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She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer
From Newbery Honor–winning author Kathryn Lasky comes a nonfiction picture book about the stars! Lasky tells the inspiring true story of astronomer Williamina Fleming, who helped lay the foundations for modern astronomy and overcame impossible odds as an immigrant and a woman. For stargazers and trailblazers everywhere!
Ever since Williamina Fleming was little she was curious, and her childhood fascination with light inspired her life’s work. Mina became an astronomer in a time when women were discouraged from even looking through telescopes. Yet Mina believed that the universe, with its billions of stars, was a riddle—and she wanted to help solve it.
Mina ultimately helped to create a map of the universe that paved the way for astronomers. Newbery Honor–winning Kathryn Lasky shares her incredible true story.
Use this book to encourage conversation at home and the classroom about women and STEM. This is a captivating picture book that centers around women and empowerment, perfect for Women's History Month and to be shared alongside such powerful titles as Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton.
Kathryn Lasky’s nonfiction book Sugaring Time was a Newbery Honor Book, and the books she authored in the Dear America and Royal Diaries series have sold over 3 million copies. Julianna Swaney is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines.
Ever since Williamina Fleming was little she was curious, and her childhood fascination with light inspired her life’s work. Mina became an astronomer in a time when women were discouraged from even looking through telescopes. Yet Mina believed that the universe, with its billions of stars, was a riddle—and she wanted to help solve it.
Mina ultimately helped to create a map of the universe that paved the way for astronomers. Newbery Honor–winning Kathryn Lasky shares her incredible true story.
Use this book to encourage conversation at home and the classroom about women and STEM. This is a captivating picture book that centers around women and empowerment, perfect for Women's History Month and to be shared alongside such powerful titles as Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton.
Kathryn Lasky’s nonfiction book Sugaring Time was a Newbery Honor Book, and the books she authored in the Dear America and Royal Diaries series have sold over 3 million copies. Julianna Swaney is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines.
34 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2021
5 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
268 books2,251 followersKathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 22, 2021
Author Kathryn Lasky and illustrator Julianna Swaney join forces in this picture-book biography of Williamina "Mina" Stevens Fleming, a self-educated Scotswoman who emigrated to the United States, eventually becoming an astronomer, and the first woman to hold an official position at Harvard University. It was largely through her relationship with Professor Edward Pickering, for whom she worked as a maid when she first came to Boston, that Mina gained access to her first position in the field of astronomy, becoming the first of the "human computers" - women who made calculations based on astronomical observations - whose work would become an important cornerstone of scientific endeavor in the field. Mina classified the spectra of over 10,000 stars, discovered the Horsehead Nebula, and was appointed curator of astronomical photography at Harvard. This despite having had no formal education, and raising her son on her own...
Published earlier this year (2021), She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer is the latest in a recent spate of picture-book biographies of women scientists whose accomplishments have been hitherto overlooked. Picking it up, I was reminded of such titles as Robert Burleigh and Raúl Colón's Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer , or Emily Arnold McCully's Caroline's Comets: A True Story , both of which tell the story of woman astronomers who were ahead of their time. I found Lasky's narrative here engaging, and appreciated learning a little bit more about Fleming, whose accomplishments have been largely overlooked. Although Fleming's story is included in Dava Sobel's 2016 The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars , published for adults, this picture-book appears to be the first title (for any audience) devoted specifically to her. I find it valuable, for that reason, and I appreciated the back matter - timeline, glossary, author's note, bibliography - included at the rear. The illustrations from Julianna Swaney, whose credits includes the artwork in another picture-book biography of a woman scientist - Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children - are done in watercolor, gouache and colored pencil, and are quite sweet.
All in all, an informative and engaging title, one I would recommend to picture-book readers who enjoy biography, or are interested in science, astronomy, or groundbreaking women.
