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5-star rated on Amazon

How does crude oil become gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel?

Fueling Curiosity makes refinery science easy to understand with a STEM book and an interactive browser game for curious kids, parents, teachers, and engineers.

38 pages 10-minute read Free browser game

Pick your starting point: play first, or jump into the book. Also available free with Kindle Unlimited.

Interactive browser game Preview of The Great Refinery Run browser game Play through the refinery for free in browser 🎮 Play The Great Refinery Run STEM picture book Fueling Curiosity book cover showing a colorful illustrated refinery with the alphabet letters A through Z Read the refinery story 📚 Get the Book on Amazon

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Want The Free STEM Activity Pack?

Get printable refinery coloring pages, vocabulary, discussion prompts, and a simple classroom activity for your aspiring engineers.

What happens to crude oil after it comes out of the ground?

Fueling Curiosity introduces readers to the fascinating world of petroleum refining through clear explanations, approachable language, and engaging illustrations.

For Kids

From A is for Acid to Z is for Zeolite, each letter explores a real concept using friendly storytelling to demystify an industry that quietly powers everyday life.

For Parents & Educators

A special “Beyond the ABCs” section dives deeper, explaining how refinery decisions involve tradeoffs between cost, efficiency, and production.

Real Science, Fast

Get a window into one of the most complex industrial systems in the world. In just 38 pages and 10 minutes, you'll walk away with a baseline understanding that most readers never get.

A Sneak Peek Inside the Refinery...

Aa is for Acid

Refineries use very strong acids to help small fuel pieces stick together. This makes clean, valuable gasoline.

Ff is for FCC

The FCC is the refinery's molecule splitter. It uses tons of tiny helper beads, called catalyst. These beads break big oil molecules into smaller, useful pieces for gasoline and diesel.

Why This Book Exists

Oil refineries power modern life — but for most people, they remain a mystery. Fueling Curiosity was created to make one of the world’s most important engineering systems easier to understand, less intimidating, and far more accessible for families, students, and educators.

The goal is simple: make real industrial science understandable enough to spark better questions, deeper learning, and maybe even the next generation of engineers.

What Readers Are Saying

Readers are loving the combination of real refinery science, approachable explanations, and the companion game.

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This book was the perfect way to show my kids what I do all day at work. The pictures are perfect for kids and the topics are spot on.

My 4 year old is so interested in my job at an oil refinery she can name half of the units, and after this book she’s asking even more questions!

— Laura K.

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What a great read. This totally “fueled” my curiosity in what the refinery is like. It was cool to see how the cracking process worked to separate the oil into different useable fuels.

If the book wasn’t enough, the game that came along with it was even more fun after knowing a bit about the process.

— Lisa Waters

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Amazing book for kids and adults who are curious about the refining industry at a basic level. Highly recommend!

— Andrew Shows

For Schools & Industry Partners

Looking for the perfect STEM resource for your facility's next community outreach event, school sponsorship, or employee family day? Fueling Curiosity is an ideal way to connect local students with the incredible engineering happening right in their backyard.

  • ✓ Tiered discounts for bulk and wholesale orders
  • ✓ Perfect for science fairs and library donations
  • ✓ Direct shipping options available
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About the Author

With a background in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and hands-on experience managing complex refinery operations, Taylor Bloomquist is passionate about making STEM concepts accessible. Taylor wrote Fueling Curiosity so families could finally understand the vital engineering and dedicated workforce that quietly power our modern world.

Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn →

Ready to spark their curiosity?

Fueling Curiosity book cover showing a colorful illustrated refinery with the alphabet letters A through Z 📚 Get Fueling Curiosity on Amazon

Available in Paperback & Free on Kindle Unlimited