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Listening to the Stars: Jocelyn Bell Burnell Discovers Pulsars
A biography of astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who helped build a radio telescope that contributed to her discovery of pulsars, a new type of star. Some scientists consider it the greatest astronomical discovery of the twentieth century. Despite this achievement, she was overlooked in favor of two male colleagues when the Nobel Prize for physics was awarded. Bell is still working and teaching today, recognized for her contribution.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2021
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113 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 28, 2023
I'm always going to grab a children's book about astronomers, and I gravitate toward children's books about female scientists, too - but... often they are not great books per se. This one was excellent! I felt like it explained the concepts clearly, did a good job of highlighting challenges faced without completely dwelling on them, and had nuanced illustrations.
April 27, 2021
For JE biography collection
September 14, 2021
Another woman who didn't get credit for her discoveries while male colleagues were recognized and rewarded? Color me not surprised. A fascinating read with lovely illustrations full of girl power. I didn't know this is how pulsars got their names. I loved Jocelyn Bell Burnell's tenacity and curiosity.
August 28, 2021
Wish it explained more about the wire draped over the acreage and how it related to the radio dish we see as the radio telescope.
Hate that there's ANOTHER female scientist who didn't get credit for her discoveries. (Reminds me of Rosalind Franklin.)
For other stories about astronomers
* Listening to the Stars: Jocelyn Bell Burnell Discovers Pulsars
* Look Up!: The Story of the First Woman Astronomer
* What Miss Mitchell Saw
* She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer
* The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe
* The Boy Whose Head Was Filled With Stars: A Story About Edwin Hubble
Hate that there's ANOTHER female scientist who didn't get credit for her discoveries. (Reminds me of Rosalind Franklin.)
For other stories about astronomers
* Listening to the Stars: Jocelyn Bell Burnell Discovers Pulsars
* Look Up!: The Story of the First Woman Astronomer
* What Miss Mitchell Saw
* She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer
* The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe
* The Boy Whose Head Was Filled With Stars: A Story About Edwin Hubble
January 30, 2021
Listening to the Stars is a brief picture book biography of the scientist who discovered pulsars. It is ideal for an early grade/preschool audience. Almost-6YO T chose it as a bedtime story last night; it kept him interested, was a fitting length, and had pictures that were calming to look at (I'm contrasting this with our usual fare of Last Kids on Earth, where post-apocalyptic action hero Jack Sullivan battles monsters and zombies).
Readers will learn about Bell Burnell's pursuit of an academic (not domestic) education, her path into astronomy, and her discovery of pulsars. Readers will learn the basics of what pulsars are and how she found them using radio satellite. I was infuriated to learn that she was denied the Nobel Prize, but awed to see how many barriers she broke, both as a woman and as a scientist. I would have liked more details about her life; Listening to the Stars covers major events.
Listening to the Stars fits well into either a space theme or a women's history theme. We selected it as part of our star-themed week, alongside other space selections like Cat's Guide to the Night Sky and Mission to Space. As we read, however, similarities between Bell Burnell, Switzer, Warren, and Bader Ginsburg jumped out at us. If you're looking for a women in science book for young ones, this is a solid foundation.
Note: A review copy was provided by the publisher for our consideration and honest review.
Readers will learn about Bell Burnell's pursuit of an academic (not domestic) education, her path into astronomy, and her discovery of pulsars. Readers will learn the basics of what pulsars are and how she found them using radio satellite. I was infuriated to learn that she was denied the Nobel Prize, but awed to see how many barriers she broke, both as a woman and as a scientist. I would have liked more details about her life; Listening to the Stars covers major events.
Listening to the Stars fits well into either a space theme or a women's history theme. We selected it as part of our star-themed week, alongside other space selections like Cat's Guide to the Night Sky and Mission to Space. As we read, however, similarities between Bell Burnell, Switzer, Warren, and Bader Ginsburg jumped out at us. If you're looking for a women in science book for young ones, this is a solid foundation.
Note: A review copy was provided by the publisher for our consideration and honest review.
August 17, 2021
Listening to the Stars: Jocelyn Bell Burnell Discovers Pulsars is a children's picture book by Jodie Parachini and illustrated by Alexandra Badiu. It centers on an Irishwoman and a radio telescope change astronomy forever.
Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell is an astrophysicist from Northern Ireland who discovered the first radio pulsars as a postgraduate student in 1967. This discovery eventually earned the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974. However, she was not one of the recipients of the prize.