Published earlier this year (2021), She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer is the latest in a recent spate of picture-book biographies of women scientists whose accomplishments have been hitherto overlooked. Picking it up, I was reminded of such titles as Robert Burleigh and Raúl Colón's Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer , or Emily Arnold McCully's Caroline's Comets: A True Story , both of which tell the story of woman astronomers who were ahead of their time. I found Lasky's narrative here engaging, and appreciated learning a little bit more about Fleming, whose accomplishments have been largely overlooked. Although Fleming's story is included in Dava Sobel's 2016 The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars , published for adults, this picture-book appears to be the first title (for any audience) devoted specifically to her. I find it valuable, for that reason, and I appreciated the back matter - timeline, glossary, author's note, bibliography - included at the rear. The illustrations from Julianna Swaney, whose credits includes the artwork in another picture-book biography of a woman scientist - Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children - are done in watercolor, gouache and colored pencil, and are quite sweet.
All in all, an informative and engaging title, one I would recommend to picture-book readers who enjoy biography, or are interested in science, astronomy, or groundbreaking women.
February 11, 2025
For STEM heroes, Feb. 225 discussion in Children's Books group. Engaging, with appealing art. Includes back matter.
So many women's biographies are being published nowadays, thank goodness. It's amazing to learn that even in the bad old days, women *did* contribute, but their efforts were not acknowledged. In fact, there's evidence that knowledge of their efforts was deliberately suppressed. So, yes, yay for wonderful books like this that show how scientists worked, and that a self-educated young woman helped them enough to get a title and position at Harvard.
So many women's biographies are being published nowadays, thank goodness. It's amazing to learn that even in the bad old days, women *did* contribute, but their efforts were not acknowledged. In fact, there's evidence that knowledge of their efforts was deliberately suppressed. So, yes, yay for wonderful books like this that show how scientists worked, and that a self-educated young woman helped them enough to get a title and position at Harvard.
February 6, 2021
Beautifully illustrated. Interesting story. But too dry and technical for the grandchildren. More of a children's picture book for adults.
February 24, 2022
I enjoyed this biography, though I found the prose a little stilted at times.
February 28, 2021
A short biography about Williamina "Mina" Fleming a self educated astronomer born in Dundee, Scotland, who moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and after working as a maid rose to become the first women to be appointed curator of astronomical photographs at Harvard University.
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March 12, 2024I'm so happy there's a picture book about Williamina Fleming, and the art is so pretty too. 😭
June 19, 2024
Fleming was the first of the “human computers” at the Harvard astronomy center, and later became the official head and the first female to have an official job title at Harvard. She, helped by the other human computers (all female), designed the basic classification system still in use to describe stars. This was a well done fascinating biography of Fleming. It did not blow me away but definitely fascinated me. I photographed the biography list for future reading!
March 8, 2021
The inspiring story of the self-educated astronomer whose work helped lay the foundations for modern astronomy.
December 14, 2022
I loved Kathryn Lasky's middle grades/YA historical fiction in my younger days. I know she loves history and excels at research- usually. This book is no exception. It's a picture book packed full of facts about an amazing and incredibly smart woman of the 19th-century when obviously women weren't yet trained astronomers.
The book draws a lot of parallels to Mina's father's photography and the stars. Mini was fascinated with the chemicals, the light and the process of glass plate photography. Sadly her father passed away before she was able to learn the business. Mina married and came to America where her husband abandoned her pregnant and alone. She worked as a maid in a professor's household and fortunately when the men failed to record the light spectrum properly, Professor Pickering yelled that his Scottish maid could do better. And she did! Using her background in photography, she was able to capture the color spectrum of the stars. That led to the study of the chemical makeup of stars. I have no idea what any of that means which shows me just how smart Mina was.
The book brings up the ridiculously sexist ideas of the day, such as if women used a telescope at night they'd catch cold because they were more delicate than men. Did Mina ever mention she was pregnant?! She was surely less delicate than they thought.
Mina returned to Scotland to give birth to her son and have her mother help out but she returned and went back to studying the stars.
This is a very informative book. The science is over my head - never did understand astronomy but this woman is fascinating. I had a lot of questions after reading this book though. Did she really accomplish all she did in less than 9 months? OR what happened to her first child and who is the father of her second? The book includes a timeline but omits the birth of her son/children.
A glossary includes unfamiliar words which is great. There's also a brief biography and author's note and bibliography.
The illustrations are a mixed bag. The people are cute and friendly looking but the STARS of the illustrations are the STARS! The way the illustrator portrayed the night sky and the stars, comparing the stars to a family with a family photo outlined in stars, is very pleasing.
