Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

by Helaine Becker, Dow Phumiruk (Illustrator)

Overview

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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250137524
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	06/19/2018
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	74,766
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Dow Phumiruk is the award-winning illustrator of Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo13, which won the Bank Street Cook Prize and was named an NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book as well as an NCTM Mathical Honor Book, among many other honors; An Equal Shot: How the Law Title IX Changed America; and Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines, which was an Amazon Best Book of the Year and an NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. A general pediatrician with a passion for art, Dow lives in Colorado with her family.

Editorial Reviews

07/09/2018
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)

Publishers Weekly

A Junior Library Guild Selection

An NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book

A NCTM Mathical Honor Book

Winner of the Bank Street Cook Prize

An NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People

An ILA Notable Book for a Global Society

An ILA Teachers’ Choices Reading List Selection

An Amelia Bloomer List Selection

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year

A Vermont Red Clover Award Master List Selection

A Morning Calm Medal Nominee

A Towner Award Nominee

A Silver Birch Express Award Nominee

An Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee

A Louisiana Reader’s Choice Award Nominee

A UKLA Book Award Finalist

"A picture-book biography of a humble genius who excelled in a career once out of reach for most African-Americans. An excellent biography that will inspire young readers, especially girls, to do what they love."—Kirkus, starred review

"Children who want to share in the Hidden Figures buzz can start right here . . . Phumiruk’s digital artwork convincingly portrays Johnson as brainy and imaginative. This title is ready made for “My Hero” biography reports."—The Bulletin

"Featuring engaging text and captivating illustrations, this picture book introduces the amazing life of mathematician Katherine Johnson to young readers. Sure to inspire a new generation of mathematicians. A solid addition to biography collections."—School Library Journal

"The straightforward, informative text is paired with delicate, precise digital artwork. . . Very worthwhile book."—Booklist

"Phumiruk works in a crisp, uncluttered art style, infusing emotionality into more private moments of reflection."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

06/01/2018
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

School Library Journal

★ 2018-04-16
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)

Kirkus Reviews