The Picture Book Buzz - September 2026 Interview with STEAM Team Books Members
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 four authors from 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 this delightful book and its fascinating creative.
"STEAM Team Books is a group of authors who have a STEM/STEAM book releasing in 2026. It includes fiction & nonfiction, trade or educational books.” Check out their website for other interviews, activities, and bios.
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate? What drew you to STEAM books? etc.)
Katy Duffield – We Are the Keystones: Animals that Hold Habitats Together (Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster 9/1/2026) – From the time I was old enough to hold a book, I’ve loved to read. Books bring me immense joy. So, as I grew older, I began to wonder if I could write books that would bring joy to others.
I’ve been writing for children for about thirty years (can that be possible?). I first wrote for children’s magazines, then moved to writing work-for-hire books, and for educational publishers. But what I really wanted to write was picture books, so I began focusing my efforts there.
I’ve written more than 40 books for children. I write both fiction and nonfiction, but what truly holds my heart is lyrical nonfiction—and if I’m writing about a STEAM topic like wildlife or nature, all the better! Nature is full of wonder and mystery, and I never tire of learning about it.
[Author of over 40 books, including Start Your Engines, illustrated by Chiara Galletti (2026), House Finds a Home, illustrated by Jen Corace (2022), and Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals, illustrated by Mike Orodán (2020).]
Laura Perdew – Keystone Plants and Fungi - Meet the Organism Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity (Nomad Press 9/15/2026) – My favorite time of day to write is early morning, before anyone else is up and the house is quiet – that’s when I’m most creative and productive. I usually work at my desk, but I do like to go to coffee shops later in the day (either alone or to meet friends for a “write in”) and to the library. My interest in STEAM books stems from my love of nature and the outdoors – I want to share things about the natural world that amaze me, hoping kids will be as amazed as I am, and inspired to take part in conservation.
[Author of dozens of STEAM books for kids including, The Ocean: Explore a Watery World (2026), Wacky Contraptions: Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist with Hands-On Engineering Activities, illustrated by Micah Rauch (2025), Conservation Success: Protecting Wild Spaces and Species, illustrated by Lex Cornell (2025), Keystone Species: Meet the Animals Key to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity, illustrated by Micah Rauch (2024), Your Sustainable World (2024), Picture Book Science Series – Biome Explorers, illustrated by Lex Cornell (2022), Mammals (Field Guides for Kids) (2021), Picture Book Science Series – Animal Adaptations, illustrated by Katie Mazeika (2020), Crazy Contraptions: Build Rube Goldberg Machines that Swoop, Spin, Stack, and Swivel, illustrated by Micah Rauch (2019), and Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth, illustrated by Tom Casteel (2019.]
Nora Nickum – Wild Medicine: Inventing Ways to Save Endangered Animals (Tilbury House 9/15/2026) – I love to write nonfiction for kids about animal, science, and conservation topics that make me feel wonder, surprise, and hope. For middle grade books, my favorite part of the process is interviewing experts–and then I love choosing great quotes from those interviews to put in the book. While researching Wild Medicine, I got to talk to and learn from fascinating and passionate scientists, wildlife vets, and resource managers around the world, from Washington state to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
[Author of Twelve Daring Greys: A Whale Migration Adventure, illustrated by Elly MacKay (2026), This Book Bubbles Over: From the Ocean to Mars and Everywhere in Between, illustrated by Robert Meganck (2025), This Book Is Full of Holes, illustrated by Robert Meganck (2024), and Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest (2023).]
Karen Nyberg and Ann McCallum Staats – A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream (Familius 9/29/2026) – For this latest book, I had the honor of working with Karen Nyberg—my first experience with a co-author. It was fun to collaborate, and I’m thrilled with the result! My favorite and most productive time of the day is early morning. I love sitting with a pen and paper or at my computer even before the sun rises because there’s something about the energy at that time of day that sparks my creativity. I prefer quiet, too, and don’t usually write in coffee shops or other public places. I’ve made a creative space in my home which is my go-to for writing. My desk faces a window and an expanse of undeveloped parkland. I’ve been at this writing thing for decades. My first book, The Secret Life of Math, was published in 2005. Most of the time since then I was holding down a job and much of it was as a single mom. Writing was my ‘me-time,’ when I snuck away for a few cherished moments. I don’t really have a favorite genre. I’ve written picture books to YA, though mostly nonfiction. I’m grateful for STEAM TEAM which is such a marvelous collection of incredible creatives and friends. I love how we share and discuss each other’s books.