The book draws a lot of parallels to Mina's father's photography and the stars. Mini was fascinated with the chemicals, the light and the process of glass plate photography. Sadly her father passed away before she was able to learn the business. Mina married and came to America where her husband abandoned her pregnant and alone. She worked as a maid in a professor's household and fortunately when the men failed to record the light spectrum properly, Professor Pickering yelled that his Scottish maid could do better. And she did! Using her background in photography, she was able to capture the color spectrum of the stars. That led to the study of the chemical makeup of stars. I have no idea what any of that means which shows me just how smart Mina was.
The book brings up the ridiculously sexist ideas of the day, such as if women used a telescope at night they'd catch cold because they were more delicate than men. Did Mina ever mention she was pregnant?! She was surely less delicate than they thought.
Mina returned to Scotland to give birth to her son and have her mother help out but she returned and went back to studying the stars.
This is a very informative book. The science is over my head - never did understand astronomy but this woman is fascinating. I had a lot of questions after reading this book though. Did she really accomplish all she did in less than 9 months? OR what happened to her first child and who is the father of her second? The book includes a timeline but omits the birth of her son/children.
A glossary includes unfamiliar words which is great. There's also a brief biography and author's note and bibliography.
The illustrations are a mixed bag. The people are cute and friendly looking but the STARS of the illustrations are the STARS! The way the illustrator portrayed the night sky and the stars, comparing the stars to a family with a family photo outlined in stars, is very pleasing.
January 20, 2021
She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer is a children's picture book written by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Julianna Swaney. It centers on a scientific dreamer grounded in hard work.
Williamina Paton Stevens Fleming was a Scottish astronomer active in the United States. During her career, she helped develop a common designation system for stars and cataloged thousands of stars and other astronomical phenomena. Among several career achievements that advanced astronomy, Fleming is noted for her discovery of the Horsehead Nebula in 1888.
Lasky's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Lasky's straightforward narrative describes how the young single mother transitions from being a maid to becoming one of Harvard's first female human computers, studying astronomical photographs to determine a star's composition. Backmatter includes timeline, glossary, biographical note, author's note, bibliography. Swaney's digitized watercolor and gouache illustrations include stars on a deep indigo field, the motif skirting the edges of scenes while complementing the narrative's accessible scientific explanations.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Williamina Stevens Fleming, talented astronomer, resilient and highly intelligent individual, and the first woman given an official title at Harvard University. Her early years are gracefully depicted, leading up to her husband's disappearance and her path to astronomy. Alone and expecting a child, she secured a job as a maid in the home of the director of the Harvard College Observatory, where she asked questions, absorbed information, and was eventually hired to study and calculate the colors produced by stars and recorded by the observatory.
All in all, She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer is an intriguing introduction to astronomy and an involving tale of a strong woman who overcame adversity.
Williamina Paton Stevens Fleming was a Scottish astronomer active in the United States. During her career, she helped develop a common designation system for stars and cataloged thousands of stars and other astronomical phenomena. Among several career achievements that advanced astronomy, Fleming is noted for her discovery of the Horsehead Nebula in 1888.
Lasky's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Lasky's straightforward narrative describes how the young single mother transitions from being a maid to becoming one of Harvard's first female human computers, studying astronomical photographs to determine a star's composition. Backmatter includes timeline, glossary, biographical note, author's note, bibliography. Swaney's digitized watercolor and gouache illustrations include stars on a deep indigo field, the motif skirting the edges of scenes while complementing the narrative's accessible scientific explanations.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Williamina Stevens Fleming, talented astronomer, resilient and highly intelligent individual, and the first woman given an official title at Harvard University. Her early years are gracefully depicted, leading up to her husband's disappearance and her path to astronomy. Alone and expecting a child, she secured a job as a maid in the home of the director of the Harvard College Observatory, where she asked questions, absorbed information, and was eventually hired to study and calculate the colors produced by stars and recorded by the observatory.
All in all, She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer is an intriguing introduction to astronomy and an involving tale of a strong woman who overcame adversity.
