and out the open ocean. Each test was really suspenseful because no one knew how the devices would perform. So I was crossing my fingers and cheering right along with the engineers.

Download an accompanying Common Core Guide and Discussion and Activity Guide for The Next Wave.

MKC: Are STEM topics especially interesting to you?

Elizabeth: I don’t actively set out to write STEM books. I am drawn to important, compelling stories that have been overlooked – and it just so happens that many of those stories are in STEM fields. I love stories of invention because they are at their core stories of the human spirit and our quest to understand the world and solve problems we face. To me, inventing something is essentially an adventure requiring creativity and heroic effort in the face of daunting obstacles. A fun example is my recent book The Music of Life: Bartolomeo Cristofori and the Invention of the Piano. While it is a picture book biography about music and history, I was delighted to see it was named a Best STEM Trade Book by NSTA-CBC. So I guess what I’m saying is that to me STEM is just in integral part of the human story – and I love telling human stories.

Win a FREE copy of The Next Wave!

Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below. The randomly-chosen winner will be contacted via email and asked to provide a mailing address (within the U.S. only) to receive the book.

Good luck!

Your host this week is Mary Kay Carson, fellow science nerd and author of Mission to Pluto and other nonfiction books for kids. @marykaycarson

STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday – Deep Space and Beyond — Book List

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STEM Tuesday: STEAMing Up your Summer Reading List!

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STEM Tuesday – Shining the Light on Technology, Engineering, and Math — Interview with Author Elizabeth Rusch

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STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday – Deep Space and Beyond — Book List

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STEM Tuesday: STEAMing Up your Summer Reading List!

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STEM Tuesday – Shining the Light on Technology, Engineering, and Math — Interview with Author Elizabeth Rusch

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