Posts Tagged middle-grade nonfiction

STEM Tuesday– Math– Book List

By on May 5, 2026   /   Math, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

Mathematical tips and strategies, logic puzzles, infographic how-to information, inspirational mathematicians, mathematical reasoning and even animals with amazing math skills are waiting in the pages of books below:

Cover of the book Adventures in Math: How to Level Up Your Math Game

Adventures in Math: How to Level Up Your Math Game, by Carleigh Wu and illustrated by Sean Simpson encourages readers to change their mathematical mindsets. It debunks common misconceptions about math, provides tips and strategies, and reinforces that we can learn to think like mathematicians – belief and effort are what it takes. The book shares this message “Believe in yourself. Work hard. Make mistakes. Keep going. Ask for help. Work with others. Because it all adds up.” This 2026 Mathical Honor Book is a fantastic read and conversation starter and belongs in every upper elementary and middle grade classroom.

Cover of the book Calculating Chimpanzees, Brainy Bees, and Other Animals with Mind-Blowing Mathematical Abilities

People are not the only mathematical beings. Calculating Chimpanzees, Brainy Bees, and Other Animals with Mind-Blowing Mathematical Abilities by Stephanie Gibeault and illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett explores the amazing mathematical abilities of five different types of animals: guppies, hyenas, African grey parrots, chimpanzees, and honeybees. This 2025 Mathical Honor Book provides a window into how scientists study animal behavior and number skills. Readers are sure to be fascinated that fish can distinguish between large and small quantities; African grey parrots can represent numbers with symbols; chimpanzees can add; honeybees understand the concept of zero; and hyenas count.

Cover of the Book Hidden Women: The African-American Mathematicians of NASA Who Helped America Win the Space Race

Hidden Women: The African-American Mathematicians of NASA Who Helped America Win the Space Race, written by Rebecca Rissman, introduces readers to the African American women whose mathematical abilities were critical to the success of NASA’s early space missions. The 2019 Mathical Honor Book highlights their contributions, resilience, and the barriers they faced.

Cover of the book How to Survive Middle School Math: A Do-It-Yourself Study Guide

How to Survive Middle School Math: A Do-It-Yourself Study Guide by Concetta Ortiz and Matt Fazio, focuses on what students need to know to thrive in the middle school math classroom. Part of the series currently of five books, How to Survive Middle School, this math book can also be used as a homeschooling resource. The book is colorful, divided into manageable sections, and is an important middle school companion.

Cover of the book Do the Math!: Challenging, Fun Math Puzzles for Kids

Do the Math!: Challenging, Fun Math Puzzles for Kids, by Steven and Jessica Clontz, provides a plethora of puzzles for the reader to complete while working on core math skills. Through clear instructions and a variety of activities, the reader develops logical thinking skills while solving different types of puzzles one chapter at a time.

Cover of the Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids

Choose different levels of fun puzzles and games to develop spatial reasoning, math skills, and focus in the Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids series. In each book, the puzzles grow in level of difficulty to ensure motivation. The Hardest Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids: Spatial Reasoning, Math Puzzles, Word Games, Logic Problems, Focus Activities, Two-Player Games, by Dan Allbaugh and Anil Yap was published in 2024. Other books in this collection include the Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids, Another Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids, and Brainteasers and Riddles for Gritty Kids.

Cover of the book Perfectly Logical!: Challenging Fun Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles for Smart Kids

Another book of logic puzzles, Perfectly Logical!: Challenging Fun Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles for Smart Kids was written by Jenn Larson, a school teacher for over 20 years.  The games focus on developing skills such as abstract reasoning and processing speed.

Cover of the book Show and Tell! Great Graphs and Smart Charts: An Introduction to Infographics

Show and Tell! Great Graphs and Smart Charts: An Introduction to Infographics written by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Teresa Bellón is an excellent introductory guide that shows how information can be collected and displayed using eye-catching, easy to interpret, line graphs, bar graphs, pictographs, and pie charts. It’s perfect for children interested in surveys, organizing and interpreting data, and visually representing their findings for others.

Cover of the Book of Math by Anna Weltman

The Book of Math by Anna Weltman, 2021 delves into many interesting and perplexing mathematical questions. It looks at the math in nature, space, art, sports calculations, construction, and coding. It explores unsolved math problems, too. This 2023 Mathical Honor Book is full of appealing graphics, timelines, charts, puzzles, games and activities.

Cover of The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning

 
The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn is a bestselling book about logic and fallacy. Illustrated by Rob Corley and Tim Hodge, the funny cartoons and easy-to-follow writing style keeps the reader engaged. Written for ages 12 and up, children can learn on their own or alongside their adult.

Cover of the book Which One Doesn't Belong?

In Which One Doesn’t Belong? author Christopher Danielson says, “I made this book to spark conversations, thinking, and wonder.” The book accomplishes all these goals. Its colorful pages show collections of four shapes, each of which might correctly answer the question “Which one doesn’t belong?” This 2017 Mathical Award winning book provides opportunities for readers to focus on properties attributes, and on rich geometry-focused conversations. It’s likely to appeal to readers of almost every age.