April 23, 2025
Ready to read about one of the leading women astronomers? The book, She Caught the Light Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer, details the life of astronomer Williamina “Mina” Fleming and how she laid the foundation for the field. Williamina was a Scottish immigrant and former housemaid who became an astronomer in the late 19th. The book tells her journey from domestic service to making groundbreaking discoveries at the Harvard College Observatory. Her journey begins with her love for learning and her fascination with light and stars. Despite societal barriers, Williamina’s curiosity and determination allowed her to classify thousands of stars and help establish one of the first systems for classifying stellar spectra. This is a children’s non-fiction biography picture book discussing the power of curiosity and the fight against societal barriers. Williamina faced both gender and class discrimination. She started as a maid and ended up contributing enormously to science. The book introduces children to the idea of structural barriers while showing that passion and persistence can lead to change. The book celebrates how deep curiosity can drive discovery, even when opportunities seem limited. This is a WOW book for me because it supports women in STEM majors.
In this book, Lasky uses literary devices like allusion and juxtaposition to create a compelling and inspiring story about Williamina’s life and legacy. The title itself, Catch the Light, alludes to Williamina’s ability to uncover the mysteries of the stars. Additionally, the book alludes to the broader context of women in science during the late 19th century and highlighting the challenges they faced during this time. Lasky displays juxtaposition by contrasting Mina’s humble beginnings with her achievements. This is an antibias book because it challenges gender stereotypes and promotes an immigrant woman becoming a pioneer in astronomy. It also helps children critical think about why women in the past were excluded from certain careers and empowers young girls to reach for their goals.
In this book, Lasky uses literary devices like allusion and juxtaposition to create a compelling and inspiring story about Williamina’s life and legacy. The title itself, Catch the Light, alludes to Williamina’s ability to uncover the mysteries of the stars. Additionally, the book alludes to the broader context of women in science during the late 19th century and highlighting the challenges they faced during this time. Lasky displays juxtaposition by contrasting Mina’s humble beginnings with her achievements. This is an antibias book because it challenges gender stereotypes and promotes an immigrant woman becoming a pioneer in astronomy. It also helps children critical think about why women in the past were excluded from certain careers and empowers young girls to reach for their goals.
April 13, 2021
Created with watercolor, gouache, color pencil, and Photoshop, the digital illustrations in this picture book pay visual tribute to the stars in the galaxy while highlighting the story of a groundbreaking woman whose story has been little known until now. The subject of this biography grew up learning about photography from her father. After marrying and moving to Boston, Williamina (Mina) had to fend for herself after her husband disappeared. She landed a job working for the director of the Harvard Observatory. Mina's intelligence and curiosity eventually prompted the director to hire her to map the stars. Through her work she was able to discover the Horsehead Nebula, which prompted others to study how stars are born. Over the course of her career Mina classified more than 10,000 stars. Hers is an inspirational story for many reasons, including those classifications but also her advocacy for women astronomers. For many years, women were forbidden from using telescopes. There is a timeline, a glossary, biographical notes, a bibliography, and notes from the author. The artwork on the back cover showing Mina's hands at work while she's putting together jigsaw puzzle pieces of the galaxy fits this biography perfectly. This is a fine and inspiring story to be added to a collection devoted to groundbreakers, strong women, and scientists. It's hard to imagine how frightened Mina must have been, alone in a new country, pregnant, with no husband in sight, and without a job.
October 7, 2021
This picture book was a wonderful biography about the life of Williamina Stevens Flemming. Her life certainly wasn’t easy since her father died when she was only seven. And if it wasn’t for Williamina taking a job as a maid for Professor Pickering at the Harvard College Observatory, her curiosity and intelligence might not have provided such help to our understanding of the light of stars. Additionally, it was her detailed work that led to the hiring of many other women in the field. And she wasn’t shy about complaining when these women were paid only a fraction of what the men were paid. The back matter includes a timeline, glossary, biography, and Author’s Note, and bibliography. The artist used watercolor, gouache, color pencil, and Photoshop to create the digital illustrations for this book.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
July 18, 2021
Williamina (Mina) was a bright child who ended up having to leave school and go to work when her father died
When her husband disappeared, Mina, then pregnant, found a job working as a maid for Professor Pickering, director of the Harvard college observatory, and his wife Elizabeth. Both of them recognized her intelligence and eventually Mrs. Pickering urged her husband to hire Mina. Because she was a woman, Mina wasn’t allowed to look through a telescope. What she saw were the glass plates that recorded what men saw through them.
