by Rebecca
The biggest challenge for this month's issue was to narrow down the selections for recommended reads, as evidenced by our five giveaways! In recent years. many books have been published on Women in STEM. Our list is by no means exhaustive. We encourage you to explore your local library for additional books about Women in STEM.
Also check out Carol and my book news in the Author Notes section!
|
|
Featured Author:
Erin Twamley
|
As an avid reader and writer I saw that children's books sharing the images and stories of women in STEM are not telling the whole story. We cannot keep seeing the same 10 black and white images of trailblazing women from the past because there are far more with images and stories in color that you should know about. The Everyday Superheroes series does just that, sharing the real-life stories and illustrations of women working in STEM today.
Through hands-on encounters with kids and children's books, I use storytelling to introduce young audiences to the careers, stories, and superpowers of women who are making a difference in STEM fields.I want kids to learn about the scientists and engineers creating
floating solar panels or helping us drive into the future with battery-powered cars. For example, Dr. Maggie Teliska, a battery
scientist, investigates how to make better batteries to store renewable energy. The featured stories showcase technicians like Maria Moreno who is digging wells miles into the ground or Jaimey Fulford who is climbing utility poles to connect zigzagging power lines. We need to be asking kids what problems they want to solve. We need kids to imagine themselves in STEM careers and build our sustainable planet.
Erin's book, The Everyday Superheroes: Women in STEM Careers, is included in our giveaway this month. Also check out her book,
Everyday Superhereos: Women in Energy Careers.
Erin is an award-winning nonfiction children's book author, educator (M.Ed.), and passionate STEMinist. She is the founder and creator of STEM Superheroes, an initiative dedicated to showcasing real-life women in STEM careers and to spark interest and build girls' confidence in STEM.
|
|
by
Kirsten W. Larson
For more information on this picture book about
Emma Lillian Todd who followed her dreams and built an airplane,
visit Tracy Subsiak's website here.
Visit Kirsten W. Larson's website here.
Download the educator guide here.
|
|
One Teen (and her little brother)
Talks About Three Picture Books
|
By Helen Wheeler
I am Jane Goodall by Brad Meltzer is a great story to teach kids how to love and appreciate animals. This inspiring story shows that no matter your background, race or gender, with hard work you can pursue any career. Jane Goodall had to overcome a male-dominated field to become the premier chimpanzee researcher. The book is written in comic-book style with more traditional picture book illustrations as well. I recommend this book for 2nd and 3rd graders, and younger students with help. My brother's favorite part was learning how the chimpanzees became friends with humans!
One thing I loved about Shark Lady by Jess Keating is how Eugenie didn't let anything stop her to pursue her love for sharks. She persisted through hard comments from others, debunked myths about sharks, and trained sharks even when others said it was impossible. Eugenie worked with sharks throughout her life and proved they weren't the mindless killers like everyone assumed. Eugenie didn't listen to the negative comments from others and pursued her passion. My little brother loved when Eugenie dove underwater and saw the sharks! I recommend this book for grades 1 and 2.
Dinosaur Lady by Linda Skeers tells the story of Mary Anning the first paleontologist. Her passion and determination for fossils led her to some amazing discoveries. Mary and her little brother discovered the skull of a new aquatic dinosaur, later named ichthyosaurus. She also discovered "stones" surrounded by dinosaur bones that Mary determined to be fossilized poop! (My little brother found
that part was hilarious). Mary was born in 1799, and she wasn't allowed to attend or teach scientific lectures because she was female. Finally in 2010, Mary was named one of the ten most influential British Women in the history of science by the Royal Society. I recommend Dinosaur Lady for 1st and 2nd grade.
Helen Wheeler is a 9th grader who lives with her family in North Carolina. She is a competitive figure skater and works as a gymnastics coach for young children. She wants to work in the medical field in the future. Helen’s favorite genres to read are graphic novels and YA contemporary fiction.
|
|
by Carol
Here is an idea to encourage your kids and students to engage in STEM.
- Find your students' SPARK. This is an activity which they enjoy that they can connect to a STEM career. (Example: a student who loves baseball might want to design a lighter bat or a faster baseball).
- Show them videos (like this one about civil engineers) to introduce them to a variety of careers.
- Bring in someone with a STEM job to speak to your class. Ask students to prepare questions for her.
- Ask students to pick a STEM career they want to focus on and have them create a 3-D model representing their SPARK. They can use common materials like toothpicks, tissue paper, or recycled materials.
Image courtesy Pixaby and Saint
|
|
Did you know there is a TALKING STORY Facebook Group? We would love for you to participate and find out what other writers, educators, and librarians are saying.
|
|
We love to hear from our readers!
You can contact us through the newsletter or individually at the following social media platforms.
We're also both available for school visits.
Rebecca W Wheeler
Carol Baldwin
|
|
Does a Teen Reviewer Live in Your House or
Attend Your School?
|
We're always looking for teen or tween reviewers. If you know someone who might be interested in reading and writing a short synopsis of three books, please email us.
|
|
If you're having trouble emailing us, try using CHROME browser.
|
|
PLEASE SHARE
TALKING STORY
|
If you share TALKING STORY either on social media or via email, we will enter your name in our giveaway. Please complete this google form by October 19, 2024, indicate your book preference and we will add your name to the hat!
|
|
Congratulations to our October book winners.
|
Betsy John won Superpod
Danielle Hammelef won Like No Other
Heather Muzila won Lemon and Cedar
Linda Trott Dickman won The River that Wolves Moved
|
|
Please share our books with your librarians!
|
|
Thank you to our author expert, Erin Twamley.
Thank you to Wise Ink Creative Publishing for the giveaway of Everyday Superheroes: Women in Engineer Carreers.
Thank you to Helen Wheeler for being our teen reviewer.
Thank you to Astra Publishing for generously donating Wood, Wire, and Wings; The Leaf Detective; The Fabulous Fannie Farmer, and Blast Off!
Thank you to Joyce Hostetter for being our proofreader.
|
|
|
|
Complete this google form and we'll enter your name to win one of the five books below.
US addresses only.
Enter by
January 29
(Or better yet, enter now!)
BONUS!
If you forward Talking Story
to a friend or share the newsletter now, we will give you an extra chance to win a book. Please let Carol know what you do. |
|
|
By Erin Twamley and Joshua Sneideman
|
|
How Mary Sherman Morgan
Fueled America into Space
By Suzanne Slade
|
|
Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane
By Kirsten W. Larson
|
|
THE LEAF DETECTIVE
How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest
By Heather Lang
|
|
I'm very excited to share WHISPERING THROUGH WATER won the 2024 Hindi's Libraries Award for the Overall Best YA Book.
The mission of Hindi's Libraries is close to my heart as they ship books to needy communities at no cost. Check out their good work here.
Learn more about my books at www.rebeccawwheeler.com
|
|
After 18 years and countless drafts, HALF-TRUTHS is
coming out April 2!
I'll send out a newsletter soon with more details about pre-orders--but meanwhile here's the cover!
You can find more information about the story, on my website.
|
|
PICTURE BOOKS AND BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
****
BOOKS FOR MIDDLE GRADES and OLDER READERS
By Diana Knapp
By Roseanne Montillo
By Rachel Ignotofsky
|
|
|
