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Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician
Contributor(s): Cline-Ransome, Lesa (Author), Colón, Raúl (Illustrator)
ISBN: 1534404759     ISBN-13: 9781534404755
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
OUR PRICE:   $16.19  
Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats
Published: October 2019
Qty:
Temporarily out of stock - Will ship within 2 to 5 weeks
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology
- Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography - Women
- Juvenile Nonfiction | Technology - Aeronautics, Astronautics & Space Science
Dewey: B
LCCN: 2018039827
Lexile Measure: 1030
Physical Information: 0.5" H x 8.8" W x 11" (0.95 lbs) 32 pages
Themes:
- Ethnic Orientation - African American
- Chronological Period - 20th Century
- Sex & Gender - Feminine
- Topical - Black History
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
"A detail-rich picture book." --Kirkus Reviews
"Straightforward and inviting." --School Library Journal

From award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome and acclaimed illustrator Ra l Col n comes the sensitive, informative, and inspiring picture book biography of the remarkable mathematician Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA "human computers" whose work was critical to the first US space launch.

Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or astronauts walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as "human computers" used their knowledge, pencils, adding machines, and writing paper to calculate the orbital mechanics needed to launch spacecraft. Katherine Johnson was one of these mathematicians who used trajectories and complex equations to chart the space program. Even as Virginia's Jim Crow laws were in place in the early 1950s, Katherine worked analyzing data at the NACA (later NASA) Langley laboratory.

In 1962, as NASA prepared for the orbital mission of John Glenn, Katherine Johnson was called upon and John Glenn said "get the girl" (Katherine Johnson) to run the numbers by hand to chart the complexity of the orbital flight. He knew that his flight couldn't work without her unique skills.

President Barack Obama awarded Katherine Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and her incredible life inspired the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Get to know this incredible and inspirational woman with this beautifully illustrated picture book from an award-winning duo.


Contributor Bio(s): Cline-Ransome, Lesa: - Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of many award-winning and critically acclaimed nonfiction books for young readers, including Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams; My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey; and Before She Was Harriet. She is also the author of the novel Finding Langston, which received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award and five starred reviews. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Learn more at LesaClineRansome.comColon, Raul: - Raúl Colón is the award-winning illustrator of many picture books, including Draw! an ALA Notable Book and recipient of the International Latino Book Award; Imagine! an ALA Notable Book, a New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, and a Bookpage Best Book; Susanna Reich's José! Born to Dance; Angela's Christmas by Frank McCourt; and Jill Biden's Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops. Mr. Colón lived in Puerto Rico as a young boy and now resides in New City, New York, with his family.