Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by WomenWith short entries, Thimmesh shares how women created ingenious inventions ranging from eminently helpful like Liquid Paper or the windshield wiper, to technically complex like the “space bumper” that protects NASA spacecraft and astronauts. The book ends with suggestions and resources to help young women start inventing on their own.
by Catherine Thimmesh, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Houghton Mifflin, 2000
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ages 7-12
Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia EarleThis picture book biography captures Sylvia Earle’s life-long love of nature and the ocean. She helped design devices that allowed deep-water dives, lived for two weeks in a deep-sea station, and studied whales, swimming alongside them. Nivola’s rich illustrations help convey the awe-inspiring vastness of the undersea world and Earle’s passion for studying and protecting it.
by Claire A. Nivola
Farrar, Straus & Giroux / Macmillan, 2012
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ages 5-9
Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought)Krull tells young readers about the lives of 20 scientists, presenting quick biographical sketches told with verve and humor. She focuses on a diverse range of scientists, including six women, from around the world. An entertaining look at what these men and women were like as human beings, in the laboratory and out of it.
by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
Harcourt / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013
Your local library
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ages 8-12
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth BlackwellAlthough Elizabeth Blackwell received 28 rejections from medical schools, she persevered until one accepted her. This lively picture book biography reminds readers that opportunities were different in the 1840s, and that Blackwell helped change this for girls today.
by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Henry Holt / Macmillan, 2013
Your local library
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ages 5-9
Who Was Sally Ride?Sally Ride was an astrophysicist who became the first American woman to fly into space. This biography, part of the popular “Who Was…” series, clearly relates Ride’s life, from her childhood interests in sports and science to her work developing a robotic arm for space shuttles. Inspiring and informative, in an easy-to-read format. I especially like the parallel timelines at the end, which help young readers put Ride’s life in context of world events.
by Megan Stine, illustrated by Ted Hammond
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin, 2013
Your local library
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ages 7-11
This article was originally published in Parents Press, September 2015. Many thanks for all of their support. On Monday this week, I shared five fiction stories that spark a love of science, especially for girls.
The review copies came from our school library, public library and home library. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.
©2015 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books
The Doctors book was great. I want to check out Life in the Ocean since I haven't even heard of her.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so glad you're going to look for LIFE IN THE OCEAN. It's just wonderful. Thanks for stopping by
DeleteI have found more and more pb biographies about some very strong women. I think anything by Kathleen Krull or Tanya Lee Stone are must haves!
ReplyDeleteYes, isn't that great. I've been trying to find more with Asian American women and have been struggling a little. Do you have any you would suggest?
DeleteI will look for the Sally Ride book, know it will be interesting and good. Other favorites of mine are Me...Jane and The Watcher, both about Jane Goodall. There is also one about Rachel Carson out that's very good. Thanks for the list.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love those books about Jane Goodall. I don't know the one you're thinking of about Rachel Carson -- if you remember the full title, I'd love the recommendation!
DeleteYes! I love seeing picture books about successful men and women in different industries and professions - I think it's important for both girls AND boys to have a diverse range of successful people to be inspired by and to look up to. There's no reason a boy can't be inspired by a story about a girl overcoming obstacles, and a girl can be motivated by a story about a strong male figure. It's awesome to finally have more options in our picture book biographies! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. Yes, I definitely agree. These are inspiring stories for all.
DeleteOh my goodness, I love the look of Girls Think of Everything - is this a collection of biographies or just the straightforward picturebook biography?
ReplyDeleteI love Girls Think of Everything, as well! It is a collection of invention stories -- definitely not a picture book biography. She looks at different everyday items (chocolate chip cookies, windshield wipers, paper grocery bags) and tells the story of how they were invented. Each item is covered in just 2-3 pages, making this a great read aloud for younger elmentary kids, or engaging nonfiction for grades 4-5 to read by themselves.
DeleteI have Girls Think of Everything in my school library, but haven't read it yet. I must put it on my TBR stack. :)
ReplyDelete