Bam! Ka-boom! Bu-u-urp! The Carbon Cycle

 

From BAM! to BURP!: A Carbon Atom's Never-Ending Journey Through Space and Time and YOU 

by Melissa Stewart; illus. by Marta Alvarez Miguens 

40 pages; ages 5-8

‎Charlesbridge, 2025

themes: atoms, carbon cycle, science

You’ve probably heard of atoms. They’re the tiny particles that make up almost everything we know in the Universe (including you).

Here’s the thing about atoms: they never disappear. They just keep moving from one thing to another, from one creature to another … from leaves to dinosaurs to fish to … us!

Melissa Stewart takes readers on a journey through the carbon cycle, beginning with a big crash (that’s the BAM of the title) – when a small rocky planet crashed into Earth. Bits of that planet melted, and the atoms (including carbon) rearranged into new molecules – like carbon dioxide spewed out of the cone of a volcano during eruption. In her book, Melissa shows that molecule eventually getting sucked up by a leaf. Once the carbon dioxide is broken down, that carbon atom is used to make glucose – hooray for photosynthesis! And carbon is happy – whoops! I spoke too soon because a long-necked dinosaur just came by and ate that leaf!

What I like about this book: I like how Melissa makes the journey of a carbon atom seem like such an adventure. And how she asks readers to think about where a carbon atom they exhale or burp might go next. I like the “Wonder Wall” she has at the end of the book – a wall full of post it notes with questions (and, thankfully, answers). Additional back matter explains more about the carbon cycle, fossil fuels, and climate change.

After reading this book, I had One Question for Melissa:

Me: In your author note you mention that a kid's question inspired you to trace the path of a carbon atom from us all the way back to dinosaurs and beyond. And this isn't the only time a kid's question has inspired a book (I think aardvark started that way?) - can you talk about the value of listening to the questions kids ask and how they've inspired your own curiosity?

Melissa: I like your question a lot! Yes, my book Can an Aardvark Bark? was inspired by a question from my nephew, Colin. Key aspects of Thank You, Moon and Summertime Sleepers also trace back to experiences with my niece, Caroline, and my nephew, Emile, respectively. Since children are my audience, I always pay close attention to their opinions and ideas. What excites them? What makes them curious? What leaves a lasting impression? I want to understand how they see the world and their place in it, so that my books will truly resonate with them.

Beyond the Books:

Make a list of things you find in your house and around your yard that have carbon in them. (hint: living things have carbon, some rocks have carbon)

Experiment with Fizzy Drink science! You need some fizzy drinks (diet cola works) and some mints (mentos work) and a place where it’s okay for messy science to happen. Here’s a video about carbonation science.

Got rocks? Some rocks, like limestone, have carbon atoms in their make-up. You can test whether rocks have carbon in them by dropping some hydrochloric acid – or even strong vinegar – on them. If they have carbon, they will fizz or foam. Those hard water deposits on your tea kettle are probably calcium carbonate. Go ahead – toss vinegar on them to test. Another good source to test for carbon: baking soda!

Melissa is a member of the STEAM Team Books group. You can find out more about her at her at her website melissa-stewart.com. You can find more about recently released STEM and STEAM at www.steamteambooks.com

Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by the publisher.

Explore Outdoors ~ Wandering Caterpillars

 Maybe you saw some cute, furry caterpillars wandering across your yard a few weeks ago? They look so fuzzy and cute - but don't pick this one up! Unlike the friendly woolly bear, this hickory tussock moth's hairs will sting. The hairs contain a mild venom that can cause an itchy rash on your skin. Those irritating hairs help protect the caterpillars from predators such as birds and bats. 

You can find out more about the hickory tussock moth at What's That Bug.

Are there any late fall caterpillars still wandering around? 

Go on a caterpillar hunt (remember to leave them alone, though. They're looking for a place to spend the winter!)

A Rainforest Expedition!

 

3 Weeks in the Rainforest: A Rapid Inventory in the Amazon 

by Jennifer Swanson 

80 pages; ages 8-12

‎Charlesbridge, 2025

Imagine a place where you’re surrounded by trees that soar to the sky, writes Jennifer Swanson. A place where large, glossy leaves block sunlight, and heavy, damp air is filled with the aroma of flowers. Where the chatter of monkeys and toucans drifts down from the canopy.

That place exists – it is the rainforest of the Andes-Amazon, home to an incredible diversity of plants and animals. In this book, Jen takes us on a three week field expedition into the rainforest, with a “rapid inventory” team of scientists from the Field Museum of Chicago. Together, with their partners from the Andes-Amazon region, they survey the wildlife and learn as much as they can about the people who live there. The goal: to develop a plan that will protect the rainforest and the inhabitants.

Individual chapters take readers into the field with the fish team, the bird watchers, plant collectors, or the night crew surveying snakes and frogs. Put on your boots and make sure your headlamp has fresh batteries because you’re not returning to camp until you’ve counted and recorded everything that slithers, hops, flies, or crawls.  Meanwhile, other teams are tracking elusive mammals and talking with the locals about how they use and care for the land.

What I like about this book: It feels like an adventure. We travel to the first camp by canoe, and set up tents. Each team gets a chapter that takes readers deep into the field with the scientists. Sidebars add details – sometimes about science technology. Did you know that there’s a fish DNA database called the Fish-Barcode of Life? Another explains why birds don’t like to fly when it’s raining. And the photos! Did I mention them? They are gorgeous! I have to admit that I am smitten by the sweet face of the Southern tamandua. 

photo from the Smithsonian

Turns out, it's an arboreal anteater!

The last two chapters focus on the human connection and making a plan for the future. There’s a brief report – 790 species of plants and 706 species of vertebrates, included some species that may be new to science – and what happens next. You can find out more about this expedition at their website: https://www.rapidinventories.fieldmuseum.org/ri-30

In her author’s note, Jen says that she was inspired by an exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum seven years ago. I wanted to know more!

Me: When did you know you had to write a book about the Inventory Project?

Jen: I spent about an hour or more walking through the rest of the very informative and descriptive exhibit – and during that entire time I just kept thinking, why haven't I heard about this? This needs to be a book for kids! Then I was hit by an overwhelming feeling of excitement, I knew then that I wanted to be the one to tell this story. Less than a week later, I reached out to Dr. Corine Vriesendorp, the head of the Rapid Inventory Project at the time, to request a meeting. 

A few months later, I went back to the museum and met with four of the scientists for interviews and also the PR person to ask if they would support me writing this book. Thankfully, the PR team was very excited about the book.

Jennifer Swanson is an award-winning author of over 50 nonfiction books for children, and founding member of STEAMTeamBooks. You can find out more about her at her website, jenniferswansonbooks.com 

Thanks for dropping by today. On Monday we'll be hanging out at Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with other  bloggers. It's over at Greg Pattridge's blog, Always in the Middle, so hop over to see what other people are reading. Review copy provided by the publisher.