William Mina Patton Stevens Fleming was the first woman to be appointed to a titled position at Harvard University. In her lifetime she classified the spectra of over 10,000 stars and created the classification system that helped map the universe.
Julianna Swaney used watercolor, gouache, colour pencil and Photoshop to create these illustrations.
When her husband disappeared, Mina, then pregnant, found a job working as a maid for Professor Pickering, director of the Harvard college observatory, and his wife Elizabeth. Both of them recognized her intelligence and eventually Mrs. Pickering urged her husband to hire Mina. Because she was a woman, Mina wasn’t allowed to look through a telescope. What she saw were the glass plates that recorded what men saw through them.
William Mina Patton Stevens Fleming was the first woman to be appointed to a titled position at Harvard University. In her lifetime she classified the spectra of over 10,000 stars and created the classification system that helped map the universe.
Julianna Swaney used watercolor, gouache, colour pencil and Photoshop to create these illustrations.
March 4, 2022
Little Mina's father was a photographer. She was curious and had lots of questions about how everything worked. She taught school and at 20 married and moved to Boston. She got a job working for the director of the Harvard College Observatory. She was his maid, but again was full of questions. Soon she was working for him as a calculator, creating a map of the Universe. Wow, oh wow. She wasn't allowed to look through a telescope!
The things we learn about women in these wonderful picture book biographies are remarkable insights into the 20th century. I had to re-read parts several times and am still not sure I understood exactly what she was doing, it's a bit technical. Kids who are into this will really love learning about Williamina Stevens Fleming.
Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
The things we learn about women in these wonderful picture book biographies are remarkable insights into the 20th century. I had to re-read parts several times and am still not sure I understood exactly what she was doing, it's a bit technical. Kids who are into this will really love learning about Williamina Stevens Fleming.
Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
June 13, 2021
This tells the story of Fleming from childhood, the daughter of someone whose hobby was early photography, to when she was appointed curator of astronomical photographs at Harvard. Some useful analogies and feeling for the work she was doing along with an appropriate amount of technical detail.
The illustrations here were really well done. Lots of good detail, allusions, and tying different parts of the story together.
Other computers are referred to and shown generally in the main text, but some of them are named in the endnotes and have associated bibliography entries; a bunch of them made or contributed to important astronomical discoveries of the time. (Because these women were doing a large portion of the science!)
The illustrations here were really well done. Lots of good detail, allusions, and tying different parts of the story together.
Other computers are referred to and shown generally in the main text, but some of them are named in the endnotes and have associated bibliography entries; a bunch of them made or contributed to important astronomical discoveries of the time. (Because these women were doing a large portion of the science!)
July 28, 2021
I loved the illustrations and color choices in this biography of Williamina Stevens Fleming. Born in Scotland, Mina was curious and intelligent. When her father dies, she and her siblings take jobs to support their family. At age 20, she moves to Boston, only to be abandoned by her new husband. After taking a job at the Harvard College Observatory as a house cleaner, Mina finds a way to prove her mathematical and scientific skills. She also pushes for more women to be hired and to be paid a fair wage. The scientific explanations in this book are clear but best for older elementary students.
Recommended for grades 3 - 5.
Recommended for grades 3 - 5.
September 30, 2021
Again... another story of an amazing women... no one has ever heard of. Williamina Stevens Fleming, was amazing self taught, Harvard Astronomer... but Harvard didn't give degrees to women until 1963. How Harvard Should be ashamed!
This is an important story, about girl can do anything! Boy could always do everything, but it is cool to see when women in history excel and exceed what men can do. (Not men bashing, just not to see women get some long over due credit!
So I loved the illustrations, and I want to find Mr Fleming and cut of his....well you can choose.
Men who abandon wife and baby... suck!!! May God have mercy on your soul.
This is an important story, about girl can do anything! Boy could always do everything, but it is cool to see when women in history excel and exceed what men can do. (Not men bashing, just not to see women get some long over due credit!