Parachini's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Parachini writes with adept grace with seamlessly interweaving facts. Backmatter includes a glossary, an author's note, and additional resources for books on women and astrophysics. Badiu's lush galactic illustrations rendered in vibrant blue and fuchsia hues background key scenes in Jocelyn’s life, drawn in an angular realistic style.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. This richly satisfying picture book biography centers Irish astronomer Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Born in 1943, Burnell helped construct a radio telescope as a graduate student and subsequently detected the pulsar star in 1967, deemed by some scientists to be the greatest astronomical discovery of the twentieth century.
All in all, Listening to the Stars: Jocelyn Bell Burnell Discovers Pulsars is as gorgeous as it is informative.
Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell is an astrophysicist from Northern Ireland who discovered the first radio pulsars as a postgraduate student in 1967. This discovery eventually earned the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974. However, she was not one of the recipients of the prize.
Parachini's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Parachini writes with adept grace with seamlessly interweaving facts. Backmatter includes a glossary, an author's note, and additional resources for books on women and astrophysics. Badiu's lush galactic illustrations rendered in vibrant blue and fuchsia hues background key scenes in Jocelyn’s life, drawn in an angular realistic style.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. This richly satisfying picture book biography centers Irish astronomer Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Born in 1943, Burnell helped construct a radio telescope as a graduate student and subsequently detected the pulsar star in 1967, deemed by some scientists to be the greatest astronomical discovery of the twentieth century.
All in all, Listening to the Stars: Jocelyn Bell Burnell Discovers Pulsars is as gorgeous as it is informative.
June 29, 2022
Jocelyn Bell, born in Northern Ireland in 1943, was fascinated by astronomy from the time she was a child.
In school she excelled in math, astronomy, and physics, and was often the only female in her classes. She didn’t care for the idea that astronomers had to stay up late at night, however, and decided she would listen to the galaxy rather than look at it, which could be done at any time of day.
At the University of Cambridge, she helped construct a radio telescope made of wires stretched across a 4.5 acre field. It took two years to make, and was ready in 1967.
She began to analyze the sounds it captured, and discovered pulsars - a type of neutron star that sends out radio waves when it spins. (Neutron stars are stars that have exploded and condensed into small, spinning objects, as the glossary in the back matter tells us.) Jocelyn identified the first four neutron stars ever found. But in 1974, when the Nobel Prize for physics was awarded for the discovery of pulsars, it went to the two male professors who worked with her on the project.
She went on to win other awards, however, including the $3 million Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. She used the prize money to set up a fund for young women who wanted to study the cosmos.
The book concludes with a glossary, Author’s Note, and list of other books about women in physics and astrophysics.
Charming illustrations in rich colors by Alexandra Badiu reflect her background in animation as well as her own interest in astronomy.
Evaluation: The author does a great job of presenting research into the universe in a very accessible way. It also shows the obstacles faced by girls and women when they want to participate in fields traditionally dominated by and/or restricted to men.
In school she excelled in math, astronomy, and physics, and was often the only female in her classes. She didn’t care for the idea that astronomers had to stay up late at night, however, and decided she would listen to the galaxy rather than look at it, which could be done at any time of day.
At the University of Cambridge, she helped construct a radio telescope made of wires stretched across a 4.5 acre field. It took two years to make, and was ready in 1967.
She began to analyze the sounds it captured, and discovered pulsars - a type of neutron star that sends out radio waves when it spins. (Neutron stars are stars that have exploded and condensed into small, spinning objects, as the glossary in the back matter tells us.) Jocelyn identified the first four neutron stars ever found. But in 1974, when the Nobel Prize for physics was awarded for the discovery of pulsars, it went to the two male professors who worked with her on the project.
She went on to win other awards, however, including the $3 million Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. She used the prize money to set up a fund for young women who wanted to study the cosmos.
The book concludes with a glossary, Author’s Note, and list of other books about women in physics and astrophysics.
Charming illustrations in rich colors by Alexandra Badiu reflect her background in animation as well as her own interest in astronomy.
Evaluation: The author does a great job of presenting research into the universe in a very accessible way. It also shows the obstacles faced by girls and women when they want to participate in fields traditionally dominated by and/or restricted to men.
