Tom Casteel is an illustrator and cartoonist that graduated from the Center for Cartoon Studies in 2011. He has illustrated over two dozen books for Nomad Press. He lives in South Bend, Indiana with his wife, son, two smelly dogs and one old cat.
Website: tomcasteel.blogspot.com
How does a car move from one place to another? How do cranes lift such heavy objects? From ancient times to now, engines have powered people’s lives. Engines! With 25 Science Projects for Kids invites readers ages 7 to 10 to explore engines and deepen their understanding of the history of engines, what makes them hum, and all the special jobs they do for humans. Engines! also examines some of the ways mechanical innovation has...
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Have you ever wondered why you look the way you do? The answer lies in your human genome, the code of life. The Human Genome: Mapping the Blueprint of Human Life investigates the fascinating world of genetics and the human genome. Kids ages 12 to 15 learn the basics of how genes work, how DNA is structured, and how genetic inheritance happens. Explore the discoveries scientists have made about the human genome and how these...
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What is the most complex machine on earth? The human body! With Inside the Human Body, readers ages 12 to 15 peel back the layers to take a look inside this amazing machine and learn basic anatomy—bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs. We also explore the body’s physiology and how its organs work together to allow us to function and survive. Take a ride through the different organ systems, including the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular...
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What ’s it like outside? Is it a day for building a snowman, constructing a sandcastle, or planting a garden? Weather and Climate! With 25 Science Projects for Kids introduces kids ages 7 to 10 to the fascinating world of meteorology and all of the ways what’s going on in the atmosphere above our heads can affect us here on the earth! Plus, discover how weather and climate change are linked but not the same, and figure out ways to be...
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Drip—Drop—Splash! Water is essential to all forms of life. So let’s learn all about it! The Water Cycle! With 25 Science Projects for Kids captures kids’ imaginations with a deep look at the world of water. Combining hands-on activities with history and science, The Water Cycle invites kids to have fun learning about the water cycle, water resources, drinking water and sanitation, water pollution and conservation, water use, water folklore and festivals, and the latest...
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Everyone knows what a rock is, but do you know what a rock is made of? And how it was made? And what it’s good for? Rocks and Minerals! With 25 Science Projects for Kids invites kids ages 7 to 10 on a tour of the fascinating world of the geological forces that create and transform rocks, including the life cycle of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and what they can tell us about the...
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Have you ever felt the ground beneath your feet move in an earthquake? Have you ever had to ride out a blizzard at home? Natural Disasters! With 25 Science Projects for Kids guides kids ages 7 to 10 through a scientific introduction to the forces behind extreme meteorological events. Earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, wildfires, and more affect people around the world and appear in the news almost daily. Plus, climate change adds more fuel to storms,...
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What was it like to live in ancient Rome? Are ancient Roman roads still used today? What did ancient Romans wear and eat and do for fun? Ancient Civilizations: Romans! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids investigates the fascinating civilization of ancient Rome through 25 hands-on projects, games, essential questions, links to online resources, and more! Kids ages 7 to 10 learn about ancient Roman homes, food, playtime, clothing, conquests, gods, and entertainment. Explore...
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Who invented democracy? Where were the Olympics first held? Who were some of the first people to use math? All of these questions and more are explored in Ancient Civilizations: Greeks! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids. In this book, kids ages 7 to 10 learn about ancient Greek homes, food, playtime, clothing, conquests, arts and entertainment, gods, and more. Fascinating links between today’s world and ancient Greek culture offer opportunities for real-world connections...
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Did the ancient Egyptians have pets? Why were the kings of ancient Egypt buried in pyramids? What did kids do for fun in ancient Egypt? Ancient Civilizations: Egyptians! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids takes readers on a journey through the land of the Nile, making stops to study the pyramids, learn about the kings and queens who ruled this land—including the famed King Tutankhamun—discover what ordinary people ate, played, and wore for clothing,...
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Why were there more than 3,000 steps built at Machu Picchu? Why did the Aztecs roam Mexico for nearly 200 years before finding a place to settle? How did the Maya study the movements of the stars and the planets? Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids takes kids ages 7 through 10 on a guided tour to experience the history, culture, economics, and daily life of the Aztecs, Maya,...
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Where was the last time you saw a robot? Did you read about one in a book or see one in a movie? Maybe you saw one in a video game! Some people think robots exist only in our imagination, but actually, robots are all around us right now. Robotics: With 25 Science Projects for Kids offers readers ages 7 to 10 an introduction to the history, mechanics, and future use of robots! Readers explore the...
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What would happen if you had no bones? You might fall over flat on the floor! Bones are those hard parts of our bodies that make up our skeletons and skulls, and we need them in lots of different ways. In Skulls and Skeletons! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, readers learn about the bones in their bodies and why we can’t live without them. And bones aren’t just good for humans—many animals can’t live...
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From the tallest tree to the smallest microbe, Earth is home to more than 1.5 million known species of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and microorganisms. And scientists estimate there could be millions, if not billions, more that have not yet been identified! Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth with Environmental Activities for Kids introduces middle schoolers to the evolution of life on Earth, beginning with the first single-celled organisms that emerged 3.8 billion...
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Earthquakes, tidal waves, erupting volcanoes . . . When natural disasters happen, they grab headlines around the world. People, creatures, and the environment are all impacted when nature gets out of control. Natural disasters can be upsetting to live through and an experience you think about for a long time. But scientists today understand their causes and how we can protect ourselves and others. Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth’s Most Destructive Forces with 25 Projects teaches...
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What are the forces behind projectiles? Why do rocks and rockets soar through the air in an arch? The game is on the line. You crouch, you shoot—will the ball go in the basket? You might think that nailing a three-pointer is just luck, but there are many forces at work that determine if you’ve made a game-winning shot. In Projectile Science: The Physics Behind Kicking a Field Goal and Launching a Rocket with Science...
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What is industrial design? Why do microwaves open with a swinging front door? Why aren't smartphones round? In Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren't Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids, readers ages 10–15 engage in and learn about the engineering design process from its earliest beginnings, when individuals designed and crafted their own tools, to today, when engineers work to find the best design for products that are then manufactured in bulk by automated...
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Why are rivers and streams important to life on Earth? In Rivers and Streams! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, readers ages 7 to 10 dive in and discover how rivers change the shape of the land while plants, animals, and humans change the shape of rivers. Kids learn about the vital role that rivers and streams have played in human history and explore the ways rivers and streams might affect our future. Talking about...
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What kinds of plants and animals live in marshes and swamps? The places where land and water meet are some of the most fascinating places on earth, where a rich diversity of plants and animals make their homes. In Marshes and Swamps! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, readers ages 7 to 10 explore wetlands through hands-on STEM projects that deepen their understanding of these special places. Come for a tour of these living laboratories and...
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Why is the ocean important for humans and for the Earth? In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. Meet a giant squid with eyes the...
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What kind of life can you find in lakes and ponds? Lakes and Ponds! With 25 Science Projects for Kids invites readers ages 7 though 10 to investigate the bodies of water that might look calm from the shore but which are teeming with life and activity! Through fun facts and engaging content, kids explore the plants and animals living in lakes and ponds, from fish darting about to dragonfly nymphs gestating in the shallows...
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Have you seen a dodo bird recently? Do you have mastodons playing in your back yard? Not likely-these species are extinct. In Earth's 4.5-billion-year history, more than 5 billion species have gone extinct, some of them at the same time. In Extinction: What Happened to the Dinosaurs, Mastodons, and Dodo Birds? readers ages 9 to 12 learn about the scientific detective work scientists perform to find the culprit behind mass extinctions. Introduces students to the...
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Westward ho! If you travel across certain parts of the United States, you can still see wagon wheel ruts where people crossed the West in search of more opportunity and better lives more than 200 years ago! The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country From Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad offers readers ages 9 to 12 a fascinating look at the explorers and settlers who traveled this route during the westward expansion...
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Why did terrorists attack the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001? The answer to that question is ancient, complicated, and crucial to a perceptive understanding of the global community we live in today. In Terrorism: Violence, Intimidation, and Solutions for Peace, readers ages 12 to 15 explore the history, causes, psychology, and potential solutions to the problem of terrorism in an objective way that promotes comprehension and empowerment. Investigating previous events in the world's...
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Who is the lady who floated to the moon? Did a monkey really hatch from an egg? Did tears bring down the Great Wall of China? Does the sky rest on the legs of a turtle? In Explore Ancient Chinese Myths! With 25 Great Projects, readers ages 7 to 10 soar on a journey through ancient China to learn about history, geography, science, and art through stories that have been told and retold for thousands...
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About 11 million people were killed during the Holocaust, when the Nazi regime carried out systemic mass murder of Jewish people, Soviet civilians, criminals, the disabled, mentally ill, and other groups of people. In The Holocaust: Racism and Genocide in World War II, readers ages 12 to 15 learn about the long history of anti-Semitism and the events of one of the deadliest genocides in history. Uses primary sources to engage readers in scholarly deconstruction...
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In Innovators: The Stories Behind the People Who Shaped the World with 25 Projects, readers ages 9 to 12 learn about the people behind some of the products, processes, and improvements that produce the reality in which we live. Encourages readers to connect historic innovations to current products and processes. Enrichment activities integrate STEAM skills and encourage readers to engage in the material at a practical level.
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In The Underground Railroad: Navigate the Journey from Slavery to Freedom, learn about the tens of thousands of African American men, women, and children who risked their lives to gain their freedom, and the thousands more who risked their lives to help. The institution of slavery and the escape of slaves to freedom continues to affect today's world and is prevalent in news stories that readers are exposed to. Uses primary sources to engage readers...
