A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon

by Suzanne Slade, Veronica Miller Jamison (Illustrator)

Overview

The inspiring true story of mathematician Katherine Johnson—made famous by the award-winning film Hidden Figures—who counted and computed her way to NASA and helped put a man on the moon!


Katherine knew it was wrong that African Americans didn't have the same rights as others—as wrong as 5+5=12. She knew it was wrong that people thought women could only be teachers or nurses—as wrong as 10-5=3. And she proved everyone wrong by zooming ahead of her classmates, starting college at fifteen, and eventually joining NASA, where her calculations helped pioneer America's first manned flight into space, its first manned orbit of Earth, and the world's first trip to the moon!


Award-winning author Suzanne Slade and debut artist Veronica Miller Jamison tell the story of a NASA "computer" in this smartly written, charmingly illustrated biography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316435178
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/12/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	82,653
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Suzanne Slade holds a mechanical engineering degree and worked on NASA's Delta IV rockets. Her recent titles include The Inventor's Secret, Friends for Freedom, With Books and Bricks, and Climbing Lincoln's Steps. She lives in Illinois, and she invites you to visit her online at suzanneslade.com.


Veronica Miller Jamison is an illustrator whose clients include Essence Magazine, Bloomingdales, and Hallmark. A Computer Called Katherine is her debut picture book. She is an alumna of Howard University and Drexel University, and she lives outside Philadelphia. She invites you to visit her online at veronicamarche.com.

Editorial Reviews

01/07/2019

Slade explores the life of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. Johnson excelled in mathematics beginning in childhood but was frustrated by the lack of opportunities available to women of her era. Her perseverance and skills led her to work at a Virginia research center, where she made complex calculations, advocated for her right to attend meetings with male engineers, and eventually joined the NASA space team. Slade writes in clear, up-tempo prose, well paired with Jamison’s expressive mixed-media art, which presents Johnson as a self-assured figure in bright, jewel-toned clothing. Spreads also feature chalky mathematical computations, and the launch of Apollo 11—guided by Johnson’s meticulous calculations—is presented dynamically across three panels. An uplifting portrait of a no longer so “hidden” figure. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

An Amazon Best Book of the Month in Nonfiction for Kids for March 2019

2020 Outstanding Science Trade Books (OSTB) for Students K-12 list, by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Children's Book Council (CBC)
2020-2021 Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
Parents' Choice Silver Award


"Slade writes with appealing rhythm and repetition [and] Jamison mixes neatly composed, straightforward action with inventive, swirling images dramatizing Johnson's brilliant calculations."—New York Times

"Engaging."—Booklist

"An uplifting portrait of a no longer so 'hidden' figure."—Publishers Weekly

"Another appealing picture book biography of a successful woman."—School Library Journal

"A charming read [that] will help teach children about this amazing woman."—The Houston Chronicle

"A look into a woman's life who made such a difference in the world."—School Library Connection

"A must-read for every future mathematician who likes to ask questions and find answers."—Mashable

"With vivid watercolor illustrations and an exciting depiction of Katherine Johnson's life from early childhood through adulthood, this is a winning pick for young kids. A Computer Called Katherine offers a great way to introduce them to an important chapter in American history and an incredibly inspiring woman who helped change the world."

—Common Sense Media

"A magnificent biography of an incredible, courageous, unstoppable woman, A Computer Called Katherine is inspirational in every way."—Reading Eagle

"Inspiring, upbeat, and clever."—The Horn Book

"Her uplifting tale can encourage young readers to dream big bylearning from Katherine's historic efforts, which are too often left out of history lessons."—Mashable

From the Publisher

Winter 2018

K-Gr 3—Even as a child, Katherine Johnson loved numbers. She skipped through school, took a job as part of a team of number crunchers called "calculators," and helped figure out the trajectory of early space flights of the 1960s, even after machine computing became a part of the process. This retelling of Johnson's achievements focuses on her path as a black female mathematician. The book devotes a spread to the civil rights struggle, illustrating how people were divided about school integration; it also shows that many disagreed about whether women should work at jobs traditionally held by men. Jamison stresses how Johnson's talent for math broke both barriers. Covering much of the same ground as Helaine Becker's Counting on Katherine, the text is relatively straightforward and accessible even to listeners not yet ready for the inclusion of incorrect math problems, such as "25 ÷ 5 = 4," used as examples of how wrong some people's assumptions were. First-time illustrator Jamison relies on ink, watercolor, marker, and colored pencil to create spreads that emphasize math concepts. Often there's a faint background of the geometric images and equations shown on the end papers. Back matter includes author and artist notes about their personal connection to the subject, quotes from Johnson herself, and sources and credits. VERDICT Another appealing picture book biography of a successful woman; a strong choice for most collections.—Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

School Library Journal

★ 2018-11-12

Katherine Johnson had a passion for numbers and made herself indispensable to the early space program.

On the heels of the acclaimed book Hidden Figures, by Margot Lee Shetterly (2016), and the film of the same name, this picture book tells of one of NASA's human computers, Katherine Johnson. Katherine skipped both first and fifth grades because of her math skills, which put her ahead of her older brother in school. She finished eighth grade at age 10 and started college at 15. Throughout this compellingly told biography, the narrator compares social wrongs to miscalculated math problems, as in the sexist belief that "women could only be teachers or nurses. Katherine knew that was wrong—as wrong as 10 - 5 = 3." She also objected to segregation and to her exclusion from meetings at Langley Aeronautical Laboratory that had only ever been attended by men. Because she broke barriers that sought to limit her abilities, Katherine stands as an important example of persisting to make change. Illustrator Jamison beautifully conveys in illuminating watercolors both how much Katherine enjoyed numbers and how determined she was to succeed in a male-dominated field. Informative backmatter includes a historical timeline and notes from the author and illustrator.

An excellent way to introduce young readers to an African-American female mathematician who deserves to be remembered and celebrated. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews