Showing posts with label STEM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label STEM. Show all posts

Monday, January 29, 2018

Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed The World, by Susan Hood

Book description (from publisher):
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” —Mae Jemison, the first female African American astronaut
Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers.
From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.
In this book, you will find Mary Anning, who was just thirteen when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six-year-old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at twenty-one won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create.
And those are just a few of the young women included in this book. Readers will also hear about Molly Williams, Annette Kellerman, Nellie Bly, Pura Belprè, Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne, Frances Moore Lappè, Mae Jemison, Angela Zhang, and Malala Yousafzai—all whose stories will enthrall and inspire. This book was written, illustrated, edited, and designed by women and includes an author’s note, a timeline, and additional resources.
With artwork by notable artists including Selina Alko, Sophie Blackall, Lisa Brown, Hadley Hooper, Emily Winfield Martin, Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Sara Palacios, LeUyen Pham, Erin Robinson, Isabel Roxas, Shadra Strickland, and Melissa Sweet."

This is an original addition to your biographies bookshelf. The diverse young women highlighted in this book pursued diverse interests and causes, but all changed our world in important ways. The contents prompt young readers to connect women across time and place, to discover similarities and differences in the ways that women are important change makers the world over. The book contains some lesser known figures and changes, making it likely to introduce even avid young biography readers to new content. Told primarily in verse, the book is a playful celebration of young female change makers. The book can be read cover to cover, or dipped into to explore individual women, passions and/or places. A great nonfiction book for younger and older readers. 

Monday, January 22, 2018

Mae Among The Stars, written by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Stasia Burrington

Book description (from the publisher):

"A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the perfect book for young readers who have big dreams and even bigger hearts!

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.

She wanted to be an astronaut.

Her mom told her, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.

This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination."

A beautiful book to share with young children, especially girls. 

Watch Mae's TEDtalk (for parents and educators)

Friday, January 19, 2018

The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid, by Jeanette Winter

Book description (from publisher):

"A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2017
Parents’ Choice Recommended

Get to know Zaha Hadid in this nonfiction picture book about the famed architect’s life and her triumph over adversity from celebrated author-illustrator Jeanette Winter.

Zaha Hadid grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, and dreamed of designing her own cities. After studying architecture in London, she opened her own studio and started designing buildings. But as a Muslim woman, Hadid faced many obstacles. Determined to succeed, she worked hard for many years, and achieved her goals—and now you can see the buildings Hadid has designed all over the world."

An inspiring individual! Our favorite line from the book:
"Hadid  means iron in Arabic, and Zaha is strong as iron. She keeps on working - one plan after another. "I made a conscious decision not to stop.""
The illustrations are beautiful and help to highlight the inspiration Hadid drew from the natural world. A great book for nature lovers, design thinkers, and the mathematically minded. A great addition to your books featuring Muslim subjects/characters.



Sunday, January 7, 2018

Burn: Michael Faraday's Candle, by Darcy Pattison

Book description (from the publisher):
"COOL SCIENCE THAT WILL AWE KIDS
Solid wax is somehow changed into light and heat. But how? Travel back in time to December 28, 1848 in London, England to one of the most famous juvenile science Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution. British scientist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) encouraged kids to carefully observe a candle and to try to figure out how it burned. 

Known as one of the best science experimenters ever, Faraday's passion was always to answer the basic questions of science: "What is the cause? Why does it occur?""
A great book for exploring what it means to be a scientist -- all you need is an inquiring mind and a desire to understand the world around you. And, as a bonus, the book contains an experiment which all children can conduct...all you need is a candle!

Visit the Royal Institute's YouTube channel to watch a video on a simple candle experiment you can conduct with children that is sure to spark their curiosity and cause/effect thinking.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson, by Amy Ehrlich

Book description (from Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children):
"Rachel Carson, best known for her 1962 book Silent Spring, raised national awareness about the toxic effects of DDT and other pesticides.  Her work proved instrumental in the subsequent ban of such pesticides and the growth of the environmental movement in the United States.  This interesting and informative picture book makes Rachel Carson’s background and contributions accessible to younger children.  The rich text and stunning watercolor illustrations clearly communicate Rachel’s talents as a writer and interests in biology already as a young child.  She overcame a number of obstacles, especially financial constraints, to become a successful author about nature and ocean life.  With its focus on environmental activism, this book makes a useful vehicle for teaching children about links between natural resources and human resources."

Beautifully written. Will inspire children to think more deeply about how living things are interconnected, and how human actions can have far-reaching consequences.

Visit RachelCarson.org to learn more! The interactive timeline is especially good to help children take a virtual tour through Rachel's life.
GR Level: Q