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June Almeida, Virus Detective!: The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus
June Almeida loved learning about science and nature. An excellent student, she was especially interested in biology and won the top science prize at her school. Creative and observant, June noticed details that others often missed. She dreamed of attending university but economic hardships caused her to leave school at age 16. Still, June was determined to pursue her passion for science. She was hired by a local hospital to work in its lab, using a microscope to magnify and examine cells. Her work helped doctors treat patients. June later worked in labs in London and in Toronto. Her skill in using the electron microscope to examine cells and help identify viruses earned her promotion and respect in the science community. When June was 34 years old, she discovered the first human coronavirus. Her groundbreaking work continues to help researchers today in the fight against illnesses caused by viruses, including COVID-19.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2021
5 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Slade
149 books131 followersSibert honoree author of more than 150 books for chlldren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 24, 2022
I read an author interview that stressed the remarkable speed with which this story reached publication in the midst of our coronavirus pandemic. That was even more impressive after reading it, because the extensive documentation, use of primary sources, and accessible description of complex science processes shows not a bit of skimping occurred to bring this story to life.
This is also a timeless book, particularly defying the sense that women's history is a "March" thing. June Almeida's personal and professional journeys will inspire all year long, year after year. She complied with the expectations of her day, leaving school early and not attending college to study science, her dream. Instead she sought a job that would help support her parents, but did so within the field that used her studies, curiosity, and talent for photography.
I was thoroughly impressed by June's life, by the author's excellent research and narrative, and also by the remarkable quality of illustrations to make complex science approachable and appealing to younger readers.
This is also a timeless book, particularly defying the sense that women's history is a "March" thing. June Almeida's personal and professional journeys will inspire all year long, year after year. She complied with the expectations of her day, leaving school early and not attending college to study science, her dream. Instead she sought a job that would help support her parents, but did so within the field that used her studies, curiosity, and talent for photography.
I was thoroughly impressed by June's life, by the author's excellent research and narrative, and also by the remarkable quality of illustrations to make complex science approachable and appealing to younger readers.
May 12, 2021
June Almeida, Virus Detective!: The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus is a children's picture book written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Elisa Paganelli. It profiles a virologist who was among the first to photograph and identify the coronavirus family.
June Dalziel Almeida was a Scottish virologist, a pioneer in virus imaging, identification, and diagnosis. Her skills in electron microscopy earned her an international reputation.
Slade's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informational. Incorporating memories and material supplied by the researcher's daughter, Slade presents another under-recognized woman scientist as a role model. Backmatter includes photographs, a timeline, and selected bibliography. Paganelli contributes softly colored art with sketch like textures and backgrounds that portray viruses, antibodies, and their ilk.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. This comprehensive picture book biography of June Almeida follows the innovative virologist through her science-loving childhood in Glasgow, her hospital lab work in the United Kingdom after she left school at age sixteen to help pay the family bills, and her remarkable research in Canada and the United Kingdom using an electron microscope. One noteworthy spread breaks down Almeida's discovery of the first human coronavirus into an accessible step-by-step process.
All in all, June Almeida, Virus Detective!: The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus is a timely book of a wonderful scientist that needs more recognition.
June Dalziel Almeida was a Scottish virologist, a pioneer in virus imaging, identification, and diagnosis. Her skills in electron microscopy earned her an international reputation.
Slade's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informational. Incorporating memories and material supplied by the researcher's daughter, Slade presents another under-recognized woman scientist as a role model. Backmatter includes photographs, a timeline, and selected bibliography. Paganelli contributes softly colored art with sketch like textures and backgrounds that portray viruses, antibodies, and their ilk.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. This comprehensive picture book biography of June Almeida follows the innovative virologist through her science-loving childhood in Glasgow, her hospital lab work in the United Kingdom after she left school at age sixteen to help pay the family bills, and her remarkable research in Canada and the United Kingdom using an electron microscope. One noteworthy spread breaks down Almeida's discovery of the first human coronavirus into an accessible step-by-step process.
All in all, June Almeida, Virus Detective!: The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus is a timely book of a wonderful scientist that needs more recognition.
June 30, 2021
So many great picture book biographies on women in the sciences these days! This is the educational and inspiring story of a scientist whose discoveries impact our daily lives. Adults will be learning right alongside the kids. I enjoyed the illustrations, as well.
