How many times have you had to clean out a child's pockets before doing the laundry - or realized after the fact that you had forgotten to check the pockets? Just keep in mind that the tidbits in those pockets could be the start of an amazing career in science. Children are naturally curious about the world around them and all of that collecting and investigating develops some useful skills.
Heather L. Montgomery has written a book that showcases those skills and links them to incidents from the childhoods of famous scientists. Seedpods in the pocket of George Washington Carver. Earthworms under Jane Goodall's pillow. Albums of leaves under Meg Lowman's bed. These things probably drove their parents crazy. But, looking back at those moments from our perspective, we can see the foreshadowing of their life's work.
This book is a confirmation of children's curiosity and an introduction to scientists from a variety of backgrounds in a wide range of occupations. Back matter includes more detailed biographical information about each of the individuals and their work. There are also notes from the illustrator and author, as well as suggested field guides and books for curious young explorers. Perfect as a read-aloud or for individual enjoyment - this book belongs in school libraries and classrooms.
AUTHOR Q&A
- How did you decide which behaviors to include - collecting, categorizing, detecting patterns, etc.?
This book began when several different editors asked me if I might write a picture book biography of a scientist. I went trolling around in biographical information about scientists who I admired and found I was often intrigued by one moment from their childhood --a moment they did something "improper" -- a moment I saw as science-skill-growth. So I began collecting anecdotes and noticed a pattern. That's when I thought "Hmm, maybe there is a story here."
- Did you write about the behaviors and then choose scientists that used those skills, or choose the scientists and then the behaviors?
Just like the scientists, I first collected stories of young scientists, second sorted their behaviors into categories, and third made my own discovery. The discovery? In the early drafts I simply listed the scientists in an order that made sense to me. It took a few astute comments from my editor for me to realize that I had sequenced them based on those three categories. We added the cumulative refrain to bring that concept to the front of the reader's mind as well.
- How did you narrow down which scientists to feature?
Leaving some folks out is always the hard part for me! But picture books have limited pages, and I wanted to ensure that children from a variety of backgrounds could see themselves as young scientists, so that helped me with the selection process.
- Was it exciting to make contact with the current scientists like Diego, Meg, and Bonnie?
I LOVE doing research and getting to speak with scientists is inspiring! To hear Meg talk about using a sling shot to climb to the tree tops, to catch Bonnie's energy for sea creatures, to have Diego "walk" me through his childhood explorations -- that's what keeps me writing!
- Did they tell you anything that surprised you?
Diego Cisneros Heredia has discovered 30 new species. Thanks to him the world now knows about 30 more frogs, snakes, and even a velvet worm. One other endearing detail: he sent me photos of childhood nature books that inspired him.
- Anything else you would like to share? (something like your favorite collection or object from your own explorations or some other personal tidbit of interest)
My collections superlatives:
Oldest: Leaf
Most organized: Moss
Stinkiest: Roadkill
A very big thank-you to Heather for answering my questions about her writing process for this book!
Over the past few years there have been numerous books for younger readers about women and people of color whose contributions to science and STEM are wonderful sources of inspiration. Here are just a few -
Other titles about scientists mentioned in this book:
Barretta, Gene. The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver (2020)
Blackford, Cheryl. The Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life (2022)
Long, David. When Darwin Sailed the Sea: Uncover how Darwin's revolutionary ideas helped change the world (2020)
Pomeroy, Sarah B. Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, Adventurer (2018)
Rosenstock, Barb. Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere (2018)
Silvey, Anita and Jane Goodall. Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall (2015)
Other picture books about scientists and people in STEM fields:
Barrett, Hayley. What Miss Mitchell Saw (2019)
Brown, Tami Lewis. Instructions Not Included: How a Team of Women Coded the Future (2019)
Burleigh, Robert. Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor (2016)
Fleming, Candace. Cubs in the Tub: The True Story of the Bronx Zoo's First Woman Zookeeper (2020)
Fletcher, Tiera. Wonder Women of Science: How 12 Geniuses Are Rocking Science, Technology, and the World (2021)
Freeman, Martha. Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists (2020)
Griffith, Evan. Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist (2021)
Keating, Jess. Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed the Ocean's Biggest Secret (2020)
Keating, Jess. Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist (2017)
Larson, Kirsten W. Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane (2020)
Lasky, Kathryn. She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer (2021)
Nickel, Sandra. The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe (2021)
Robbins, Dean. Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing (2017)
Robeson, Teresa. Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom (2019)
Rusch, Elizabeth. Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet (2019)
Slade, Suzanne. A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon (2019)
Sorell, Traci. Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer (2021)
Tentler-Krylov, Victoria. Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid (2020)
Wallace, Sandra Neil. Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas (2020)
Wallmark, Laurie. Ada Byron Lovelace & the Thinking Machine (2015)
Wallmark, Laurie. Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code (2017)
Wallmark, Laurie. Hedy Lamarr's Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor (2019)
No comments:
Post a Comment