So I loved the illustrations, and I want to find Mr Fleming and cut of his....well you can choose.
Men who abandon wife and baby... suck!!! May God have mercy on your soul.
August 7, 2025
This true story stimulated my interest to know more. The illustrations helped to tell the story well, yet I don’t think young kids would understand the book. The science content is probably right for middle grades (4-8). The concepts of technology and why spectroscopy was important to discoveries about our universe is likely confusing to kids. The picture book style might seem juvenile to students in middle school. and this discrepancy might make it difficult to for young readers to want to pick it up. I hope I’m wrong. Clearly Mina Fleming is an important so little known scientist and this book about her was a good idea.
July 16, 2024
I was quite impressed with this biography of a self taught, single mother. Her husband disappeared leaving her pregnant and alone in a strange city. She discovers the Horsehead Nebula, is the first woman that lead Harvard's "human computers," the first woman to be given an official title at Harvard, classified over 10,000 stars and devised the classification system that was used to map the universe all while dealing with rampant sexism.
The Author's Note goes on to discuss the other "human computers" and I will have to see if any of them have their own biographies.
The Author's Note goes on to discuss the other "human computers" and I will have to see if any of them have their own biographies.
May 17, 2021
I am always grateful to be introduced to new individuals and their remarkable contributions. I had never heard of Williamina Fleming and was impressed by the things she accomplished in her life...especially with some really daunting challenges. The storytelling in this book is a little underwhelming and the illustrations didn't stand out but it was a great start for learning more about this woman.
January 11, 2021
This beautifully illustrated picture book tells an important piece of Harvard's history that I had never heard about: astronomer Williamina Stevens Fleming, the first woman to hold an official title at the university. This resilient, self-educated woman's story will be inspiring to many young readers with big dreams of their own.
February 12, 2021
I didn't know this was a nonfiction book when I first picked it out.
This was a great story of how a woman made great strides in her life during a time when women as a whole were hugely oppressed, especially if you were an immigrant. She was wonderfully intelligent and put her smarts to good use when she met a professor that changed her life.
This was a great story of how a woman made great strides in her life during a time when women as a whole were hugely oppressed, especially if you were an immigrant. She was wonderfully intelligent and put her smarts to good use when she met a professor that changed her life.
February 13, 2021
This seemed lacking, not what I was hoping for given what Lasky can do... I personally felt it was too preachy about women not being considered equal in the time period , which I personally felt took the focus away from the character of Mina. But a nice introduction to this woman astronomer for young readers.
April 25, 2021
A wonderful picture book biography celebrating the contributions of astronomer Williamina Fleming. At a time when women were hardly allowed in the science realm (weren't allowed to look through telescopes) she proved that her curiosity and hard work could compete with any man. She discovered the Horsehead Nebula. Back matter provides a timeline and additional resources.
November 13, 2021
My son loves astronomy right now. It was a joy to read about one of the early pioneers that paved the way for what we now know about the stars, and even more to discover that it was a woman, and to see the huge obstacles she had to work with and overcome. Also, beautiful artwork. We loved the blend of symbolism with astronomy.
November 15, 2021
Unfortunately, Kathryn Lasky was unable to overcome the complexity of the scientific work that Williamina Stevens Fleming did. While the portion of the book pertaining to Fleming's life was engaging, the portion that tried to discuss the science was muddled and verbose. A book too complex for the picture book age group and not detailed enough for adults resulted.
June 5, 2021
An important biography of an important woman in astronomy. While I appreciate the author’s efforts to break down the science for elementary students, it gets a little too bogged down in those details. I did like the pointedly feminist text.
June 26, 2021
I wanted to like this, and I did not NOT like this.
However, it was very lengthy, and I really didn't understand much of it myself. That is not necessarily problematic, but it just went on and on, and I understood less and less...
Interesting story though.
However, it was very lengthy, and I really didn't understand much of it myself. That is not necessarily problematic, but it just went on and on, and I understood less and less...
Interesting story though.
July 1, 2021
WOW! Williamina Fleming lived in a time where women were not allowed to do much because of their fragility, and yet time and time again, I read stories about phenomenal women during this time. FANTASTIC book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews