Counting on Katherine : how Katherine Johnson saved Apollo 13

First Title Value for Searching:

Personal Author:

Becker, Helaine

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm.

Summary:

You've likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home? As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe. From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, this is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.

Subject Term:

Mathematicians -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

African American women mathematicians -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Women mathematicians -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Additional Credits:

Phumiruk, Dow

Audience/Lexile:

Ages 5-9.

710 L

Publication Info:

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2018.

Subject:

Mathematicians -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

African American women mathematicians -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Women mathematicians -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Johnson, Katherine G. -- Juvenile literature.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration -- Officials and employees -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Johnson, Katherine, 1918-

Coleman, Katherine, 1918-2020

Goble, Katherine, 1918-2020

N.A.S.A.

NASA

NASA Headquarters

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)

Nat͡sionalʹnoe upravlenie po aėronavtike i issledovanii͡u kosmicheskogo prostranstva SShA

United States. Administración Nacional de Aeronáutica y del Espacio

United States. Aeronautics and Space Administration

United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Agency

Afro-American women mathematicians

Women mathematicians, African American

Women as mathematicians

SAILS ISBN:

9781250137524

Available:

Library	Shelf Number	Shelf Location	Status
Searching... Pembroke Public Library	JE BECKER, H.	PICTURE BOOKS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Dartmouth - North	JB JOHNSON BEC	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Dartmouth - Southworth	JB JOHNSON BEC	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Dartmouth - Southworth	JB JOHNSON BEC	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Elizabeth Taber Library	J B JOH	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Fairhaven-Millicent	JB JOH BEC	CHILDREN NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Foxboro - Boyden Library	EJ BIO JOHNSON / BECKER	EASY READERS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Hanson Public Library	B JOHNSON	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Mattapoisett Free Public Library	J B JOHNSON	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... New Bedford High School	B JOHNSON	PICTURE BOOKS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... New Bedford Howland-Green Branch	J BHPIC BECKER	PICTURE BOOKS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Norfolk Public Library	JE SPACE EXPLORATION JOHN	EASY NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Palmer River School	B JOH	1:SEL	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Raynham Library	JBIOG 92 JOH	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Rochester - Plumb Library	E BEC	PICTURE BOOKS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Seekonk - Aitken School	E 92 JOH	EASY BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Seekonk Public Library	921 JOHNSON	CHILDREN NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Somerset Public Library	YB JOHNSON, KATHERINE	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Swansea Public Library	C B JOHNSON, K	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Wareham Free Library	JP BEC	PICTURE BOOKS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Wareham Free Library	J B JOHNSON 2018	CHILDREN BIOGRAPHY	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

The bold story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures.

You've likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home?

As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe.

From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.

Christy Ottaviano Books

Reviews (5)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-3--Featuring engaging text and captivating illustrations, this picture book introduces the amazing life of mathematician Katherine Johnson to young readers. Becker captures the drive and determination of Johnson through well-written text and a few puns; for instance, the phrase "You can count on me" is repeated by Johnson and once by her father. The narrative details both Johnson's joyful childhood and her fury at segregated public schools; however, in discussing the challenges Johnson faced at NASA, Becker mainly focuses on sexism. The text doesn't mention segregation at NASA, but it is portrayed in the illustrations. Becker compellingly conveys Johnson's reputation for accuracy and her -critical -leadership role supporting many NASA programs, including Friendship 7, Apollo 11, Apollo 12, and Apollo 13. John Glenn would not fly until Johnson had signed off on the numbers for his trip. Phumiruk's renderings help to elucidate scientific principles and bring the story to life. In addition, the images of blackboards teeming with mathematical equations that appear on the endpapers add to the book's appeal. The work concludes with additional in-depth information about Johnson's life along with a list of sources. VERDICT Sure to inspire a new generation of mathematicians. A solid addition to biography collections.-Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

In Becker's biography of the NASA mathematician, readers first meet Johnson as a child with boundless curiosity and a remarkable aptitude for mathematics. Due to segregation, Johnson's family moved to a town with a black high school so that she could continue her studies. Her interest in research mathematics eventually led her to employment at NASA, doing the "tasks that men thought were boring and unimportant." On the contrary, Becker emphasizes, the roles that Johnson and other women played were essential to determining a spaceship's trajectory-a point made clear as Johnson calculates the flight path to ensure the safe return of Apollo 13. Phumiruk works in a crisp, uncluttered art style, infusing emotionality into more private moments of reflection. Johnson is pictured gazing at the moon, encircled with strings of mathematical equations: "She was no longer the kid who dreamed of what lay beyond the stars. She was now a star herself." Ages 5-9. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Horn Book Review

In straightforward text with a folksy refrain of "count on me," this picture book biography introduces the life of math genius, NASA computer, and Hidden Figures notable Katherine Johnson, culminating in her Apollo 13 triumph. Phumiruk's illustrations, created in Photoshop with scans of watercolors and textures, are clean and precise; small figures give way to a dramatic close-up of Johnson calculating the safe flight path home. Bib. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

A picture-book biography of a humble genius who excelled in a career once out of reach for most African-Americans.The 2016 film Hidden Figures tells the story of three black women who began working as human computers in the early 1950s for the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, which later became NASA. This book focuses on the life of one of those women, Katherine Johnson. From an early age, Katherine loved numbers and counted everything. Skipping three grades in school, Katherine was ready for high school at age 10, but her hometown in West Virginia allowed only white students to attend the high school. Her family moved to Institute, West Virginia, to enable Katherine to attend a black high schoolfrom which she graduated at 14. Becker emphasizes Katherine's tenacity, competence, creativity, and intellectual curiosity as she gains the trust of the astronauts whose safety and success depended on the work of the human computers. Phumiruk's stylistically varied, colorful illustrations feature mathematical computations and notes in the backgrounds, emphasizing Katherine's passion for numbers. Becker makes good use of the title, playing on different forms of the word "count" throughout the story, as when Katherine says, "Count on me" to calculate the Apollo's flight paths. An excellent biography that will inspire young readers, especially girls, to do what they love. (Picture book/biography. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

This picture-book biography introduces Katherine Johnson as a curious child who loves to count. She skips three grades, starts high school early, and later becomes a teacher. After hearing that the space program is hiring black women as mathematicians, she begins a new career. Johnson, who earns a reputation for accuracy, imagination, and leadership, makes significant contributions to important Mercury and Apollo missions, including the Apollo 11 moon landing and the challenging Apollo 13 spaceflight. The book's back matter offers more biographical facts and a list of sources, including a personal interview with Johnson in 2015. The straightforward, informative text is paired with delicate, precise digital artwork. Though in some scenes the characters look rather static and similar to one another, the illustrations are effective in creating the settings, illustrating events, and demonstrating concepts. This very worthwhile book closes with a memorable image of Johnson standing alone, encircled by sweeping flight paths and formulas, which connect her visually with the enormous moon that fills her view of the night sky.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist