This Librarian's Quick Picks: Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
Harper (Nov. 2016)
Narrative Nonfiction

What It's All About:

Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African-American women who lived through the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.

Why You'll Love It:

• In any context, these women’s contributions to science and aerospace technology would be impressive, but the obstacles imposed by the norms of their society make their achievements all the more impressive.
• There's already lots of interest generated from the movie in theaters right now.
• Shetterly's book offers up a crucial history that had previously and unforgivably been lost. We'd do well to put this book into the hands of young women who have long since been told that there's no room for them at the scientific table.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 5th-8th graders.




What Else You Should Read:

• Breakthrough! How 3 People Saved "Blue Babies" & Changed Medicine Forever by Jim Murphy
• Radioactive! How Irene Curie & Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World by Winifred Conkling
• Sally Ride: A Photobiography of America's Pioneering Woman in Space by Tam O'Shaughnessy

Books by Theme: Women in Science

Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
William Morrow (2016)

In this debut, Shetterly shines a much-needed light on the bright, talented, and wholly underappreciated geniuses of the institution that would become NASA. Called upon during the labor shortage of World War II, these women were asked to serve their country and put their previously overlooked skills to work-all while being segregated from their white coworkers. The author tells the compelling stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden as they navigated mathematical equations, the space race, and the civil rights movement over three decades of brilliant computing and discoveries. The professional and private lives of the ladies of Langley Research Center are documented through an impassioned and clearly well-researched narrative. Readers will learn how integral these women were to American aeronautics and be saddened by the racism and sexism that kept them from deserved recognition. Shetterly's highly recommended work offers up a crucial history that had previously and unforgivably been lost. We'd do well to put this book into the hands of young women who have long since been told that there's no room for them at the scientific table.

Rise of the Rocket Girls
Nathalia Holt
Little, Brown (2016)

We take so much for granted now, but in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, women who wanted a career other than homemaker were mostly limited to becoming teachers, nurses, or secretaries, and there was no such thing as maternity leave. However, a few smart young women who loved math were hired to be human computers for the Jet Propulsion Lab in California. What we think of as computers now hadn't been invented yet. These women spent their days writing equations and computing numbers with pencils, paper, and slide rules to give the male engineers the information they needed to build rockets, satellites, and space shuttles. This selection will surprise and thrill teens not only because it honors the crucial work of these female scientists but also because it shows their individual humanity-their favorite fashions, their personal relationships-within the broader context of the international space race, changes in U.S. society brought about by feminism and integration, and transformations in American daily life brought about by evolving technology. Teen book clubs will enjoy discussing the pros and cons of all-female work groups, the costs and benefits of space exploration, and more. Readers will want to search online for information about the Juno probe, mentioned in the "1970s-Today" section as orbiting Jupiter in July 2016. The extensive notes section details the many first-person interviews conducted by the author, plus the archival materials she used. An engaging, inspiring offering that will appeal to fans of history, science, and feminism.

Glass Universe

by Dava Sobel
Viking (2016)

When we think of computers, we usually think of devices that perform processes to store and process data. In the mid-19th century, the Harvard College Observatory began employing women as computers to calculate distances and interpret spatial data. Award-winning science journalist Sobel (Longitude; Galileo's Daughter) tells their story. Relying on letters, memoirs, and diaries, she describes their significant contributions to the emerging discipline of astronomy at a time when stellar photography had begun to have a tremendous impact on how data was gathered and interpreted. Sobel provides details of the persistent work inequities these women confronted. They earned less pay than their male counterparts and were not properly acknowledged through membership in professional societies or with available awards. Sobel's book records the impact of women such as Annie Jump Cannon, who designed a stellar classification system adopted by astronomers across the globe. Though this title isn't intended as a discipline-specific monograph, at times, it bogs readers down in scientific minutiae. Readers who enjoyed Sobel's previous work will welcome this new title. It is a terrific catalog to match the exceptional work these women created in the course of their careers.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared To Dream
by Tanya Lee Stone
Candlewick (2009)

Stone adopts a tone of righteous indignation in chronicling the quixotic efforts of 13 women to win admission into NASA's initial astronaut training program in the early 1960s. The women were all pilots (one, Jerrie Cobb, had more hours in the air than John Glenn or Scott Carpenter), earned high scores in preliminary tests, and even counted a senator's wife among their number. But resistance came from all directions-including NASA regulations, which were weighted toward men; media coverage that reflected contemporary gender expectations; political maneuvering by then vice president LBJ and other officials; and the crushing opposition expressed by renowned aviatrix Jackie Cochran in a 1962 Congressional hearing. Properly noting, however, that losing "depends on where you draw the finish line," the author closes with chapters on how women did ultimately win their way into space-not only as mission specialists, but also as pilots and commanders. Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the "Mercury 13," this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation

Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation
by Peggy Thomas; illustrated by Stacy Innerst
Calkins Creek (Sep. 8, 2015)
Narrative nonfiction/biography/picture book

Summary:

Examines the life and career of Thomas Jefferson, who in addition to his accomplishments as a politician and president was also talented in the field of agriculture.

