Rooftop Astronomer: A Story About Maria Mitchell

by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson, Hetty Mitchell (Illustrator)

Recounts the life and accomplishments of the first woman astronomer in America.

Genres: Biography, History, Astronomy, Nonfiction

64 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Stephanie Sammartino McPherson wrote her first children's story in college. She enjoyed the process so much that she's never stopped writing. A former teacher and freelance newspaper writer, she has written twenty-eight books and numerous magazine stories. She especially enjoys writing about science and the human interest stories behind major discoveries.

Stephanie and her husband, Richard, live in Virginia but also call California home. They are the parents of two grown children.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is geared more to third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students, as it is heavy with text, not pictures. That said, the book does a great job of capturing the spirit of Maria Mitchell. I was pleased by the extensive use of quotations from the lady herself, and the amount of research that went into this book. I will not hesitate to recommend this to students seeking an inspiring read.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this for a biography unit in third grade, during which we had to dress up as a historical figure and talk about our life and achievements. The story of America's first famous woman astronomer stuck with me well beyond that class, and I'm grateful that my teacher or librarian had such books available to us. I was delighted to re-encounter the book unexpectedly at my local library recently.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly readable biography for elementary students. This biography reads like a story, but is full of information that is easily recognized and pulled from the text for students working on a biographical project. The author places Maria Mitchell and the significance of her work within the context of the times and offers readers a glimpse into life during this period of time. Through the use of simple story telling the author conveys a sense of Maria Mitchell making it easy for students to relate to her as a person of interest and someone they might like to meet.