Counting on Katherine

June 1, 2018

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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2018
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 school--from 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)

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July 9, 2018
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 1, 2018
Grades K-3 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)