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

Picture of Bev Schellenberg and her daughter

Bev Schellenberg is an author (A Prince Among Dragons; A Princess Among Dragons), as well as a writer of creative nonfiction, poetry, and picture books. She’s an advocate of STEM who was a science fair national winner and high school robotics club sponsor, and passionate about young people discovering, following the passion inside them and flourishing. She’s taught grades kindergarten to grade 12 and is currently an academic advisor, careers teacher, and armchair futurist. Learn more about Bev at BevSchellenberg.com.

Picture of Carolyn Pfister and her goats.

Carolyn Pfister is a STEM Content Developer, writer/illustrator, and coordinator of the California Early Math Project. She is interested in encouraging family and community STEM opportunities and maintaining children’s early love and success with math and science. Carolyn writes a monthly Substack on behalf of the California Early Math Project – https://carolynpfister.substack.com/. Learn more about Carolyn at Carolynpfister.com

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STEM Tuesday– Amphibians– Author Interview with Annette Whipple

By on April 28, 2026   /   Amphibians, Animals, Conservation, For Kids, Nonfiction, Nonfiction Titles, STEM, STEM Tuesday   /   1 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 Annette Whipple, author of Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs. The book investigates some of the more than 7,000 frogs around the world and invites readers to take an active interest in their preservation.

 

The Truth About the Writing Process

By Ann McCallum Staats

Ann: There’s a great mix of facts, incredible photography, and just-for-fun jokes and asides (which are TOAD-ally awesome to quote you!) in this book. Can you share how this all came together?

 

 

Annette: Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs is part of The Truth About series with Reycraft Books. I had already written about owls, dogs, and spiders—and I was ready to write about an animal familiar to me that I still didn’t know a lot about. (My favorite topics to write about are the ones I’m already curious about!) I suggested to my editor the next book be about frogs, and the whole team was on board!

Ribbit the Truth About Frogs book

Ann: I was fascinated by all the information packed into Ribbit!—who knew that over a 100 new species of frogs are discovered each year, for example? I’m curious; what is your research process like?

Annette: It absolutely amazes me that for the past twenty years (and probably longer) more than a hundred NEW species of amphibians have been found every year—and most of those are frogs! In the first two months of 2026, seven new kinds of frogs have been identified. I think that’s incredible.

Before I begin my official research for The Truth About books, I read general articles online for the topic. At this point, I really just want a good understanding. I’m not taking notes yet. After a bit of general information-gathering, I brainstorm a bit using a topic web (also called the bubble method or mind-mapping) to come up with different ideas I may want to research.

Frog pushing out their mouths

From there I plan my research. For topics like these animal books where I know many of the ideas I’ll research (diet, habitat, reproduction…), I use a spiral notebook as my research notebook. That’s where I take notes! I create a table of contents and number the pages. I also use it to keep track of my sources. For some of my books I use multiple 3-ring binders as well as folders in my file cabinet. I also save articles I’ve read online—either printed or saved as a digital PDF file.

My sources begin with scientific books, online journals, and research articles. (During the information-gathering phase, I’m not fussy about my sources. Once I’m taking notes, I must choose my sources very carefully.) I contact experts I can interview—and often meet. Often university professors are happy to share their knowledge with me—or point me in the right direction to another expert. Sometimes I consult with an expert online and meet with a different expert in person to get as much feedback and information as possible.

When I met with my frog expert, I heard wood frogs quack and the very loud (nearly painful) calls of spring peepers! If we had met a month or two later, we would have found different frog species in the same area.

I wrote an article about using a topic web here. https://www.annettewhipple.com/2021/07/how-to-brainstorm-nonfiction-writing.html

I wrote an article about my research notebooks here. https://www.annettewhipple.com/2021/09/how-to-set-up-research-notebook.html

Ann: What did you especially enjoy about writing this book? What was challenging for you?

Annette: I loved researching and learning so much more about frogs, because really my knowledge was fairly limited until then. My own knowledge was also my biggest challenge because I had so much to learn!

Images of what frogs eat

Ann: I’m impressed by the design and format of the book. Sections start with a question like “How do frogs eat?” followed by text, stunning photos, and an illustrated aside. How much of the design of the book did you participate in?

Annette: When I pitched the first book in the series, Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls, I stated that I wanted the book to be photo illustrated in addition to art sidebars where I add humor. With that pattern established early on, there weren’t many surprises with Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs. Other than an occasional suggestion to include a photograph of a certain frog species, my design support was minimal.

Ann: You’ve written a lot of books! What is your writing routine like and how do you stay motivated?

Annette: Yes! By the end of this year I will have written more than 40 books. (The longest was 50,000 words. The shortest 250 words.) I don’t write every day, but I do write most days! When I have a hard time staying focused, I set aside a day to just focus on my writing process. So on those days, I don’t want to answer email, fold laundry, or post on social media. On Writing Days, I hunker down and just write!