[Ann’s the author of 18 books, including Fantastic Flora: The World’s Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants, illustrated by Zoë Ingram (2025), High Flyers: 15 Inspiring Women Aviators and Astronauts (2024), Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports (2021), and Women Heroes of the U.S. Army: Remarkable Soldiers from the American Revolution to Today (2019). ]
What has been the most interesting or odd experience (you’re willing to share) of your children’s literature career so far?
Katy Duffield – This answer goes all the way back to my first published picture book. I had some interest from a publisher who ended up acquiring the manuscript. The publisher asked me to work on revisions with an editor. So, the editor and I revised back and forth (and back and forth!) over a period of 2-3 months. During that time, the story changed quite a bit, a new character was added, and the word count increased. When we thought the revised manuscript was where we wanted it, we sent the new version back to the publisher. And after those 2-3 months of revision, he read it and said: “I like the original version better.” And the manuscript, which I had originally sent, ended up the version that was published with only a couple of tweaks. You never know, right? 😊
Laura Perdew – A few years ago my agent called and said we needed to have a conversation that also included another client. As it turned out, the other client had written a picture book, and I had written a chapter book that both featured the same topic with the same focus! Our main characters even had the same first name and there were similarities in vocabulary and the solution to the problem – odd indeed! We both made some adjustments to our manuscripts, and ultimately it was never an issue.
Nora Nickum – While researching Wild Medicine, I got to visit Dr. Jason Hodin at Friday Harbor Labs and see how he’s raising sunflower sea stars to try to help rebuild the wild population that was decimated by wasting disease. There were sunflower stars of all different sizes, including a group of three-year-olds that the research team had named Pretzel Bites, and ones that were as big as dinner plates and had names like Crocus and Charlotte. I was fascinated to hear that the research team has observed that different sunflower stars display different personalities–some are more cooperative when they need to be moved, for example, and others are very stubborn.
Ann McCallum Staats – One of the most interesting experiences I’ve had in my writing career has been co-authoring a book with an astronaut. I’ve interviewed a lot of VIPs for my other books (a U.S. senator, jet and commercial pilots, Olympians, a model, and others), but this is the first author collaboration. And with an astronaut! When I was a little girl growing up in rural British Columbia, Canada, I jumped into the space frenzy of the time and dreamed of being an astronaut myself. I didn’t go that route but always admired those who did. I never, ever thought I’d have a chance to work with (and become friends with) a woman who, from a small town like me, actually made space travel a reality. Now Karen and I are embarking on a national book tour this fall which will include events at the Smithsonian Air & Space in DC, Space Center Houston, the National Children’s Museum and other venues in Florida, Oregon, and Washington state.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful experiences! Now that we know a little more about all of you, what sparked your interest and caused you to write or illustrate this book?
Katy Duffield – We Are the Keystones: Animals that Hold Habitats Together (9/1/2026) – At its roots, the idea for the book came from my love of animals. More specifically, when I was researching for my nonfiction picture book Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals (illus. Mike Orodán, S&S/Beach Lane), I ran across the term “keystone species.” I’d heard of keystone species, but I didn’t know a lot about them, so I added the topic to my IDEAs document to delve into at another time. A while later, I did some preliminary research and decided I wanted to pursue the topic. The interconnectedness of nature has always fascinated me, so I thought a book about keystone species would be a good way to share that fascination with young readers. 😊
Laura Perdew – Keystone Plants and Fungi - Meet the Organism Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity (9/15/2026) – As I researched and wrote my book Keystone Species: Meet the Animals Key to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity (Nomad Press, 2024) I learned that keystone plants and fungi can also be keystone species. Not only that, there weren’t any books on the market specifically about keystone plants and fungi for kids or adults. I knew I had to pitch the idea to Nomad to do this second keystone book. Luckily, they agreed!
Nora Nickum – Wild Medicine: Inventing Ways to Save Endangered Animals (9/15/2026) – In 2020, I came across a few intriguing articles about people working to save endangered species from disease outbreaks in the wild and immediately started digging. Wildlife vets and biologists were sneaking up to seals with syringes on long poles, shooting peanut butter pellets across the prairie, and figuring out what flavors Ethiopian wolves liked best, so they’d take their medicine. Fascinating! I knew I wanted to share these stories of creativity, experimentation, and urgent conservation challenges with young readers.
