STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday– National Parks– Author Interview- Nancy Castaldo

By on September 23, 2025   /   National Parks, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

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

Today we’re interviewing Nancy Castaldo, author of The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale. The book discusses how restoring the balance between the primary predator and prey was instrumental in restoring a U.S. park’s ecosystem.

This book is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection and was nominated for a number of awards.

“Castaldo leaves it for reflective readers to decide whether that is responsible conservation or unscientific meddling with natural patterns…Stimulating reading for young naturalists and eco-activists.” – Kirkus (Nonfiction. 10-13).

Christine Taylor-Butler: Hi Nancy. Thanks for letting STEM Tuesday feature you. You are a prolific author on topics related to conservation and nature. Did you always want to be a writer?

Nancy Castaldo: Not professionally. I’ve always loved writing—I was even published in Seventeen Magazine as a teen and entered writing contests—but I never considered it a career path. I actually wanted to work with animals. It wasn’t until my college internship at Audubon Magazine that I realized I could combine my passions—writing, photography, and science—into something meaningful.

wolve sand moose cover

CTB: What inspired you to write The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale: Restoring an Island Ecosystem?

Nancy Castaldo: I first learned about the predator-prey studies on Isle Royale in an undergraduate ecology class, and I was fascinated. I’ve followed the research ever since. When I heard about the recent wolf reintroductions, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper and share the story in a book for middle grade readers.

CTB: With the wolf population dropping due to illness and other factors, scientists attempted to relocate twenty to thirty wolves from the mainland.

Nancy Castaldo: Yes. The island is isolated. It’s about fifteen miles from Minnesota and fifty miles from Michigan. In 1980 there were 50 wolves and 664 Moose. By 2018, only 2 wolves remained but the moose population grew to 1,500. So bringing wolves to the island was an attempt to restore the balance.

map of isle royal

CTB: How did you gather the information to write about the interactions between wolves and moose?

wolf waiting in crateNancy Castaldo: I was fortunate to conduct on-site research on Isle Royale alongside wildlife photographer Morgan Heim. It was an incredible experience to spend time with the scientists I’d admired since college. The predator-prey study there is the longest-running of its kind in the world. We met with researchers and park scientists, often traveling by boat and then hiking into the island’s interior to observe their work firsthand. From water chemistry to tracking wolves and moose, we saw just how much goes into understanding this complex ecosystem. Isle Royale is more than just a beautiful place to visit—it’s a living laboratory, and the work done there has implications for ecosystems everywhere.

CTB: Many readers may not realize how important animals are to healthy park ecosystems.

bull moose on Isle RoyaleNancy Castaldo: That’s true. For people like me, wildlife is a big part of why we love national parks. Animals bring the landscape to life—without them, so much of the magic would be missing. On Isle Royale, the wolf and moose populations are a major draw. Visitors are captivated by its wildness and the hauntingly beautiful calls of loons and wolves. The presence of these animals is essential to the health—and appeal—of the park.

CTB: Were there any interesting facts or stories that didn’t make it into the book?

Nancy Castaldo: Always! There are so many stories and facts that just don’t fit into the final manuscript, whether due to space or because they don’t quite align with the narrative. I love sharing those “bonus” details during school visits. It’s fun to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at the research and writing process.

CTB: Do you have any upcoming books we should keep an eye out for?

Nancy Castaldo: Yes! I’m excited to be releasing two new books for young readers this year, both focused on conservation and river recovery. RIVERKEEPER: Protecting an American River and WHALES IN THE CITY highlight real-world successes and show how much we can accomplish when we work together. I’m also thrilled about my first book for adult readers—and curious young adults—coming out next month:

I can’t wait to share all of these new stories with readers!

three upcoming book covers

Nancy bio photoNancy Castaldo has written award-winning books about our planet for over 25 years from New York’s Hudson Valley. Her love of reading and writing outdoors began in her childhood. Her curiosity led her to study science. As an environmental educator and photographer, Nancy combined all of her interests. She still enjoys spending her time exploring in the wild as she did while researching over two dozen books and many articles.

Nancy is a certified National Geographic educator and served on the boards of her local Audubon Society and Girl Scout Council. In addition, Nancy serves on the Council of the International Wildlife Coexistence Network and the Writer’s Council of the National Writing Project

Nancy writes to inform, inspire, and empower her readers about the world around them.

 

author christine Taylor-butler

Photo by Kecia Stovall

Your host is Christine Taylor-Butler, a graduate of MIT and author of The Oasis, Save the… Tigers, Save the . . . Blue Whales, and many other nonfiction books for kids. She is also the author of the STEM based middle grade sci-fi series The Lost Tribes. Follow @ChristineTB on X and or @ChristineTaylorButler on Instagram. She lives in Missouri with a tank of fish and cats that think they are dogs.
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STEM Tuesday– National Parks– Writing Tips & Resources

By on September 16, 2025   /   National Parks, STEM Tuesday  

 

I was delighted to see this month’s topic is National Parks. I was fortunate to have taught drawing workshops at two national parks in the early 2000s. Both were offered by the Park Service free to everyone and I had received a grant to cover expenses for supplies from the university where I taught. The park rangers were helpful and interesting and both times, I was able to take advantage of the natural environment as the centerpiece of curriculum.