Ann: What’s your origin story? How did you become a children’s book author?

I began blogging to share my child’s progress overcoming a speech disorder called apraxia. Before long, I realized I wanted to write more, so I took some writing classes and had a few published articles. A few years later I was reading The Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. We had a companion guide called Roar! to go with it. That’s when I realized I wanted to write a book like that: A book about a book—for kids. Soon I was working on The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide and attending writing conferences.

Ann: What’s next for you? What do your fans (me included!) have to look forward to next?

This year I have a few more state books in the Who HQ series that will release including Where Is Missouri?, Where Is Minnesota?, and Where Is Wisconsin? I’m also working on a proposal for a historic nonfiction book—but I don’t have a contract yet!

Maybe I’ll have more news to share soon! I think facts are fun, so that’s my big focus. You can keep up with me with my monthly newsletter at https://substack.com/@annettewhipple. I also use social media! On Facebook and Instagram, find me @AnnetteWhippleBooks. At Twitter/X and BluSky, I’m @AnnetteWhipple. My website is full of articles for curious teachers, families, and writers. https://www.annettewhipple.com/

Ann McCallum Staats is a former teacher and award-winning author. Her latest books are Fantastic Flora: The World’s Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants illustrated by Zoë Ingram and A Quilt of Stars, co-written with astronaut Karen Nyberg and illustrated by Alida Massari. Ann loves to follow her curiosity and share what she finds with others. Find out more at www.annmccallumbooks.com

 

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Read-Alouds for Middle Grades: An Rx for Reading Success in Today’s Fast-Paced World

By on April 22, 2026   /   Articles, For Teachers   /   Leave a comment
Book turning pages

Read-alouds aren’t just for younger students! Research shows that reading aloud—even for just a few minutes a day—is just as effective for intermediate grades, middle schoolers, and even high schoolers.

Whether at home or during dedicated time in class, reading aloud to students demonstrates that reading is not merely a difficult task required for testing. It transforms book discussions into opportunities for students to open up about complex topics and signals the true importance of literacy. “Never underestimate the power of a well chosen read-aloud. Even students who swear they don’t like books can be drawn in by a great story,” says Kinla Nelson, a Georgia-based educator with twenty-five years of classroom teaching under her belt.

Book turning pages

Photo by Horia Varlan

Thirteen fabulous reasons why you should read aloud to your older students:

1. Unlock higher-level thinking.

 Students can often listen and comprehend at a higher level than they can read independently.

2. Let students escape into the story.

They can experience the magic of the narrative without the struggle of decoding text.

3. Bridge spoken and written language.

Read-alouds connect oral fluency with literacy skills.

4. Model fluent reading.

Show students how a reader’s voice gives meaning to words, demonstrating how punctuation, sentence structure, pauses, and inflection shape understanding.

5. Demonstrate expressive reading.

Bring characters’ emotional states to life through tone and pacing.

6. Build active listening skills.

Students learn to concentrate on both the sounds words make and their meanings simultaneously.

7. Grow vocabulary and correct pronunciation.

Hearing words in context reinforces proper usage and articulation.

8. Improve working memory.

As students make connections between different parts of the story, they flex their memory and retention muscles.

9. Boost comprehension.

Especially for struggling readers, listening allows them to focus on the story rather than getting bogged down by reading mechanics.

10. Build classroom community.

Shared experiences level the playing field between students of all reading levels. Listeners can ask questions and feel fully part of the story, just like any other reader.

11. Create memorable experiences.

A well-told story leaves a lasting impression on the listener. And this experience is something the whole class can share.

12. Decrease stress.

Numerous studies highlight the social and therapeutic benefits for both the listener and the reader. Through the phenomenon of “Narrative Transportation,” listeners can momentarily forget their surroundings.

13. Increase joy.

As Jim Trelease noted, “Every time we read aloud to a child, we send a ‘pleasure message’ to their brain.” This reaction is triggered by feelings of happiness and self-worth when someone takes the time to invest in our enjoyment.

Why Read-Alouds Are More Important Than Ever:

  • Attention is fragmenting. In an age where digital media pulls focus, read-alouds recenter collective attention, prompting students to pause, listen, and engage deeply with language.
  • Equity gaps are widening. Frequent adult read-alouds boost vocabulary for historically underserved learners and, when structured inclusively, help close those gaps.
  • Standards demand higher-order thinking. Interactive read-alouds naturally embed inquiry, inference, and synthesis, aligning with Common Core and Next Generation Science expectations.
  • Teacher workload is growing. Measurable gains can be achieved in just a few minutes without adding to grading loads.

Find an engaging, vocabulary-rich novel (bonus points for STEM ties!) and start your read-aloud program today.

Let us know in the comments below which books you’ve found particularly great for read-alouds for older students!

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