Karen Nyberg and Ann McCallum Staats – A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream (9/29/2026) – I’d interviewed Karen before and included her story in my book for young adults called High Flyers. My focus that time was on her journey and determination to become an astronaut. When we connected later, we talked about the experience of the Astronomical Quilt, a community quilting project initiated by Karen in space. When NASA invited the world to contribute their own star-themed quilt blocks, people from 30 different countries participated. The thousands of quilt blocks sent in nearly overwhelmed the volunteers at NASA who stitched together what turned out to be 28 king-sized quilts. I love this story of connectedness and the metaphor of our world being a patchwork collection of people and places. This story tugs at my heartstrings in a way that is both powerful and profound. It was an honor to write it!
I love that three of these grew from creating prior books and all resulted from the discovery of fascinating facts that begged you to share them. Is there anything special you want your readers to know about your book?
Text © Katy Duffield, 2026. Image © Hannah Salyer, 2026.
Katy Duffield – We Are the Keystones: Animals that Hold Habitats Together (9/1/2026) – It went through SEVERAL iterations! It took me a long time to figure out the best, most interesting way to write this book. I typically struggle with rough drafts in general because I always have this vision in my head of what I want a book to be, but it is SO incredibly hard for me to get that “perfect” vision in my head down on paper. And in this case, it was even harder than usual.
One of the first versions of the book was written in humorous and epistolary style—the animal species that were being helped wrote thank-you notes to their respective keystones. A part of me still loves this version! My editor was interested in a book about keystone species—just not this take on it. So, I tried other structures, other drafts, but none of them worked. I wrote a lyrical version, a super-simple rhyming version, and slogged through countless revisions, but I just couldn’t figure it out.
I finally thought, okay, I’m going to give it one more try, and if this doesn’t work, I may just have to set it aside (at least for a while). I’d like to say that once I decided to do this, that the final version fell perfectly into place. It didn’t. The rhyme added an extra degree of difficulty to presenting the facts. But it did eventually come together, and my editor was on board! 😊
Text © Laura Perdew, 2026. Image © Micah Rauch, 2026.
Laura Perdew – Keystone Plants and Fungi - Meet the Organism Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity (9/15/2026) – The book features keystone plants from around the world, including wildflowers. What that means is that every individual can research the native keystone wildflowers in their area and plant a keystone plant! Planting keystone plants in yards, on balconies, in parks, and elsewhere in the community supports native pollinators that have co-evolved with these plants over millions of years, which in turn supports the greater ecosystem. It’s a simple way to make a difference.
Text © Nora Nickum, 2026.
Nora Nickum – Wild Medicine: Inventing Ways to Save Endangered Animals (9/15/2026) – I really love all the full-color photos in this book, showing the animals and the scientists and vets at work in the field. Gathering photos–and permission to use them–from all different sources for a middle-grade book like Wild Medicine is something that takes an author a lot of time, but it’s so satisfying to find just the right images to bring the stories to life. The Tilbury design team also did a great job with fun, kid-friendly formatting and design in this book. While we could only fit three kinds of animals on the cover, there are a lot of other interesting ones in the book, from gorillas and bats to orcas and corals.
Text © Karen Nyberg & Ann McCallum Staats, 2026. Image © Alida Massari, 2026.
Ann McCallum Staats – A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream (9/29/2026) – Hmm, so much! First, I want to point out that this is a story of a girl who came from humble roots to achieve an incredible accomplishment that few of us will ever have the opportunity to experience. But second and even more importantly, the book prompts us to sit back and appreciate our precious Earth. One of the things that most resonates with me is that when Karen gazed through the cupola of the International Space Station, she saw a world below her that was profoundly complex and stunningly beautiful in a way that we often don’t take the time to appreciate. The Earth, our home, is shared by so many of us and while we are all unique, we’re also all connected. The quilts Karen initiated are a reflection of this diversity.
I also want to share our book trailer that features an original song and photos from Karen’s personal connection. Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Xkc05M5k0.
These are all such amazing books with stunning illustrations and photos. What was the hardest, or most challenging, part of writing, illustrating, or researching your book? Was there a bit of your research you didn’t get to include?
Katy Duffield – We Are the Keystones: Animals that Hold Habitats Together (9/1/2026) – I talked a little about the most challenging part of writing the book in my answer above. Rough drafts are typically torture for me. And writing rhyming nonfiction is tough because you’re trying so hard to adhere strictly to the facts while also employing satisfying rhyme. I didn’t cry through the process, but there were a few times I thought I would! 😊
As far as not being able to include all the research I wanted, at first, I considered including keystone animals and keystone plants in the main text, but, in the end, it made more sense to focus solely on keystone animals. I did want young readers to know that plants can be keystone species, too, so I added that information in the back matter.
Laura Perdew – Keystone Plants and Fungi - Meet the Organism Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity (9/15/2026) – The fact that some plants and fungi play keystone roles in their ecosystem wasn’t discovered until the early 2000s. Because the science is so new, that meant that tracking down information was at times very challenging. Scientists are still making discoveries. In some cases, such as with baobab trees, scientists understand that they play a key role, yet still don’t know much about the trees. Research is ongoing to better understand baobabs, baobab pollinators, how seeds are dispersed, and how climate change impacts them in an effort to protect the trees.
Nora Nickum – Wild Medicine: Inventing Ways to Save Endangered Animals (9/15/2026) – This is a field that is rapidly advancing as people identify more disease threats and try to prevent or treat them in wild animal populations. Between the time I wrote the book proposal and when I had signed a contract and was writing it, California condors had been hit by bird flu. I was able to add a new chapter about that crisis and the work to urgently vaccinate the condors. It was exciting to see how much progress scientists and vets were making, and I tried to keep refreshing my research throughout the writing process to make sure the book was as up-to-date as possible.
Karen Nyberg and Ann McCallum Staats – A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream (9/29/2026) – There is a huge emotional component to A Quilt of Stars, a connection to the quilts and the metaphor of our connected world. Karen and I worked together to not only share the struggle of how she became an astronaut, but also the effect of seeing Earth from the outside and the life-changing revelation of that experience. The challenge was to somehow distill this empathy into a story for young readers and to create something that was not only enjoyable to read but that also resonated and inspired. How could we impart the impact of Karen’s experience into kid-friendly content? As with any picture book, there’s also the nail-biting moment when the author is first shown the illustrations. In this case, Alida did such an incredible job—I was thrilled from the moment I saw her sketches.
Thank you all for sharing these interesting challenges that arose in creating your books. Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
Katy Duffield – I can’t share much, but I have two projects in particular that I’m quite excited about. One has a space component, and the other is set on the prairies of North America.
Laura Perdew – I always have a project (or two or three) that I’m working on. Right now, one that I’m noodling on is a spin-off from the keystone plants book, a NF STEM picture book. I want kids to know about keystone plants and native plants, and understand that there are things they can do in their communities to support wildlife and ecosystems, no matter where they live.
Nora Nickum – I have a picture book coming out next summer with Tilbury House called Desert Manatee, illustrated by Abigail Hookham. When I learned African manatees spend time hundreds of miles upriver in the desert, they’re elusive and hard to spot in the silty water, and the dry season brings drama, I knew I had to write about them and the important research and conservation work led by African Aquatic Conservation Fund. Recently, I have been excited to see Abigail’s sketches for this book, and I can’t wait to see it all come to life!
Ann McCallum Staats – I have another picture book releasing down the road called Whirl and Flow: Wind Moves Our World. It’s a book about the impact of wind on our physical world and, really, the awe and appreciation of this great force. This title will release in a couple of years, so there’s time to wait for this one. I also want to point out again the book tour this fall. A list of events and locations will be posted on my website and shared via social media and hopefully lots of people can come and join the festivities. Thanks so much to the STEAM TEAM for including me in this awesome group!
They all sound intriguing. I wish you the best with these projects/books. We will have to keep our eyes open for them! Last question, who is your STEAM hero or heroine, living or dead (scientist, naturalist, author, teacher, etc.)? Why?
Katy Duffield – Oh, as always with these “favorite” questions, it’s impossible to pick just one—and it can vary from day to day. But if I had to choose someone that immediately comes to mind, it’s Rachel Carson. Carson was a marine biologist, a writer, and early environmentalist who spent her life raising awareness about the importance of protecting nature and all living things. Despite fierce opposition, she exposed the dangers of DDT and forced the government to take action that eventually banned the use of the chemical.