August 21, 2021
Biography for mid to upper elementary about June Almeida. Slade takes readers from her childhood to retirement. She shares the struggles and tragedies that led her to lab research on viruses. The illustrations add further information to the text. Resources are provided for further research.
April 14, 2021
This fascinating, well-researched picture book biography shares the story of the female scientist who discovered the original coronavirus in 1964. The illustrations are very nice, and the author was able to interview Almeida's daughter, which enriches the story with personal details.
The text and author's note do not involve any virtue signaling about the COVID-19 pandemic, so people who are tired of politicized or didactic books tailored to the cultural moment should still give this a try. It's great information, and an inspiring tale of a woman's achievement.
The text and author's note do not involve any virtue signaling about the COVID-19 pandemic, so people who are tired of politicized or didactic books tailored to the cultural moment should still give this a try. It's great information, and an inspiring tale of a woman's achievement.
August 6, 2021
Interesting biography telling the story of a passionate scientist who never went to college!
November 7, 2022
Wow! A biography of a female scientist who took maternity leave, who got divorced and was a single mother, and STILL managed to have a successful career and contribute to humanity! A wonderful role model, and a wonderfully written account of this woman's achievement. Bravo!
May 8, 2021
A comprehensive picture book biography. It was straightforward and not the lyrical type that appeal to me so much, but it is a timely topic and I know kids will be interested!
May 30, 2021
Fascinating! And very timely. Perfect for STEM collections or text sets on female scientists.
June 3, 2021
I now know why the corona virus (Covid-19) is called what it is
July 23, 2021
Fascinating picture book biography of the virologist who discovered the first human coronavirus! Recommended for elementary libraries everywhere.
February 18, 2026
Happy Birthday to my sercret crush :) Happy Birthday to my Sercert crush 😻 https://usapp.fieldagent.net/applinks...
March 24, 2022
As the subtitle says, this is the story of “The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus.”
June Almeida (née Hart, who lived from October 5, 1930 to December 1, 2007) was an internationally renowned virologist who pioneered new methods for viral imaging and diagnosis. She was born in Glasgow to a poor family so in spite of her passion for science she did not have the money to study at a university.
At age 16 she left school to work in order to help pay family bills. She got hired in the lab at the nearby hospital and learned to use a microscope. She and her family moved to London in 1952 and June got another job in a hospital lab, and met her future husband Enriques Rosalio (Henry) Almeida. The two moved to Canada.
The author reports that with June’s experience, she quickly got a job at a research lab in Toronto, where she began working with a powerful electron microscope that magnified things 25,000 times. She figured out that although it was hard to distinguish viruses from the other cells, she could identify them by the antibodies that surrounded them. Her work “astounded scientists,” who used the pictures June made with the microscope to help them find and study viruses.
A scientist at St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School asked June to join his lab, and the family moved back to London. Dr. David Tyrrell, who oversaw research at the Common Cold Unit in Salisbury, Wiltshire and was baffled by an unidentifiable virus, sent June a sample from a sick boy. He had not been able to identify it or cultivate it in the lab. June successfully isolated it using new techniques she had developed herself. She created clear images of the virus, and also remembered she had seen that virus before in animals. She met with Dr. Tyrrell and others to discuss her discovery and they named it “coronavirus” because of the dots that surrounded the virus like a crown. June was only 34.
June and Henry got divorced but June continued her work even with the obligations of being a single mother. She created new virus images that helped scientists develop medicines to fight the viruses. She retired in 1985 but remained active. According to a National Geographic biography, she became a yoga instructor, learned how to restore fine china, and developed a sharp eye for antique hunting, which she often did with her second husband Phillip Gardner, also a retired virologist.
Before her death in 2007 at the age of 77, Almeida returned to St. Thomas as an advisor and helped publish some of the first high-quality images of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The book ends with more information about June and about her use of the electron microscope, a timeline, and select bibliography.
The author apprises us that although June never attended college, her research and science papers were so impressive that the University of London awarded her a master’s degree in 1970 and a doctorate the next year. By the time she retired she had written or cowrote more than 100 scientific papers.
The author also notes that COVID-19 is, as most people know, a coronavarius, but it was identified as such using the technology and methods June developed.
Colorful illustrations by Elisa Paganelli have an animation-like feel, but also include accurate representations of viruses and equipment involved in scientific methods.
