2016, Written & Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky "What is this?" "Where did this come from?" "How does this work?" "I have an idea." Crack open any history book and it is easy to think that these vital STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) questions were only ever asked by men. This beautiful picturebook seeks to change that perception, asserting that women are not only a part of scientific history, but were a necessary part. From ancient Greece and China to modern day America, Women in Science highlights 50 female STEM titans and trailblazers, some who you may know (Jane Goodall, Rachel Carson, Marie Curie), and some you may not (Sau Lan Wu, Grace Hopper, Alice Ball), but all who deserve to be known. Each page in this picturebook highlights a different women, with some pages also showing infographics about the STEM field (such as lab equipment, a historical timeline, or gender statistics in the STEM field). While each page has a fair amount of text, the illustrations are beautiful enough that will hold any child's attention for the entire time it takes to read the page. Women in Science is not only inspirational, but necessary. This book could inspire so much confidence in young girls, especially the scientifically-minded. This would be great as a daily (or nightly) read for girls (I'd say 5-7 as a read-aloud, or an independent read for older readers), picking one woman at a time to talk about, while still learning about STEM and history in the process. It is sure to spark some great conversations. I also love how inclusive the book is, highlighting not just white women, but non-white women as well. Christopher Myers once wrote that children's literature should function as a map for all children, showing them what they can be and where they can go. Women in Science can be a powerful map for many young girls, and I hope it leads more girls, especially girls of color, into the STEM field—we need them!
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