Why You'll Love It:

• Illustrator Innerst actually used a quill to hand letter all the quotes. Cool!
• This illustrated biography sheds light on the lesser known episodes of Jefferson's life and presidency, such as his efforts to stimulate European demand for American produce and his concerns about an agricultural pest.
• The final section, "Thomas Today," wisely invites readers to ponder Jefferson's slave ownership. 

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 3-6 (and up!) and here's the educator's guide.

What Else You Should Read:

• Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything by Maira Kalman
• Those Rebels, John & Tom by Barbara Kerley
• Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Woodpecker Wham!

Woodpecker Wham!
by April Pulley Sayre
illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Henry Holt (May 12, 2015)
Informational Picture Book

Summary:

Enter woodpecker world and get a bird's eye view of everyday life: hiding from hawks, feeding hungry chicks, and drilling holes to build homes. Woodpeckers are nature's home builders, creating holes that many other animals live in when the woodpeckers move on.

Why You'll Love It:

•  As well as being a great scientific text, the language lends itself naturally to a lesson on onomatopoeia or action words. “Wedge it. Sledge it. / Wham by wham. / Clear those chips. / SLAM, SLAM, SLAM!”
•  Six pages of additional information about woodpeckers add new and interesting details about anatomy, behaviors, and the ways in which people can observe and protect these birds.
• Jenkins' signature cut-and-torn-paper illustrations are vibrant and colorful; a perfect match for the bouncing text.
• Although the text is spare, don't be fooled: Youngsters will learn lots here. Readers learn how these birds forage, build shelter and nests, avoid predators, and instruct their young, among other topics. 

Who Should Read It:

Great for PreK - grade 3.

What Else You Should Read: 

• Egg: Nature's Perfect Package by Steve Jenkins
• Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre
• Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why by Lita Judge

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Beetle Busters

Beetle Busters: A Rogue Insect and the People Who Track It
by Loree Griffin Burns
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Oct. 7, 2014)
Narrative Nonfiction

Summary:

Looks at the tree-killing Asian longhorned beetle and how the help of everyday people, their neighborhoods, teams of beetle-sniffing dogs, and effort from bug scientists to tree doctors are working to eradicate this invasive pest. 

Why You'll Love It:

•  Burns really knows how to make nonfiction pop! Seriously, if nonfiction had been presented in this engaging manner when I was younger, I would've been reading it like crazy instead of not really discovering my love of nonfiction until college. 
• She really helps readers connect science to everyday life. For example, Burns' writing is framed by the experience of a teen who saw his favorite forest area cut and has watched it regrow.
•  Abundant, close-up, color photos of the insect (from egg to pupa to mature adult), damaged trees, onsite workers, and informative labeled diagrams and maps help tell this disquieting story.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 5-8...and here's the teacher guide.

What Else You Should Read:

• The Hive Detectives by Loree Griffin Burns
• Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins
• Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Earmuffs for Everyone

Earmuffs for Everyone: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs
by Meghan McCarthy
Paula Wiseman books (Jan. 6, 2015)
Narrative Nonfiction/Informational Picture Book

Summary:

This picture book biography of Chester Greenwood explores the invention of the earmuffs and the patenting process.

Why You'll Love It:

• McCarthy takes readers through the process of inventing something and gaining a patent on one's invention without being boring!
• The author  mentions that although several sources incorrectly credited Greenwood with inventing earmuffs, her historical research showed that “the facts got muddled” through the years. Readers learn the important lesson that sometimes facts get mixed up and history isn't always reliable.
• Readers are engaged with McCarthy's engaging writing style and cartoonish illustrations.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 2nd-4th grade. 

What Else You Should Read: 

• Papa's Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming
• You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! by Shana Corey
• Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Gibbs Davis

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Buried Sunlight

Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth
by Molly Bang
Blue Sky Books (Sep. 30, 2014)
Nonfiction Picture Book

Summary:

Humans’ rapid use of fossil fuels—stored energy from plant matter that has been “squashed” underground for millions of years—has made one thing certain: Earth will change.

Why You'll Love It:

• Bang’s beautiful illustrations have a folk-art style and are saturated with deep blues and rich greens.
•  The sun's first-person voice puts readers at the center: "Yes, living things--including YOU--need energy to stay alive and grow.

Who Should Read It:

Perfect for grades 2-4...and here's the discussion guide.

What Else You Should Read:

• Ocean Sunlight by Molly Bang
• Too Hot? Too Cold? Keeping Body Temperature Just Right by Caroline Arnold