Aerospace Engineer Aprille Ericsson

April 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-Featuring brilliant and fascinating visionaries, this informative and inspiring series makes high intelligence and an exceptional aptitude for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects seem relevant. In addition, the authors render complicated topics clear and comprehensible. Enhanced by high-quality color photos, these well-written, up-to-date titles introduce individuals with whom many students won't be familiar. Readers with an interest in STEM will certainly want to emulate these accomplished figures, though. Students and educators will also appreciate the diverse representation. Thoughtful personal quotes about the subjects' lives and careers are included in "Tech Talk" boxes. VERDICT Highly recommended, especially where current biographies, particularly of those involved in STEM careers, are needed and requested; strong supplemental reading for science classes, too.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015
Grades 3-5 Their names may not be familiar, but their work is recognizable around the world. These titles in the STEM Trailblazer Bios series introduce cutting-edge engineers and scientists through accessible text and high-quality color photographs. Each biography traces the engineer's or scientist's childhood, guiding ambitions, education, and indomitable spirit that led them to succeed in a STEM career. Aerospace Engineer Aprille Ericsson examines how she didn't let her race or gender stop her from becoming the first African American woman at Goddard Space Flight Center to earn a PhD in engineering or beginning a career at NASA, working on space missions and studying Earth's climate change. With a focus on modern engineers and scientists, this series fills a gap in STEM collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)