Evaluation: This STEM biography for readers 8 and older is not only a fascinating story given the pandemic of COVID-19. It also teaches kids a lot how science works - both generally, in terms of collaboration and even serendipity, and specifically, in terms of identifying and capturing images of cells. It also conveys how other interests and hobbies - in June’s case - photography, can enhance thought processes and achievements all throughout someone’s life. Finally, June’s story shows that even if you are too poor to attend college, that fact won’t necessarily bar you from realizing your dreams and maybe even helping to save the world through your discoveries!
Rating: 4.5/5
June Almeida (née Hart, who lived from October 5, 1930 to December 1, 2007) was an internationally renowned virologist who pioneered new methods for viral imaging and diagnosis. She was born in Glasgow to a poor family so in spite of her passion for science she did not have the money to study at a university.
At age 16 she left school to work in order to help pay family bills. She got hired in the lab at the nearby hospital and learned to use a microscope. She and her family moved to London in 1952 and June got another job in a hospital lab, and met her future husband Enriques Rosalio (Henry) Almeida. The two moved to Canada.
The author reports that with June’s experience, she quickly got a job at a research lab in Toronto, where she began working with a powerful electron microscope that magnified things 25,000 times. She figured out that although it was hard to distinguish viruses from the other cells, she could identify them by the antibodies that surrounded them. Her work “astounded scientists,” who used the pictures June made with the microscope to help them find and study viruses.
A scientist at St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School asked June to join his lab, and the family moved back to London. Dr. David Tyrrell, who oversaw research at the Common Cold Unit in Salisbury, Wiltshire and was baffled by an unidentifiable virus, sent June a sample from a sick boy. He had not been able to identify it or cultivate it in the lab. June successfully isolated it using new techniques she had developed herself. She created clear images of the virus, and also remembered she had seen that virus before in animals. She met with Dr. Tyrrell and others to discuss her discovery and they named it “coronavirus” because of the dots that surrounded the virus like a crown. June was only 34.
June and Henry got divorced but June continued her work even with the obligations of being a single mother. She created new virus images that helped scientists develop medicines to fight the viruses. She retired in 1985 but remained active. According to a National Geographic biography, she became a yoga instructor, learned how to restore fine china, and developed a sharp eye for antique hunting, which she often did with her second husband Phillip Gardner, also a retired virologist.
Before her death in 2007 at the age of 77, Almeida returned to St. Thomas as an advisor and helped publish some of the first high-quality images of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The book ends with more information about June and about her use of the electron microscope, a timeline, and select bibliography.
The author apprises us that although June never attended college, her research and science papers were so impressive that the University of London awarded her a master’s degree in 1970 and a doctorate the next year. By the time she retired she had written or cowrote more than 100 scientific papers.
The author also notes that COVID-19 is, as most people know, a coronavarius, but it was identified as such using the technology and methods June developed.
Colorful illustrations by Elisa Paganelli have an animation-like feel, but also include accurate representations of viruses and equipment involved in scientific methods.
Evaluation: This STEM biography for readers 8 and older is not only a fascinating story given the pandemic of COVID-19. It also teaches kids a lot how science works - both generally, in terms of collaboration and even serendipity, and specifically, in terms of identifying and capturing images of cells. It also conveys how other interests and hobbies - in June’s case - photography, can enhance thought processes and achievements all throughout someone’s life. Finally, June’s story shows that even if you are too poor to attend college, that fact won’t necessarily bar you from realizing your dreams and maybe even helping to save the world through your discoveries!
Rating: 4.5/5
May 27, 2021
"جون ألميدا : شرطية تحري الفيروسات" : أول إنسان شاهد فيروس كورونا.
هذا كتاب مبسط يحتوي رسومات كرتونية، صغير الحجم - 40 صفحة - جميل المحتوى، ملائم للأطفال وحتى للكبار، حيث أنه يتناول مسيرة عالمة الفيروسات المنسية التي اكتشفت فيروس كورونا عام 1964، وكان ذلك وهي في عمر الرابعة والثلاثين؛ اسمها/
"June Almeida"
جون ألميدا، وهي بريطانية الجنسية (من القومية الاسكتلندية).
يوضح هذا الكتيب بالرسومات اليدوية الجميلة الأنيقة، أن هذه العالمة لم تتلق تعليما جامعيا وذلك على الرغم من طموحها وشغفها بالعلوم الذي كان من أسبابه وفاة شقيقها طفلا نتيجة إصابته بالمرض، وأن انقطاعها عن التعليم كان بسبب عدم تمكن والدها من الإنفاق على تعليمها لمحدودية دخله لعمله سائق باص، وأنها اضطرت للانسحاب من الدراسة وهي في سن السادسة عشرة لتعين أسرتها على مصاريف الحياة وقت شظف العيش بعد انتهاء الحرب العالمية الثانية، وكان ذلك بالعمل بوظيفة فني مختبر بمدينة "جلاسكو - اسكتلندا"، ولكن كان لديها الشغف لتتميز في عملها ببلدتها، ثم في مختبر مستشفى بلندن، ثم في مختبر معهد لأمراض السرطان في تورونتو - كندا، حيث توفر لها هناك استخدام مجهر متقدم "ميكروسكوب" قادر على تكبير صورة الأجسام بحوالي 25 ألف مرة بأكثر مما كان موجودا في عملها السابق، وقامت بتطوير تقنيات مشاهدة المجهريات الدقيقة جدا بواسطة ذلك المجهر المتطور، لتتمكن في عام 1963، من مشاهدة الفيروسات التي لم يسبق وأن تمكن أحد من مشاهدتها، ثم نشرت أوراقا علمية تصف تركيبة الفيروسات، ثم تمكنت في عام 1964، من ملاحظة وجود فيروس كورونا الذي يصيب الجهاز التنفسي للإنسان، وتوضيح ذلك لاحقا في ورقة علمية أعدتها بالمشاركة مع الطبيب الذي استعان بها لتشخيص مرض طفل مصاب بذلك الفيروس الذي تم تمييزه في حينه بإعطائه الرمز "B814"، لتحصل بعدها على درجتي الماجستير والدكتوراه الفخريتين من بريطانيا خاصة وأن اكتشافها لفيروس كورونا الممرض للإنسان كان من بين عدد هائل من الفيروسات في الأرض، عدد يفوق عدد نجوم الكون، وأن القليل النادر منها قادر على التسبب بالضرر للإنسان.
ولدت جون ألميدا في 5 اكتوبر 1930، ورحلت عن الدنيا في 1 ديسمبر 2007، وذلك عن عمر ناهز 77 عاما، وأجزم أن لو طال عمرها حتى العام 2020، الذي شهد جائحة كوفيد 19، لكان لها شأن آخر وقدر أكبر بكثير مما كان لها وقت وفاتها.
تطرق الكتاب لما سبق اكتشافها إصابة الإنسان بفيروس كورونا، وذلك بملاحظتها لفيروس مشابه في دجاج مريض، ثم ملاحظتها لفيروس مشابه آخر في فأر مصاب بمرض في الكبد، وأنها قامت في حينه بإعداد ورقة علمية عن هذين الفيروسين على أساس أنهما من مجموعة جديدة من الفيروسات، ولكن تم رفض تلك الورقة على افتراض أن ما شاهدته لم يكن نوعين مختلفين من الفيروسات ينتميان لمجموعة واحدة، وإنما مجرد صورة مشوشة لفيروس الإنفلونزا .. ولكن استعانة أحد الأطباء بها لكشف غموض طالب مريض أدى لملاحظتها أن مرض ذلك الطالب بسبب فيروس من نفس مجموعة الفيروسين المذكورين، وتم نشر بحثهما المشترك بعد عام من تعرفها على الفيروس الذي تسبب بمرض الطفل المذكور، ثم تم عام 1968 تسمية ذلك الفيروس "كورونا"، وذلك نسبة لشكله الهلالي الشبيه بالتاج - "كراون" باللغة الانجليزية.
صدر هذا الكتيب البسيط اللغة الجميل الإخراج، في منتصف شهر مارس 2021، متضمنا 40 صفحة، وأتوقع له انتشارا كبيرا جدا بسبب جائحة كوفيد 19، وبسبب ملاءمته للمدارس الدولية كمنهج قراءة حرة للنشء.
هذا كتاب مبسط يحتوي رسومات كرتونية، صغير الحجم - 40 صفحة - جميل المحتوى، ملائم للأطفال وحتى للكبار، حيث أنه يتناول مسيرة عالمة الفيروسات المنسية التي اكتشفت فيروس كورونا عام 1964، وكان ذلك وهي في عمر الرابعة والثلاثين؛ اسمها/
"June Almeida"
جون ألميدا، وهي بريطانية الجنسية (من القومية الاسكتلندية).
يوضح هذا الكتيب بالرسومات اليدوية الجميلة الأنيقة، أن هذه العالمة لم تتلق تعليما جامعيا وذلك على الرغم من طموحها وشغفها بالعلوم الذي كان من أسبابه وفاة شقيقها طفلا نتيجة إصابته بالمرض، وأن انقطاعها عن التعليم كان بسبب عدم تمكن والدها من الإنفاق على تعليمها لمحدودية دخله لعمله سائق باص، وأنها اضطرت للانسحاب من الدراسة وهي في سن السادسة عشرة لتعين أسرتها على مصاريف الحياة وقت شظف العيش بعد انتهاء الحرب العالمية الثانية، وكان ذلك بالعمل بوظيفة فني مختبر بمدينة "جلاسكو - اسكتلندا"، ولكن كان لديها الشغف لتتميز في عملها ببلدتها، ثم في مختبر مستشفى بلندن، ثم في مختبر معهد لأمراض السرطان في تورونتو - كندا، حيث توفر لها هناك استخدام مجهر متقدم "ميكروسكوب" قادر على تكبير صورة الأجسام بحوالي 25 ألف مرة بأكثر مما كان موجودا في عملها السابق، وقامت بتطوير تقنيات مشاهدة المجهريات الدقيقة جدا بواسطة ذلك المجهر المتطور، لتتمكن في عام 1963، من مشاهدة الفيروسات التي لم يسبق وأن تمكن أحد من مشاهدتها، ثم نشرت أوراقا علمية تصف تركيبة الفيروسات، ثم تمكنت في عام 1964، من ملاحظة وجود فيروس كورونا الذي يصيب الجهاز التنفسي للإنسان، وتوضيح ذلك لاحقا في ورقة علمية أعدتها بالمشاركة مع الطبيب الذي استعان بها لتشخيص مرض طفل مصاب بذلك الفيروس الذي تم تمييزه في حينه بإعطائه الرمز "B814"، لتحصل بعدها على درجتي الماجستير والدكتوراه الفخريتين من بريطانيا خاصة وأن اكتشافها لفيروس كورونا الممرض للإنسان كان من بين عدد هائل من الفيروسات في الأرض، عدد يفوق عدد نجوم الكون، وأن القليل النادر منها قادر على التسبب بالضرر للإنسان.
ولدت جون ألميدا في 5 اكتوبر 1930، ورحلت عن الدنيا في 1 ديسمبر 2007، وذلك عن عمر ناهز 77 عاما، وأجزم أن لو طال عمرها حتى العام 2020، الذي شهد جائحة كوفيد 19، لكان لها شأن آخر وقدر أكبر بكثير مما كان لها وقت وفاتها.
تطرق الكتاب لما سبق اكتشافها إصابة الإنسان بفيروس كورونا، وذلك بملاحظتها لفيروس مشابه في دجاج مريض، ثم ملاحظتها لفيروس مشابه آخر في فأر مصاب بمرض في الكبد، وأنها قامت في حينه بإعداد ورقة علمية عن هذين الفيروسين على أساس أنهما من مجموعة جديدة من الفيروسات، ولكن تم رفض تلك الورقة على افتراض أن ما شاهدته لم يكن نوعين مختلفين من الفيروسات ينتميان لمجموعة واحدة، وإنما مجرد صورة مشوشة لفيروس الإنفلونزا .. ولكن استعانة أحد الأطباء بها لكشف غموض طالب مريض أدى لملاحظتها أن مرض ذلك الطالب بسبب فيروس من نفس مجموعة الفيروسين المذكورين، وتم نشر بحثهما المشترك بعد عام من تعرفها على الفيروس الذي تسبب بمرض الطفل المذكور، ثم تم عام 1968 تسمية ذلك الفيروس "كورونا"، وذلك نسبة لشكله الهلالي الشبيه بالتاج - "كراون" باللغة الانجليزية.
صدر هذا الكتيب البسيط اللغة الجميل الإخراج، في منتصف شهر مارس 2021، متضمنا 40 صفحة، وأتوقع له انتشارا كبيرا جدا بسبب جائحة كوفيد 19، وبسبب ملاءمته للمدارس الدولية كمنهج قراءة حرة للنشء.
May 9, 2021
I’m guessing most of you haven’t heard of June Almeida, or at least not before coronavirus took over our lives in the last year. Even though Almeida is no longer alive, her research has played a huge factor in doctors and medical researchers understanding how coronaviruses affect the body.
June grew up in a modest home in Scotland but had a strong interest in science and learning. When she was ten, her younger brother, Harry, became very sick and died. June thought of her brother often and her passion for science grew. She also loved reading and photography, especially noticing small details in her photos. Even though she had to leave school at the age of sixteen to help contribute to the family, she applied to a hospital and got a job in the lab. She was mostly self-taught and eventually became a much sought-after scientist.
Because of her attention to detail with photography and using a microscope that took photos of samples, she was able to realize that blobs were actual a virus that caused people to have nasty colds. Because the virus in the microscope looked like it had a crown around it, the virus was named coronavirus. Corona is Latin for crown. I personally found this book so interesting as I hadn’t heard of June Almeida before.
Even though this is a picture book, it is more appropriate for elementary-aged children. There are really wonderful illustrations that add a lot of detail and interest to the story. I especially think children will like seeing what the coronavirus looked like to June in the microscope.
If your children or students have questions about where the coronavirus came from or how doctors are learning how to treat the virus, this is an excellent book that explains things in easy-to-understand terms. Keep in mind this book doesn’t talk about COVID-19 specifically, but how the virus was found many years ago. It’s more a biography of Almeida’s life and her research that happens to include finding the coronavirus.
The end of the book includes a timeline of June Almeida’s life and a biography of June written more for adults. There is also a bibliography of resources if you are interested in learning more.
June grew up in a modest home in Scotland but had a strong interest in science and learning. When she was ten, her younger brother, Harry, became very sick and died. June thought of her brother often and her passion for science grew. She also loved reading and photography, especially noticing small details in her photos. Even though she had to leave school at the age of sixteen to help contribute to the family, she applied to a hospital and got a job in the lab. She was mostly self-taught and eventually became a much sought-after scientist.
Because of her attention to detail with photography and using a microscope that took photos of samples, she was able to realize that blobs were actual a virus that caused people to have nasty colds. Because the virus in the microscope looked like it had a crown around it, the virus was named coronavirus. Corona is Latin for crown. I personally found this book so interesting as I hadn’t heard of June Almeida before.
Even though this is a picture book, it is more appropriate for elementary-aged children. There are really wonderful illustrations that add a lot of detail and interest to the story. I especially think children will like seeing what the coronavirus looked like to June in the microscope.
If your children or students have questions about where the coronavirus came from or how doctors are learning how to treat the virus, this is an excellent book that explains things in easy-to-understand terms. Keep in mind this book doesn’t talk about COVID-19 specifically, but how the virus was found many years ago. It’s more a biography of Almeida’s life and her research that happens to include finding the coronavirus.
The end of the book includes a timeline of June Almeida’s life and a biography of June written more for adults. There is also a bibliography of resources if you are interested in learning more.
April 2, 2023
The book “June Almeida, Virus Detective! The Woman who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus” written by Suzanne Slade is a book directed towards children, but can be enjoyed and can be educational for all ages. It tells the story of a virologist who first discovered the coronavirus in the 1960s in a fun, simple way.
The book is surprisingly detailed considering it’s a children’s book. The author covers Almeida’s early childhood/ life, her career and achievements, and shares some personal details as well. Some of the specific information this book provides is the process that Almeida used to actually discover the virus. Though the book provides more details than this, the process she used began with a glass tool and water to separate the virus, and then using acid to change its color, and then using an electron beam to see the virus in the microscope. The author also discusses Almeida’s life in more depth towards the back of the book with writing that looks more suitable for older students, which is why I believe this book is very versatile and can be enjoyed by a range of ages. The balance of illustration and writing is what I believe makes this book interesting. The writing isn't very complex for people of my age, but the illustrations provided something creative that kept me invested in the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers because it's a good way to get children more advanced with their reading and comprehension skills, and obviously because that's who this book is intended for. In the case that I would recommend this book to older readers, it would be because it is a good tool for basic knowledge on the subject. I think that this book was very well written, interesting, and educational.
