The Picture Book Buzz - December 2025 Interview with STEAM Team Books Member
- Maria Marshall
- Dec 12, 2025
- 5 min read
Whether you're here to support the STEAM Team authors, curiosity, or because you love nonfiction books, I hope you read to the end because you'll discover some amazing authors and super spectacular books!
Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to an author from the STEAM Team Books – a group of authors and illustrators who joined together to celebrate and help promote their STEAM books. I hope you enjoy this peek at these delightful books and fascinating creatives.
"STEAM Team Books is a group of authors who have a STEM/STEAM book releasing in 2025. It includes fiction & nonfiction, trade or educational books.” Check out their website for other interviews, activities, and bios.
Hello Christine,
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? What is your favorite type of book to write? What drew you to STEAM books? etc.)
My world is made up of books and I love it! I work as a freelance editor and author coach. I specialize in historical fiction and speculative fiction, both adult and kid’s books. There’s never a dull moment as I dive deeply into other people’s manuscripts and root them on to achieve their publication goals. Since I’m an author too, I see the business from both sides which is a benefit because I understand what an author is going through—been there, stressed about that!—but can also share my expertise about the industry from an editor’s perspective.
I’ve been writing as far back as I can remember, beginning with diaries and journals, always keeping a notebook nearby. Being in a critique group keeps me accountable and moving forward, revising, or writing new manuscripts.
My favorite kind of book to write or edit is one that’s entertaining, engaging, and includes elements of fun.
My journey with STEAM books began in 2018 when my (then) third grader suggested I write about underpants. While I also work on fiction, I’m especially excited about how nonfiction books for kids continue to evolve.
[Author of Milkweed for Monarchs, illustrated by Alejandra Barajas (2024) and A Brief History of Underpants, illustrated by Harry Briggs (2021).]
What helps you to be inspired? (perhaps a certain place, music, activity, etc.)
The outdoors inspires me. For example, I may wonder how something fits into the “big picture.” Our world is a fascinating place. Once I have a hint of an idea I begin gathering facts and researching related books. From there, if my idea seems worth pursuing, I use different storytelling structures until I find one that feels right.
Now that we know a little more about you, what sparked your interest and caused you to write The Legendary Life Story of the Lever: How a Deceptively Simple Machine Moves the World Forward (Mighty Models Series) (Union Square Kids 12/9/2025)?
I was approached by the publisher with their plans for a series where simple machines are somewhat personified in scenes throughout history, showing how important simple machines have been in our lives. When they told me that the books would feature easy-to-build working models of a catapult (Lever) and a clock (Cogwheel), I was in! I enjoy taking lesson information that kids are learning in school and showcasing it in new, fun ways.
If the cover is any indication, this will be a very entertaining book. What makes you passionate about being a children’s author?
Kids have so much curiosity about the world. It’s exciting to write books that answer some of their questions but also open up discussions beyond what’s shown in the text and art.
Is there anything special you want your readers to know about The Legendary Life Story of the Lever?
Text © Christine Van Zandt, 2025. Image © Lesley Breen, 2025.
The working catapult model is neat! It’s made of solid materials and comes together quickly. Kids will enjoy launching the four included “boulders.” If you have cat, this is your new cat toy! If not, it’s a thrill to aim and hit targets.
This looks like fun to make and experiment with. What was the hardest, or most challenging, part of writing or researching The Legendary Life Story of the Lever? Was there a bit of your research you didn’t get to include?
Text © Christine Van Zandt, 2025. Image © Lesley Breen, 2025.
This series is a result of two collaborating publishing houses, which was amazing. Each book includes ten scenes. For example, how levers were used from the Ice Age to the Space Age. The teams working on this book were tasked with showing the lever in historical context and providing information about that period in time—the people, the inventions, etc. Also include are kid-friendly step-by-step technical descriptions of the lever in use (i.e., thrust, velocity, fulcrum, effort, etc.). Team members designed, tested, and built those amazing models.
As with many nonfiction books, the info found when researching had to be whittled down; only a small portion of the content submitted ended up making the final. The book’s text is spare.
It is so engaging and enough information to make you want to try each of these levers. Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
Yes! If you enjoy reading about simple machines or if you teach that in your classroom, watch for Cogwheel in April 2026.
After that, I have a funny nonfiction picture book that’s narrated by a dachshund, Hot Dog! The History of America’s Favorite Sausage (Odd Dot, May 2026).
These both look intriguing and I am excited to see them next year. Last question: What animal or natural feature (place) do you want to learn more about? Why?
Kraken fascinate me, so I’ve been reading about them lately—books such as H. P. Newquist’s MG, Here There Be Monsters: The Legendary Kraken and the Giant Squid and Ben Hubbard’s CB, What Do We Know About the Kraken?
NOW, let me take a moment to introduce you to this amazing STEAM book!
The Legendary Life Story of the Lever: How a Deceptively Simple Machine Moves the World Forward (Mighty Models Series) by Christine Van Zandt, and illustrated by Lesley Breen (Union Square Kids 12/9/2025)?
Channeling "Clippie," a cute, smiling red lever with an eyeball offers sidebar headings about the ways it's able to help people throw things farther and faster, weigh things, lift loads, launch objects, make books, and protect castles, and help in numerous other ways. In addition to a look at the lever's benefits, the succinct text and engaging illustrations take the reader through a wonderful historic journey (from 11,000—10,000 BCE to 2000's) to witness the resulting changes in society which levers facilitated. Kids will love the included catapult craft included with the book.
Synopsis: Kids will discover the importance of the lever and its crucial role in history from ancient civilizations to the modern day; perfect for fans of The Highlights Book of How and The New Way Things Work.
Think a lever is just a plank of wood? Think again! Levers have been used to hunt mammoths, raise the Great Wall, and even defend the Crown Jewels.
This Mighty Models title highlights ten important key moments in which the lever leveled up in history—from being a spear-thrower to a robotic arm. Plus, readers build their own working catapult using the included build-it-yourself model to see the power of the lever in action!
Christine Van Zandt’s nonfiction STEM book, ideal for readers 5 to 8 and up, captures the marvels of early machinery in an engaging, interactive, and innovative format for budding engineers, historians, and scientists.
Thank you Christine for giving us a little peek into yourself and your new book. Wishing you enormous success with you upcoming projects.
To learn more about Christine Van Zandt, or to contact her:
Website: https://christinevanzandt.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinevanzandt9
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/christinevz
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