One was in the southwest. Since it was July, it was too hot to work outside but we had the natural history museum at our disposal. After instruction and strategies, the participants spread out and were treated to an array of plants and animals as models. The other was in the Appalachians, and we had vistas of mountains and fields. Everyone went away with drawings of their National Park experience.

The National Park Service website currently has an extensive section on Education & Training. It has topics such as Teaching with Historic Places, Museum Collections, Archeology, Land Preservation, and Youth Training Programs. Some books are available through the website as of the date of this article. You may find some that would be valuable resources to supplement the great list of books recommended for September’s STE(A)M Tuesday.

Asian Reflection on The American Landscape
Book

Under the Archeology section you can find it divided into headings for Teachers, which includes links to lesson plans, activities and professional development. The KIDS heading includes activities for use within the parks and online activities. Some of the materials have been translated into Spanish.

If you don’t have the option of traveling to a National Park, many of the activities can be adapted to local sites. Many towns and smaller communities (as well as large, of course) have historical centers or societies, state and local parks and historic sites, interesting geological features – even urban areas provide environmental and historical opportunities. The NPS webpage also has a list of about a hundred related sites of interest. Making a journal is always a good way for students (and adults!) to document discoveries and experiences.

There is a special section that provides information on “Telling All Americans’ Stories.”

Books, pamphlets, and links are available to previously completed stories and activities.

In the past, I planned student activities where they could explore their own culture. But be sensitive. Some students have painful histories or don’t even know. I always gave the option – use your own history, someone you know and can interview, or pick a culture you admire and would like to find out about. That erases any stigma that may come with tricky family situations but allows a dive into personal history.

This website is a treasure. As of this writing, the materials were still available, and I hope that continues.

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Margo Lemieux is a retired university professor and is currently amusing herself by writing, doing art, and playing bluegrass music. Oh, and reading!

 

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STEM Tuesday– National Parks– In the Classroom

By on September 9, 2025   /   STEM Tuesday  

This month’s books take readers on a tour of the 63 national parks of the United States. Here are some ideas for using these books in the classroom to study amazing wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, important cultural traditions, and conservation!

 

Lonely Planet Kids America’s National Parks written by Alexa Ward and illustrated by Mike Lowery 

This lively, visually stunning guide covers all 63 national parks (including the newest), with jaw-dropping photography, quirky illustrations, fun facts, thematic spreads (e.g., “Parks at Night”), and a conversational tone parents and kids both enjoy. Packed with history, tips, and secrets, it’s a dynamic and immersive read for aspiring young adventurers.

Classroom Activity

Map out the ultimate National Park roadtrip! Provide U.S. maps to students and have them pick five national parks they want to visit. Ask students to plot their chosen parks on the map, writing the name of the park. Then have students select one interesting fact about each park’s wildlife from the book and write that under the name. Finally have students include the reason why they chose the park and what they want to see there.

 

 

The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 (Young Readers Edition) by Rick McIntyre and David A. Poulsen

Biologist Rick McIntyre has teamed up with YA author David Poulsen to bring to life the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. This action-packed nonfiction story follows the life of Wolf 8 as he fends off grizzly bears, adopts a litter of pups, and helps his family to survive. (In keeping with the conventions of scientific research, all the wolf characters are identified with numbers instead of names.) The scenes in the book are based on McIntyre’s own observations, and readers will find themselves rooting for this underdog on his journey to become an alpha wolf.

Classroom Activity

Readers follow Wolf 8 from a young pup as he grows and learns in Yellowstone National Park. Ask students to map out his adventures in a chronological timeline. Students can show the events that shape his life in the park, and can write descriptions and draw pictures to show each important moment.

 

Park Scientists: Gila Monsters, Geysers, and Grizzly Bears in America’s Own Backyard written by Mary Kay Carson with photographs by Tom Uhlman

National parks serve as “natural laboratories” and “living museums” that offer unique possibilities for scientific research. This book follows in the footsteps of real-life biologists, ecologists, geologists, herpetologists, and citizen scientists in three different national parks: Yellowstone, Saguaro, and Great Smoky Mountains. Aspiring scientists will learn what makes geysers erupt, what happens when bears hibernate, how Gila monster venom can be used, and more.

Classroom Activity

Ask students to consider this: What if you were one of the scientists involved in research at a national park? What would you do and what would you want to learn? Students can imagine they are part of the team of biologists, ecologists, geologists, herpetologists, or citizen scientists described in this book. ell students to write a short story about their work, how they felt doing their research, and what they hope to discover.Students should use details from the book and incorporate them into their fictional stories.

Karen Latchana Kenney is a children’s author and editor who loves creating all kinds of STEM books and classroom content. Find her at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com/.

 

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