The book is surprisingly detailed considering it’s a children’s book. The author covers Almeida’s early childhood/ life, her career and achievements, and shares some personal details as well. Some of the specific information this book provides is the process that Almeida used to actually discover the virus. Though the book provides more details than this, the process she used began with a glass tool and water to separate the virus, and then using acid to change its color, and then using an electron beam to see the virus in the microscope. The author also discusses Almeida’s life in more depth towards the back of the book with writing that looks more suitable for older students, which is why I believe this book is very versatile and can be enjoyed by a range of ages. The balance of illustration and writing is what I believe makes this book interesting. The writing isn't very complex for people of my age, but the illustrations provided something creative that kept me invested in the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers because it's a good way to get children more advanced with their reading and comprehension skills, and obviously because that's who this book is intended for. In the case that I would recommend this book to older readers, it would be because it is a good tool for basic knowledge on the subject. I think that this book was very well written, interesting, and educational.
September 8, 2021
As a child, June loved school and discovering new things in science.
She also loved her baby brother Harry. When she was ten he died of a serious illness. As she grew up, June never forgot him and the illness that took him away at such a young age.
Apart from studying biology and finding out about cells and their jobs, she also enjoyed photographing nature.
To help support her family, June left school at 16 and obtained a job at a local hospital. She gained skills in using a microscope. Several years later she used these skills when she started working with a powerful electron microscope.
Instead of using light, this huge microscope shot a beam of electrons at the sample being examined. It recored how the electrons acted when they hit the sample and then created a detailed picture...The microscope's photos were helpful. But it was hard to tell which tiny blobs were viruses and which were cells....June was determined to get better pictures.
Using her photography and electron microscope skills, June blasted antibodies and virus cells with an electron beam. "The antibodies "crowded around the virus--just as she'd hoped."
Her excellent pictures made her famous in the scientific world. A London scientist sent her a mysterious virus no one in his lab could identify.
June used a technique called negative staining and spotted the mystery virus!
Years earlier she'd seen two other viruses that looked like this virus, but researchers rejected her paper saying she couldn't have possibly found a new virus.
But in 1964 she did. She and the scientists named it Coronavirus.
She also loved her baby brother Harry. When she was ten he died of a serious illness. As she grew up, June never forgot him and the illness that took him away at such a young age.
Apart from studying biology and finding out about cells and their jobs, she also enjoyed photographing nature.
To help support her family, June left school at 16 and obtained a job at a local hospital. She gained skills in using a microscope. Several years later she used these skills when she started working with a powerful electron microscope.
Instead of using light, this huge microscope shot a beam of electrons at the sample being examined. It recored how the electrons acted when they hit the sample and then created a detailed picture...The microscope's photos were helpful. But it was hard to tell which tiny blobs were viruses and which were cells....June was determined to get better pictures.
Using her photography and electron microscope skills, June blasted antibodies and virus cells with an electron beam. "The antibodies "crowded around the virus--just as she'd hoped."
Her excellent pictures made her famous in the scientific world. A London scientist sent her a mysterious virus no one in his lab could identify.
June used a technique called negative staining and spotted the mystery virus!
Years earlier she'd seen two other viruses that looked like this virus, but researchers rejected her paper saying she couldn't have possibly found a new virus.
But in 1964 she did. She and the scientists named it Coronavirus.
May 23, 2022
Interesting to learn about June Hart Almeida’s early family life that inspired her interest in medicine, her work with numerous medical laboratories, and her work with (negative staining) virus imaging using a TEM —transmission electron microscope.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, 1930, she later worked with research labs, hospitals and medical schools in London and Ontario, Canada. She photographed (created micrographs) of the first human (crown) corona virus in 1964. She also produced the first Rubella images, discovered that the Hepatitis B Virus had two parts in 1971, and helped publish early images of the HIV virus in the 1980’s. She later died in 2007.
Lovely illustrations by Elisa Paganelli.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, 1930, she later worked with research labs, hospitals and medical schools in London and Ontario, Canada. She photographed (created micrographs) of the first human (crown) corona virus in 1964. She also produced the first Rubella images, discovered that the Hepatitis B Virus had two parts in 1971, and helped publish early images of the HIV virus in the 1980’s. She later died in 2007.
Lovely illustrations by Elisa Paganelli.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2021
This book is a true story about June Almedia who discovered the first traces of the Corona virus many years ago. It tells the story of her life and how smart she was. Her family moved around and she always landed a job because of her science skills. She discovered lots of new techniques and viruses. I really like this book and how it shows a woman and her smarts and skills in her life. It also talks about something relatable now and it's interesting to know the back story of the virus. I give this book 4 stars because the layout was confusing and hard to follow. Several times I was reading the wrong section and had to go back because I could not follow. Otherwise, a really good read.
