One Step Further

December 7, 2020
Famed Black NASA “human computer” Johnson is joined by two of her daughters in this familial autobiography, which parallels Johnson’s life with her children’s. In an honest, conversational tone, Johnson tells of facing segregation and sexism as a Black woman in an overwhelmingly white male environment (“There were things you could count—steps, plates, musical beats—and things you could count on.... But you could also count on life being hard”). She also describes her daughters following in her footsteps (becoming educators and a NASA mathematician), showing how her pioneering steps paved the way for the next generation. Engaging,
collage-style art augments the text, with speech bubbles, archival family photographs, and Barlow’s child-friendly illustrations. Concurrently accessible and intimate, this book will both inform readers and inspire them to reach for the stars. Back matter includes historical notes and context, a timeline, a glossary, and an illustrator’s note. Ages 4–8.

December 1, 2020

K-Gr 3-Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) had many roles: teacher, brilliant mathematician, role model, trailblazer for racial and gender equality, and devoted mother of three daughters. Written with two of her daughters, Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore, this autobiographical picture book provides a fantastic account of Johnson's life. Johnson grew up as a math-loving little girl in West Virginia and graduated from high school at the age of 14. She earned her college degree from West Virginia State University (formerly West Virginia State College) and worked as an educator before joining NASA in 1953. Johnson's narrative is paired with speech bubbles, which contain Joylette and Kathy's personal insights and anecdotes. Charming illustrations are wonderfully juxtaposed with historical images, family photographs, and personal mementos like Johnson's report card. Young readers will come away with a clearer understanding of the gender discrimination faced by women in the workplace, racial segregation, and Jim Crow laws. The back matter describes additional details and the historical events that impacted Johnson's career and family. There's no greater tribute to her legacy than that her daughters followed in her footsteps. Joylette became a mathematician and worked for NASA. Kathy, as well as sister Connie, became teachers. VERDICT A compelling personal account from a remarkable woman and her family.-Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2020
Preschool-Grade 3 Written by former NASA "computer" Katherine Johnson and two of her daughters, this picture book recalls the family's experiences during the 1950s and '60s, encompassing both the space race and the civil rights struggle. Johnson narrates the main text, telling of her youth, her career, and her family. In 1952, they moved to an area with more employment opportunities, though elements of racial discrimination, such as hostile attitudes and a "colored only" beach," were persistent and disturbing. As the girls grew up, their mother worked hard on the space program, while they earned college degrees, and one participated in the Greensboro sit-ins. Decades later, Johnson was honored for her work. In keeping with the intended audience, references to the times focus on the unfairness rather than the violence of racial prejudice in the 1950s and 1960s. Illustrations include both archival photos and original art, of which the imaginative scenes of Katherine Johnson against starry-sky backgrounds are the most effective. A concise, engaging story of a Black family in the South during the civil rights era.

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