I had the opportunity to write about Rachel for the Core Knowledge Foundation’s Voices in History biographies, and it was an honor to be able to delve more fully into her work and share it with young readers.
Laura Perdew – As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, I don’t have favorites (no favorite color, movie, book…). And related to this question, there are so many people working in STEAM fields, as well as citizen scientists, making contributions to science and to our environment, I could never pick just one person. Through my research I’ve discovered many, many people working tirelessly for one cause or another, making amazing contributions, not because it’s their profession, but because they care. All of these people are an inspiration and a reminder that one person can make a difference.
Nora Nickum – At the Seattle Aquarium, where I work, there are over 100 high schoolers who volunteer as Youth Ocean Advocates. They teach Aquarium visitors about marine animals as well as actions everyone can take to protect the ocean. Many of them also join a lobby day where they urge legislators to pass policies that will protect wildlife and ecosystems. These young people inspire me!
Ann McCallum Staats – A shoutout to the STEAM TEAM of authors who write about topics in this field. Incredible! I’m of course also a major fan of Karen Nyberg and her rise from a modest beginning to earning a PhD in engineering and then to spending months in space. Her story inspires me and touches me in a way that makes me want to try harder and to make sure I’m contributing to the world, too, at least in my small way. I also love how she combines art and science as evidenced by the Astronomical Quilt Project she initiated in space. The last stanza of the book’s theme song exemplifies this concept:
The volunteers in Houston, they gathered in the light
To piece the world together, and to do the stitching right.
Twenty-eight king-sized horizons, assembled row by row
Each block a different story, with a different kind of glow.
They hung them in the hall where sixty thousand came to see
That science and the needle, are the same philosophy.
(Full song and lyrics can be found at: https://zhalindor.com/qos/ )
I love your answers! NOW, let me take a moment to introduce you to these amazing STEAM books!
We Are the Keystones: Animals that Hold Habitats Together by Katy Duffield, illustrated by Hannah Salyer (Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster 9/1/2026) – Poems written from each animal's point of view, which feature three rhyming couplets and the repeating refrain "We are the keystones," enticingly explore how each animal effects their environment and other creatures. Gorgeous illustrations and conversational sidebars expand on the important role of these animals. A great note explains where the term "keystones" comes from and lists more animals and plants as well as additional sources. This is a stunning NF picture book look at the role of keystones.
Synopsis: Meet keystone species—the hidden heroes of the natural world—and learn about the ecosystems they support in this “enchanting…engaging” (School Library Journal, starred review) nonfiction picture book from the author of Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals.
Keystone species are plants, animals, or other organisms that have a huge effect on the environments around them. From beavers to elephants, alligators to hummingbirds, keystones help themselves and other species survive. Whether it’s creating habitats for themselves and other animals, leaving behind leftovers that fertilize the soil, or clearing out harmful algae, keystones live up to their name in their essential contribution to the harmony of our natural world.
Keystone Plants and Fungi - Meet the Organism Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity by Laura Perdew, illustrated by Micah Rauch (Nomad Press 9/15/2026) – Building off the format of Keystone Species, each chapter in the middle grade NF begins with a fun three frame comic featuring the discoveries of two kids. Adding fun sidebars with "an essential question," "words to know," Q-R code video links, and "career and species spotlights" to stunning photographs and an engaging text creates a wonderful look at the amazing keystone features of six plants and fungi, the threats they each face, and conservation efforts to save them. It also includes hands-on research and investigation activities in each chapter and great resources.
Synopsis: A fascinating companion book to Keystone Species!
Why are some plants and fungi more important to an ecosystem than others?
Because they’re keystone plants and fungi!
Every species has a role to play in an ecosystem, but some roles are more significant than others. In Keystone Plants and Fungi: Discover the Organisms Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity, young botanists examine the keystone plants that can make the difference between a thriving ecosystem and a collapsing one. Oak trees, baobab trees, Brazil nut trees, mangroves, saguaro cacti, and certain flowers, grasses, and fungi are all considered keystone species that other species depend upon.
In the 1960s, scientists discovered that keystone species have greater influence on the biodiversity in an ecosystem than other species. Their research revealed that not only do predators play this keystone role in regulating an ecosystem, but so do ecosystem engineers, herbivores, mutualists, and foundational species. Later, the jobs that plants, fungi, and microbes do as keystone species was discovered―this groundbreaking work changed the way we understand ecosystems and food webs.
In this book, learn about keystone plants and fungi―including what happens when they disappear―and examine the ongoing threats to these species and the science-based conservation practices that are in the works to save them.
Keystone Plants and Fungi includes hands-on activities and critical thinking exercises to help all types of learners gain a deeper understanding of keystone plants’ critical roles. These activities, a narrative writing style, fun facts, words-to-know, and primary source links combine to take readers on an exploration of keystone species around the world.
Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
Wild Medicine: Inventing Ways to Save Endangered Animals by Nora Nickum (Tilbury House 9/15/2026) – Diving into the creative solutions, inventions, ingredients, and medicines, that scientists and wild animal veterinarians are using in their challenging and amazing adventures to isolate the diseases threatening sea stars, gorillas, monk seals, bats, deer, wolves, birds, condors, coral, and ferrets, this engaging middle grade NF explores their attempts to save these special endangered species from extinction. Combining "patient profiles" clipboards and stunning photographs into an environmental medical mystery, this terrific STEM book also challenges the reader to think about "What would happen if _____ disappeared?" and "Should we always use medicine?"
Synopsis: Get an up-close look at the work it takes to treat and save endangered species in the wild!
How do scientists and veterinarians protect endangered animals from deadly disease outbreaks when the animals can't be brought in from the wild for treatment? They get creative! Discover how these innovative and dedicated people use everything from peanut butter to darts to hidden cameras in order to treat creatures of all shapes and sizes via stories told directly from those involved. For rare and threatened animals like gorillas, bats, sunflower sea stars, Hawaiian monk seals, and Ethiopian wolves, creative inventions and wild medicine in deep jungles, high mountains, and deserted islands can be the missing puzzle pieces to save them from extinction. Content includes information on how young readers can get involved and make an impact in the effort to keep these creatures from going extinct.
A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream by Karen Nyberg and Ann McCallum Staats, illustrated by Alida Massari (Familius 9/29/2026) – Stitching together the dreams of a young girl who imagined unraveling the mysteries in the silky black night sky as an astronaut, by following her path through a quilt and quilted star images, this stunning STEM NF picture book explores the trajectory of Dr. Karen Nyberg's journey to the international space station. The book beautifully connects her quilting/sewing hobby with her love of space through wonderfully interwoven sewing references, images, and a super special creation. And celebrates how her impression of Earth as a unified patchwork spurred a project which pieced a bit of the world together. This is a very special ode of a remarkable woman.
Synopsis: Stitch together a dream with astronaut Karen Nyberg as she shares her quilt with the world, the stars, and beyond.
What would you do with an impossible dream?
Dr. Karen Nyberg yearned to reach the stars, and when they were finally within grasp, she wanted to share the extraordinary sight with the world. Seeing that the Earth from a distance was like a quilted masterpiece of people and places, she put her skills with needle and thread to use―in space!
When Nyberg lived on the International Space Station, she and NASA invited crafters from around the world to join a project to stitch together a global community quilt. Thousands of people from more than 30 countries stitched quilt squares that were combined to make 28 king-size quilts displayed at the 40th International Quilt Festival in Houston.
With dreamy illustrations from Alida Massari that perfectly capture Nyberg’s starry quilt and fun facts about space on every page, A Quilt of Stars is an accurate retelling of Karen Nyberg’s true story. This book is an inspiration to those in love with STEM and art, teaching children that anyone with a goal, a community, and a dash of persistence can stitch together a dream.
Thank you all for giving us a little peek into yourself and your new books. Wishing you all enormous success with you upcoming projects.
Katy Duffield – We Are the Keystones: Animals that Hold Habitats Together (Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster 9/1/2026) –
Website: https://www.katyduffield.com/
X(Twitter): https://x.com/KatyDuffield
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katysduff/
Laura Perdew – Keystone Plants and Fungi - Meet the Organism Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity (Nomad Press 9/15/2026) –
Website: https://lauraperdew.com/
Nora Nickum – Wild Medicine: Inventing Ways to Save Endangered Animals (Tilbury House 9/15/2026) –
Website: https://www.noranickum.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noranickumbooks
Ann McCallum Staats – A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream (Familius 9/29/2026) –
Website: http://annmccallumbooks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annmsbooks/
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