May 26, 2021
Our class had the opportunity to join award-winning science author Suzanne Slade and Italian illustrator Elisa Paganelli for a live reading with Q&A of their new book June Almeida, Virus Detective! The picture book features not only the story of the female virologist who used an electron microscope to discover the first human coronavirus. It also includes original photographs, illustrated timeline, afterward, and poem: “Virus, Virus, shining bright, In the phosphorescent night, What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fivefold symmetry.” A relevant read to inspire and enlighten all citizens of this global pandemic.
April 8, 2024
This book is for children. The key topic is to teach us the life of this scientist. This book shows kids that they can be who they want to be. As a young girl June wanted to become a scientist and that’s exactly what she came to do when she grew up. She was very good at what she did and other scientists looked up to her. She even found a new virus known as the coronavirus. This is something kids should learn about because they should know what people had to go through during this time. Overall, I rate this book a 5/5 because they do an amazing job at teaching students different things, one being that you can succeed at anything as long as you put your mind to it.
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April 3, 2021This is a good picture book biography of a woman in science. June Almeida discovered the first human coronavirus back in the 1960s. Although it's only tangentially related to COVID-19, it's likely to be of special interest now and for the next few years while we process the pandemic. Add to your shelves for women's history month, especially if you are in need of more books about smart women in science and medicine.
June 14, 2021
About Almeida, starting from childhood but focusing on her virology work and how her background in photography fed into that. Her work on coronaviruses is included and highlighted, but it's not the focus of the book.
The endnotes talk more about Almeida's work, especially with the TEM, and ties her coronavirus work to SARS-CoV-2. Timeline in the endnotes does not show events spaced properly in time.
The endnotes talk more about Almeida's work, especially with the TEM, and ties her coronavirus work to SARS-CoV-2. Timeline in the endnotes does not show events spaced properly in time.
January 3, 2022
An interesting and timely book. I think a lot of kids would find comfort in knowing that there have been new viruses before and that scientists figure out how to take pictures of them and detect them. The book could be tied into some youth level news articles on current events with the pandemic. It could also be tied into how past work in science fields build modern work in science fields and doing research on different discoveries, overlooked scientists, or women in STEM.
May 16, 2022
The older elementary reader will find the topic interesting and intriguing since it is very timely. The illustrations complement the text and convey the mood of the subject throughout the book. The inclusion of photos, a timeline and back matter rich with information about the electron microscope and additional information about June and her research. The author’s writing style makes the topic accessible to younger readers and draws them into the storyline.
July 6, 2021
Really interesting biography about June Almeida. Slade covers ALOT of information in this book. The text is pretty straight forward. It's weird because I don't always love when a picture book biography gets too flowery but I felt like this one needed a little bit of pizazz. Still very very interesting though!
July 7, 2021
Interesting life story of the women who first saw and identified human coronavirus.
Focuses mainly on her work using microscopes to identify viruses and the various methods she used to determine what a "blob" she saw under the microscope was.
Back matter is interesting and includes the factoid that she was granted a masters and PhD even though she never went to college.
Focuses mainly on her work using microscopes to identify viruses and the various methods she used to determine what a "blob" she saw under the microscope was.
Back matter is interesting and includes the factoid that she was granted a masters and PhD even though she never went to college.
January 10, 2022
A comprehensive biography of June Almeida - a terrific scientist and single mother who lived in Canada, Scotland, and London. I love the inclusion of Almeida's poem (an adaptation of "The tyger"): “Virus, Virus, shining bright,/In the phosphotungstic night,/What immortal hand or eye,/Dare frame thy fivefold symmetry”
February 19, 2022
My own personal opinion is that it was pushed to accompany all the other picture-book biographies that are filling our library shelves. I, personally, am getting a bit burnt out on them, and they need to have something special to wow me. Thus only 3.4 stars.
However, it is an important book, very carefully worked out, admirable subject... I do recommend it to families and other educators.
However, it is an important book, very carefully worked out, admirable subject... I do recommend it to families and other educators.
October 5, 2022
4 stars This was an awesome and interesting story. We have been plagued with this stupid virus since the 1960s and June is the first one to discover and documents it.
He story is great, no formal education (she eventually did but that was after she discovered the Coronavirus. A great science and women science book!
He story is great, no formal education (she eventually did but that was after she discovered the Coronavirus. A great science and women science book!
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