Adrian Dingle—Awesome Chemistry Experiments for Kids: 40 STEAM Science Projects and Why They Work

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Chemistry for Kids

AWESOME CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS:
40 STEAM SCIENCE PROJECTS AND WHY THEY WORK
Adrian Dingle
Rockridge Press (Callisto Media), June 15, 2021, $14.99
ISBN-10: 1648766145, ISBN-13: 978-1648766145

Dingle reports:

When I was approached to write this book, a work for hire project, I had no experience working with Callisto Media. The project also represented writing in an area of junior chemistry that is certainly not my specialty. Most of my chemistry teaching and writing experience sits a long way away from the hands-on, STEAM labeled, “fun” market that this book was to target.

Callisto essentially works backwards. It chooses titles for publication purely upon the analysis of big data: what consumers are searching for and therefore, what will (potentially) sell. Callisto’s projects have deadlines that are incredibly tight, fees are fixed, and the work is usually quite demanding. Despite those challenges, I’m happy to take on almost any project at least once, so I had a healthy dose of excitement delving into the unknown on this one!

Adrian Dingle

On the plus side, as I discovered, the author gets great support from a huge team of people working on all aspects of writing, producing, and marketing the book. I had a mostly positive experience, but I would acknowledge that this is not the type of work that all would enjoy.

The book provides 40, “do at home” chemistry experiments for kids and their parents that utilize household items or other, simple to obtain materials. These include classics such as the density tower, and some less well-known experiments such as using turmeric as an acid-base indicator and coffee-filter chromatography of grass. All come with the chemistry explanations appropriate for 5-10 year-old readers.

This is the sixth book in the Awesome STEAM series by Rockridge Press (Callisto Media).

For more on the Callisto model, see:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-its-like-writing-book-callisto-media-jess-zafarris-?articleId=6625420274919624705

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/83961-pandemic-success-highlights-rockridge-press-s-data-driven-strategy.html

Contact info:

Adrian Dingle, 404-434-1488, adrian@adriandingleschemistrypages.com, https://www.adriandingleschemistrypages.com, https://www.adriandingleschemistrypages.com/blog, @adchempages
Book: https://www.adriandingleschemistrypages.com/booksdivi/
Publicity Requests: publicity@callistomedia.com

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Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

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