Who Did It First? 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World

by Julie Leung, Caitlin Kuhwald (Illustrator), Alex Hart (Editor)

Overview

A boldly illustrated and fascinating collection of profiles featuring the women and men who were pioneers of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.

You likely know that Mae Jemison was the first African American woman in space. And maybe you know that Jane Goodall was the first human accepted into a chimpanzee community. But you might not know that Alan Turing was the first person to introduce the concept of artificial intelligence. Or that Tu Youyou was the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Who Did It First? 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World brings together all of these trailblazers into one stunning package. With both well-known figures and lesser-known heroes, editor Alex Hart, writer Julie Leung, and illustrator Caitlin Kuhwald celebrate the inspiring innovators who braved uncharted waters to pave the path for future generations.

Perfect for fans of Little Leaders, Women in Science, and Rad Women Worldwide, Who Did It First? makes a wonderful gift for any occasion and is a must-have for every young reader’s library.

Featuring Ada Lovelace, Mindy Kaling, Temple Grandin, Maria Tallchief, Riz Ahmed, and many others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250211712
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/15/2019
Series:	Who Did It First? , #1
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,067,177
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1120L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Alex Hart is the pseudonym for a children’s book editor and author who is the first person in his family to write and publish a book. He lives with his husband in Brooklyn, New York and Hillsdale, New York.

Julie Leung works in book publishing as a marketing director by day. By night, she writes and writes. She is the author of the Mice of the Round Table series and Paper Son: The Story of Tyrus Wong. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

Caitlin Kuhwald has a BFA in illustration from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her work has appeared in various magazines, books, and even DVD covers. Additionally, Caitlin teaches illustration at University of California, San Diego. Who Did It First? 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World is her first book for children. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Editorial Reviews

"[R]ich in lesser-known figures and feats."—Kirkus

From the Publisher

10/07/2019

Gr 3–6-Arranged in chronological order, these 50 historical and contemporary figures include scientists, mathematicians, artists, and engineers who come from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. A majority of the people have a page-long description of their life and work, along with a highlighted quote, but some only receive a paragraph. There are a significant number of lesser-known innovators (Alexa Canady, the first female African-American neurosurgeon), along with familiar faces like Isaac Newton and Ada Lovelace. The real highlight of this book, however, is the artwork; Kuhwald's digitally-painted portraits depict these trailblazers in vibrant color, surrounded by settings and patterns that reflect each person's work and personality. VERDICT Although this book will not provide adequate details for a school report, it may motivate some readers to dig deeper into the lives of many inspirational pioneers.-Sarah Reid, Four County Library System, NY

School Library Journal

2019-08-28
A crew of achievers, mostly of recent vintage, STEAMs up to provide inspiration and role modeling.

Leung includes outliers Isaac Newton and 18th-century professor Maria Gaetana Agnesi in her gallery, but she favors figures of the past two centuries—all of whom made at least some contribution in science, technology, engineering, the arts, or mathematics that can be classified a "first." Seventeen of the profiles are just thumbnails, gathered into two inserted chapters; the others each receive a full-page tribute that focuses less on biographical detail than on the highlighted achievement. Some of the firsts are so hung about with qualifiers that they at least seem only marginally significant (Jennifer Yuh Nelson: "The first woman to solely direct an animated feature from a major Hollywood studio, 2011"). Most, however, merit huzzahs (Mary Golda Ross: "The first female engineer for Lockheed, 1942," and a member of the Cherokee Nation to boot), and many are likely to be new to young readers. Each entry features a motivational quote or two, some of which occupy entire pages of their own, and, from Kuhwald, a stylized but easily recognizable portrait placed in an evocative setting. The roster earns high marks for diversity, as it includes 36 women and 20 people of color or who identify as Latinx.

This broad take on "firsts" is unusually rich in lesser-known figures and feats. (timeline, illustrator's note, resource list) (Collective biography. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews