Determined Dreamer: The Story of Marie Curie: An Accessible Picture Book About the Two-Time Nobel Prize Winner for Kids

by Deborah Hopkinson, Jenn Hill (Illustrations)

This is a comprehensive and accessible picture book biography of Marie Curie, the groundbreaking scientist and two-time Nobel Prize winner, from an acclaimed author and illustrator duo. Before Marie Curie was the first woman in France to earn the highest degree in physics, before she discovered two new radioactive elements, and became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (and then the first person to win two!)— she was a little girl named Marie Sklodowska who dreamed of being a scientist—and was determined to make that dream come true. This is an accessible and compelling homage to Marie Curie, whose life and legacy continue to inspire to this very day.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Stem, History

40 pages, Hardcover

Published February 27, 2024

About the author

I write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. (Deborahhopkinson@yahoo.com)

NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.

I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Determined Dreamer shows how Marie Skłodowska Curie was captivated by radioactivity and spent her life laboring to understand it. I appreciated how Hopkinson went into more detail about the work Skłodowska Curie had to do to isolate a tenth of a gram of radium. Hill's illustrations show Skłodowska Curie aging, which was really good to see since many picture book biographies seem to be about eternal 24-year-olds. The way Hill draws Skłodowska Curie is also not too stylized to be recognizable.

Back matter includes an author's note, a timeline, and a short list of works cited. One slight factual adjustment is needed here. Marie Skłodowska Curie received the Nobel prize in physics in 1903 (at her husband's insistence, as the committee snubbed her) and the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1911, becoming the first person ever to receive two Nobel prizes. Since Skłodowska Curie, four other people have received two Nobel prizes, but for nearly thirty years, Skłodowska Curie remained the only person to receive two Nobel prizes in two different areas. (In 1962, Linus Pauling received his second Nobel, the peace prize [first was chemistry in 1954].) It's well worth noting that Marie Skłodowska Curie remains the only person to receive two Nobel prizes in different scientific areas. Nobel prizes aren't everything, certainly not the best or most important measure of scientific achievement, but it's distinctive in the case of Skłodowska Curie and her yet-to-be-superseded achievement in a society that actively conspired to hold her back because of her gender, ethnicity, and lifestyle.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this pictorial biography of famed scientist Marie Curie (born Maria Sklodowska), we learn all about her life accompanied by full-color illustrations.

Born in 1867 in Poland, Marie wanted to attend university, but couldn’t in her home country. She & her sister ended up moving to France where they could attend as women. The book details her life at university and how she met her husband, Pierre Currie. It also goes into much detail about her discovery of radioactivity, particularly the radium element. Marie goes on to win 2 Nobel prizes, one in physics & one in Chemistry. An author’s note accompanies the text.

This book is highly recommended for grades K-5 or to use as an introduction to her work in later grades.

S.T.
School Librarian

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Marie Curie's life and her discoveries. I knew some of the details, but not all. And this story of her remarkable advancements in science really touched me. I'm not sure exactly why I loved it so much, but I did. I love her determination and her love of learning. I love that she and her husband worked together. I love that she used her findings to help injured soldiers during the war...and that her daughter helped.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, accessible account of Curie's life (although maybe a bit too long to read to my restless students as a Mock Sibert). The fact that will stick with me is that she boiled down literally tons of ore dust over the course of four years to isolate a whopping Cheerio-weight of radium. And the information about her helping to bring X rays to the WWI battlefields was new to me.

[Marzieh Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful NF PB bio! I enjoyed refreshing my memory about this amazing lady. I'm amazed how accessible Hopkinson has made this complex topic of the discovery of radioactivity and love how it wraps up, reeling the reader in and inspiring them to cultivate their curiosity!

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading the story of a curious learner who grew up to be a Nobel prize winner. Marie Curie worked hard and even though the odds were against her, she was an intelligent scientist. Hopkinson wrote an inspiring, easy-to-understand book. I am looking forward to sharing this with my students.

[Karthika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie Curie - always inspirational. Her story is inspirational to me whenever I read it. I liked the narration, and the illustrations in this book. Some of the illustrations are very good, especially where the couple show surprise when they see the bowls glow due to radioactivity in the dark.

[Theo Scully · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ read for Capitol Choices ~

A fun picture book biography of Marie Curie - nothing revolutionary, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations and engaging writing, this is a great picture book for young readers.

[Ryan]

Reading for my EDCOR340 class book review

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enumerates all of Marie Curie's ground breaking achievements. First person to receive two Nobel Prizes. Single mother with youngest daughter age 2.