Katherine Johnson

By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Jemma Skidmore (Illustrator)

Part of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series

A mathematician's calculations change the course of space exploration.

4.4/5 Goodreads · 143 ratings

32 pages

$15.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician, defies racial barriers to join NASA, where her calculations are crucial to the Apollo 11 moon landing. How did her tenacity change space exploration forever?

From the publisher

Learn about the incredible story of Katherine Johnson! The trailblazer whose calculations changed the future of space exploration.Little Katherine loved learning and her favorite subject was math. In class, she worked so hard that she was able to move up to high school four years early! Due to the racist laws of the time, Katherine’s family had to move town for her to go to a school where Black students were admitted. After high school and college, she was accepted to one of West Virginia’s top universities, and was the first Black woman to attend. In 1953, she joined the U.S. space agency, which later became NASA. Alongside other talented African American women, Katherine’s mathematical skills were essential to the early successes of the space programme. She was part of the team that planned the Apollo 11 mission which landed the first people on the moon! Katherine’s tenacity and expertise led to the dawn of a new era for humankind, making her an inspiration to all of us. This powerful book is the perfect gift for STEM and space enthusiasts. It features quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of Katherine’s life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

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