Posts Tagged book lists

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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Diversity in MG Lit #54: Jan & Feb 2026

By on February 18, 2026   /   Articles   /   Leave a comment
Here are seven titles from January and February, curated by Rosanne Parry, by diverse authors. Watch for in-depth interviews with several of the authors in the months ahead!

Hail Mariam

Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi
Often in a MG book when the character belongs to a faith community the book centers the cultural aspects of that religion–the holidays, the cultural practices, the historical hardships. Here is a rare book which delves into Mariam’s actual experience of faith, her prayer life, consolation, and discernment. And its explores the interfaith experiences of a Muslim girl attending a Catholic school. (A more common experience than you might think. In my parents Catholic schools about a third of the student body was Jewish. My local Catholic high school had a Muslim student body president last year. It’s student body is a third religions other than Catholicism and a third students with no religious affiliation.) It’s refreshing to see religion addressed with such care and authenticity. Mariam’s thoughtfulness and moral courage as she navigates the new school and her sister’s illness makes for an appealing read.

Mythspeaker

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique
Roubique is an indigenous person, not enrolled in a tribe, who has written a work of fantasy inspired by the indigenous cultures of North America. This debut novel a sweeping adventure featuring a daring heist, a band of misfits and many magical creatures. I think it would appeal to the fans of Rick Riorden.

Goodbye, French Fry

Goodbye, French Fry by Rin-Rin Yu
Ping-Ping is a Chinese American. Like many two culture kids she feels not American enough for her school friends and not Chinese enough for her parents. But she does find physical, emotional, and social strength in the practice of taekwondo and in her piano lessons.

The Last Resort Books

This is the second in a new series, the first was The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly. They are mystery puzzle stories with an interactive virtual element. Readers use their phone to see the pictures come to life and interact with the ghosts in the book to solve an additional mystery. It’s an exciting concept and I’m eager to see if readers at our bookstore respond.

A Year Without Home

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania
Set in Laos at the end of the Vietnam War, Bidania has written an ambitious tale spanning years and hundreds of miles from wartime Laos to the refugee camps of Thailand. The use of verse keeps the story accessible, emotionally vivid, and fast moving.

Hattie Mae Begins Again

Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake
A novel in verse set in the Great Migration of the 1930s when many African American families moved from the rural south to cities in the north. Hattie Mae’s is new to Philadelphia and finding both new friends and new ambitions.

Nadia Islam, On the Record

Nadia Islam, On the Record, words by Adiba Jaigirdar art by Avani Dwivedi
Nadia is a student journalist, a growing environmental activist, and a celebrating her first Ramadan when she will fast just like the other grown ups. And then her family decides to go to visit relatives in Bangladesh for the whole month of Ramadan. Trepidation becomes opportunity as Nadia finds an opportunity to report on environmental issues abroad.
This is only a small sample of the diverse books published in the last two months. Please add any Rosanne missed in the comments.
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