HarperCollins

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling, illustrated by Laura Freeman

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  In case you haven’t read the original book, the young readers’ edition, and/or seen the movie, this picture book tells the story of four women who worked for NASA between 1943 and 2007.  Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were all good at math.  Very good.  This refrain is repeated throughout the story, as each one is shown overcoming the barriers in place for them at school and later on at NASA.  But they succeeded, and their work helped launch the space program and eventually send men to the moon.  As they looked to their careers after that dream had been fulfilled, “Dorothy, Mary, Katherine, and Christine knew one thing: with hard work, perseverance, and a love of math, anything was possible.”  Includes a timeline, additional biographical information about each woman, a glossary, and an author’s note.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Many kids will recognize these women from the movies.  All are inspiring, and emphasize the importance of hard work and the exciting adventures to be found in STEM careers.  Laura Freeman illustrated Fancy Party Gowns, one of my favorite biographies of last year, and does an excellent job here portraying the four women, NASA, and outer space.

Cons:  The story of Christine Darden (who wasn’t portrayed in the movie) didn’t seem as well integrated to the rest of the book as the other three.

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Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  From an early age, Mae Jemison dreamed of becoming an astronaut.  Her mother told her what becomes a repeating refrain in this book: “If you can dream it, if you believe it and work hard for it, anything is possible.”  At school, some kids laughed at her aspiration, and a teacher told her nursing would be a more appropriate profession.  Fortunately, her mother didn’t let her believe this, and Mae promised that one day she would wave to her parents from a spaceship.  The last page shows the adult Mae in her orange space suit and reveals that she did become an astronaut and wave to her mom and dad on Earth.  Includes a page with additional biographical information.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An inspiring story of following your dream, illustrated with engaging round-faced characters and plenty of color.

Cons:  The biographical information is pretty thin.

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Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  Robinson wishes she could be more like her namesake Jackie Robinson, who could stay focused and get the job done even when people were cruel to him.  But Robbie has a short temper, and gets into trouble when she repeatedly fights with her nemesis, a boy named Alex.  To make matters worse, her beloved grandfather, her only family, is having memory problems.  He’s always refused to tell her about her parents, and she worries that he’ll forget and she’ll never learn about them.  When her class is assigned a family tree project, Robbie discovers she’s not the only one worried about loved ones.  She winds up with the guidance counselor, working with three other kids to address their family issues.  One of those kids is Alex, and Robbie begins to understand why he is such a bully.  Just as things at school begin to get better, Robbie has to face a crisis at home.  Slowly and at times reluctantly, she learns how to trust those around her to find solutions that will support both her and her grandfather moving into the future.  256 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  First-time novelist Lindsey Stoddard hits a home run with this touching story of a rough-around-the-edges but loveable protagonist.  Fans of Fish In a Tree will enjoy getting to know Robbie.

Cons:  It seemed like Robbie’s teacher could have been a bit more sensitive to the meltdowns engendered by her family tree project.

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