Follow a carbon atom on its incredible adventure over billions of years. It’s been part of many things—from early volcanic gases, to plants that dinosaurs devoured, to your breakfast burp!
By award-winning children’s author Melissa Stewart, this epic nonfiction picture book for 5-8-year-olds is a perfect blend of science and history that STEM-seekers will eat up!
Long ago, the young Earth crashed into a smaller body called Theia. Matter blasted through space, and the carbon atom was trapped deep inside Earth until a volcano erupted, thrusting tons of ash and gases—including the carbon atom—high into the sky.
Over millions of years, the carbon atom has been part of all kinds of things, including plants and dinosaurs, eggshells and seashells, a lump of coal, and even a sheet of toilet paper! Not long ago, it became part of a towering maple tree and then a drop of maple syrup. Just imagine that the syrup ended up on YOUR pancakes and then inside your body. And when you let out a deep breath, the carbon left your lungs, met up with a blast of gas from your stomach, and . . . BURP!
You never know where a carbon atom will go next. . . . Get ready to take off on a wild ride, From BAM! to BURP!
The life and history of the carbon atom. Stewart and Álvarez Miguéns presents their subjects as affable characters traveling through space and time, exploring the universe, and entering our bodies. In conversational, child-friendly language, the author defines an atom and explains how carbon atoms landed on Earth (the “BAM” of the title), rearranged themselves by joining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, erupted from a volcano, and carried on to visit all of Earth. In one example, a carbon molecule travels through a tree leaf and joins up with oxygen and hydrogen molecules to form glucose. Eaten by a dinosaur, the carbon atom is later exhaled out into the atmosphere. Stewart digs up some fun places carbon atoms can be found, like a crab shell, a lump of coal, and even the maple syrup that smothers a stack of pancakes, which a brown-skinned child gobbles up, thereby ingesting many carbon atoms. The youngster gets a burst of energy and later emits the “BURP” of the title. Stewart’s extensive backmatter expands upon the nuts and bolts of carbon atoms, responding to questions such as “How much of my body is made of carbon?” or “Could a carbon atom that’s in my body now have spent time in a dinosaur?” ÁlvarezMiguéns’ digital illustrations depict the carbon atom with big, charming eyes and theatrically gesturing arms. She deftly spotlights the atoms as they travel and rearrange themselves. A science tale told with pizzazz. —Kirkus Reviews
Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than one hundred fifty science books for children. She holds degrees in biology and science journalism. Recent books include No Monkeys, No Chocolate; Under the Snow Tree (Peachtree, 2009); and the A Place for series (Peachtree). She lives in Acton, Massachusetts.
View titles by Melissa Stewart
Follow a carbon atom on its incredible adventure over billions of years. It’s been part of many things—from early volcanic gases, to plants that dinosaurs devoured, to your breakfast burp!
By award-winning children’s author Melissa Stewart, this epic nonfiction picture book for 5-8-year-olds is a perfect blend of science and history that STEM-seekers will eat up!
Long ago, the young Earth crashed into a smaller body called Theia. Matter blasted through space, and the carbon atom was trapped deep inside Earth until a volcano erupted, thrusting tons of ash and gases—including the carbon atom—high into the sky.
Over millions of years, the carbon atom has been part of all kinds of things, including plants and dinosaurs, eggshells and seashells, a lump of coal, and even a sheet of toilet paper! Not long ago, it became part of a towering maple tree and then a drop of maple syrup. Just imagine that the syrup ended up on YOUR pancakes and then inside your body. And when you let out a deep breath, the carbon left your lungs, met up with a blast of gas from your stomach, and . . . BURP!
You never know where a carbon atom will go next. . . . Get ready to take off on a wild ride, From BAM! to BURP!
Praise
The life and history of the carbon atom. Stewart and Álvarez Miguéns presents their subjects as affable characters traveling through space and time, exploring the universe, and entering our bodies. In conversational, child-friendly language, the author defines an atom and explains how carbon atoms landed on Earth (the “BAM” of the title), rearranged themselves by joining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, erupted from a volcano, and carried on to visit all of Earth. In one example, a carbon molecule travels through a tree leaf and joins up with oxygen and hydrogen molecules to form glucose. Eaten by a dinosaur, the carbon atom is later exhaled out into the atmosphere. Stewart digs up some fun places carbon atoms can be found, like a crab shell, a lump of coal, and even the maple syrup that smothers a stack of pancakes, which a brown-skinned child gobbles up, thereby ingesting many carbon atoms. The youngster gets a burst of energy and later emits the “BURP” of the title. Stewart’s extensive backmatter expands upon the nuts and bolts of carbon atoms, responding to questions such as “How much of my body is made of carbon?” or “Could a carbon atom that’s in my body now have spent time in a dinosaur?” ÁlvarezMiguéns’ digital illustrations depict the carbon atom with big, charming eyes and theatrically gesturing arms. She deftly spotlights the atoms as they travel and rearrange themselves. A science tale told with pizzazz. —Kirkus Reviews
Author
Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than one hundred fifty science books for children. She holds degrees in biology and science journalism. Recent books include No Monkeys, No Chocolate; Under the Snow Tree (Peachtree, 2009); and the A Place for series (Peachtree). She lives in Acton, Massachusetts.
View titles by Melissa Stewart