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In The U.S. Constitution: Discover How Democracy Works, children ages 9–12 learn about the foundation of democracy in the United States and how the documents crafted hundreds of years ago still have an impact on our country today. Integrates democracy with civics, social studies, language arts, and history. Readers use critical thinking skills to deconstruct the meaning of language used at different periods in American history. Examines the founding and structure of the U.S. government...
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Alien civilizations, artificial intelligence, time travel–is there any truth in these exciting ideas? In The Science of Science Fiction, readers ages 12–15 explore the science behind classic and modern science fiction stories, many of which inspired today's inventors and innovators. Encourages intellectual exploration of appealing science fiction franchises such as Star Wars and Jurassic World. Draws readers along critical thinking pathways as they connect science fiction to fact. Provides a number of exercises in STEAM...
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Human Migration: Investigate the Global Journey of Humankind retraces the paths of our ancestors, from our common roots in Africa to the complexity of today's immigration practices, and invites readers ages 12 to 15 to explore questions about political conflict, environmental challenges, and the future of human migration. Readers engage in problem solving in many different disciplines, including math, archaeology, anthropology, engineering, and genetics. This text is interdisciplinary in nature and provides links to the...
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In The Great Depression: Experience the 1930s from the Dust Bowl to the New Deal, readers ages 12 to 15 compare and contrast the America of today with an America that saw extreme unemployment, food riots, the Dust Bowl, the invention of the analog computer, and the first splitting of the atom. The 1930s was a pivotal time in American history and has had lasting consequences on the consciousness of an entire generation of Americans....
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If our vision were to improve 1 million times, we would be able to see microbes in the air, on our skin, in the dirt, in water, and on food! In Microbes: Discover an Unseen World, readers journey through several different microbial worlds to encounter bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists, and archaea populations. In this book, kids are granted access to an encompassing view of microbial worlds that collide with our own on a daily basis....
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Why do we do and say the things we do and say? The Brain: Journey Through the Universe Inside Your Head introduces students to the fascinating world of the human brain and its effect on behavior. Readers learn about the main anatomy and functions of the brain while discovering the brain's role in learning, memory, communication, and emotions. Kids are also introduced to the effects of sleep, alcohol, and exercise on our most complex organ....
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The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence shows readers how rebel soldiers fought in horrific conditions while their families back home faced their own hardships for the sake of freedom. Students examine primary sources to discover the truth about events leading up to the war and engage in vibrant debate, strategic planning, and literary deconstruction to understand the official documents upon which America is founded. Hands-on projects engage readers' design skills while essential questions...
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Does your coat have a zipper? Did you eat breakfast with a fork? You’re using simple machines! From butter knives to seesaws, rolling pins to catapults, we are surrounded by simple machines! Simple Machines! With 25 Science Projects for Kids astounds readers with the ingenuity they already possess and inspires them to look differently at the objects they use every day. What do a fork and an axe have in common? How do pulleys get...
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The environment is all around us, whether you live in a city, suburb, or the country. Sometimes, it’s easy to ignore. But forgetting about the environment isn’t an option if we want our planet to be healthy! Planet Earth: Finding Balance on the Blue Marble with Environmental Science Activities for Kids introduces middle grade readers to all the parts of the natural world, including the oceans, the atmosphere, the earth, and everything in between. In...
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Revised in 2012 Maya: Amazing Inventions You Can Build Yourself introduces readers ages 9-12 to the world of the ancient Maya, the most advanced and mysterious civilization of the New World. From ceremonial masks to hieroglyphics, and calendars to musical instruments, Maya: Amazing Inventions You Can Build Yourself gives readers a chance to experience how the Maya lived, cooked, worshipped, entertained themselves, and interacted with their neighbors through hands on building projects that use common...
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That potato chip bag you tossed in your trash can this afternoon—where does it go when it leaves your house? Garbage: Follow the Path of Your Trash with Environmental Science Activities for Kids invites middle graders to investigate the world of trash! The average American produces more than four pounds of trash every day—multiply that by 300 million people and you’ve got a lot of garbage! Where does it go? How does it break down?...
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Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration offers a fascinating look at the explorers and their voyages during the Age of Exploration and Discovery. Readers ages 9–12 can delve into the expeditions of Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, John Cabot, Hernán Cortés, and more. Using common household items and minimal supervision, kids enjoy 22 hands-on activities to help them learn about these legendary explorers and their voyages. Discover how...
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What’s the difference between a desert and a rain forest? A tundra and a coniferous forest? These are all examples of biomes, and they are all home to plants and animals that are uniquely adapted to live in those environments! In Biomes: Discover the Earth’s Ecosystems with Environmental Activities for Kids, middle school kids journey across the planet and visit the world’s nine terrestrial and aquatic biomes to learn about the distinctive climates, geologies, resources,...
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To a child, a city is a chaotic, vibrant community whose workings can seem quite mysterious. How did people create subways? How does the water get to the very top of a skyscraper? Is there any organization to a bustling metropolis? Cities: Discover How They Work will give kids a view into the inner functioning of these urban areas. They'll learn about all the parts that come together to make cities work and how they've...
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