October 25, 2020
Don’t miss this fascinating and inspiring biography of astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell. From a young age, Burnell advocated for her right to study science and didn’t let other people’s opinions of gender roles or being overlooked when others were recognized for her accomplishments stop her. She helped build a radio telescope which helped her to discover a new type of star, pulsars – which some scientists considered the greatest astronomical discovery of the twentieth century. This gripping new picture book is beautifully written and complete with stunning illustrations. Please note that I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of this beautiful new book in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2022
Honestly, the illustrations for the pages with space content were BREATHTAKING (page 21f.!!!) and I am glad Jocelyn Bell Burnell gets remembered by this too, rockstar that she is, but since this is the "Rosalind Franklin discovered the double helix and two men were awarded the Noble Prize without her" bullshit all over again I am very much caught up on the "Jocelyn handled it with grace" part, because YES she did, I've seen the interviews, she's happy her field got recognition at all, but listen to her! That woman is angry and rightfully so, and we should be letting children know that's the appropriate response to this!
That's many exclamation points, I do realise, but sexism in STEM, Jeeez
That's many exclamation points, I do realise, but sexism in STEM, Jeeez
April 24, 2022
Valuable biography of Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered pulsars yet male scientists were able to take credit for her achievements. Although there isn't a trace of misanthropy in this book, young female readers should get appropriately furious that Burnell was denied all of the acknowledgement that should have been earned from the scientific community. Some lessons for female achievers can be learned vicariously. Young readers will recognize and call out anyone who tries to take their thunder away.
January 19, 2023
A good narrative biography of astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell focusing on her big discovery of pulsars. Another woman who overcame a stupid number of hurdles to do the work she did for astrophysics. When astronomy finally gets a Nobel Prize, her name is left off the award. The digital illustrations use a lot blues and purples to complement her scientific work. Another great book for fans of the She Persisted books.
March 13, 2021
Listening to the Stars is a biography on Jocelyn Bell Burrell who was an astrophysicist who identified the first four neutron stars. Jocelyn continues to work to address the inequities in science and to provide opportunities for all girls and women interested in the stars and to follow their dreams.
April 26, 2022
Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered pulsars. My favorite part was how resilient she was. Even though her name wasn't included on the Nobel Prize list, "...she still pursued her dream of learning as much as she could about the stars." My least favorite part was when the teachers at her school thought that girls shouldn't study science. They thought cooking and sewing were more appropriate.
April 27, 2023
This book is a fascinating read about a little known scientist! Learning about Jocelyn Bell Burnell and her life throughout this book makes the reader want to know more about her life. The illustrations add to the text, it reads like a picture, and the author's note adds to the book. Two thumbs up for this book!
November 29, 2020
Love this. Inspirational biography of an underrated woman in science! Don't love the cover but the rest of the art is nice.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this eARc in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this eARc in exchange for my honest review.
April 14, 2021
Jocelyn Bell pioneered a new type of telescope, one that could hear sounds and operate during the day. While she did not receive full credit for her contributions at the time, Bell did not let that deter her from celebrating progress or listening further to the stars.
August 21, 2021
Biography of Jocelyn Bell Burnell for elementary level readers. Parachini takes readers from childhood through her career in astronomy. She addresses the unfairness Burnell faced as a woman in science including not receiving the Nobel Prize for her work. Great discussion starter as a read aloud.
November 2, 2021
The illustrations are so lovely in this book! Listening to the Stars is a fun biography - picture book about Jocelyn Bell. It talks about how she got interested in astronomy and physics and the obstacles she overcame.
January 31, 2022
I love how many awesome biographies there have been about women in STEM recently! This was a fun read, and I enjoyed learning about Jocelyn Bell Burnell. I loved the art, especially the pages showing outer space, which was stunningly vibrant. A great book for kids interested in astronomy.
February 22, 2023
Beautiful. Learned a lot, both about Jocelyn and about astronomy. Loved how this book talked about her passion, career, and discoveries, but also how she was treated in the scientific community as a woman and was passed over for her accomplishments. Definitely a higher level picture book.
February 24, 2023
An excellent book for young readers, especially young females interested in math and science, but one that also explains the complexities of the science and technology of the day as well as the expectations placed on women. History and science combined!
Want to Read
March 27, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
May 16, 2021
Wonderfully written and fascinating. .. Highly recommended!
June 5, 2021
So great to read a story about a girl passionate about astronomy. I can't believe they left her name off the Nobel Prize in 1974 when she discovered it. Ugh.
June 10, 2021
Add to Biography, Women in STEM, or Women's History Month text sets.
July 16, 2021
Great story
September 19, 2021
I wish this had talked more about the science behind a radio telescope, but it is always good to see an unrecognized scientist getting her due!
December 1, 2022
A very inspiring story that didn't take the jab at "the patriarchy" that it could have.
July 31, 2025
This did a great job explaining the science and showing different parts of the process of science, too! Felt pretty meh on the illustrations.
March 26, 2026
Good picture book biography for highlighting women in science.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews