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27May

Numbers in Motion

Posted by: annettepimentel@gmail.com Categories: Review
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Cover of picture book biography Numbers in Motion shows Sophie Kowalevski looking at numbers and equations as she spins a child's top

Numbers in Motion tells the inspiring story of Sophie Kowalevski. Kowalevski was a nineteenth century mathematician. She managed to study advanced mathematics. Find a post as a mathematics professor. And solve some of the most intractable problems facing math at the time.

In this book, Laurie Wallmark introduces us to Sophie as a child. The text describes in simple, easy-to-understand terms her landmark mathematics discoveries. It also celebrates her remarkable achievements in a society that kept trying to steer her away from math.

The art, by Yevgenia Nayberg, is evocative and lovely. I was especially taken by the book design. Various spreads use empty space very effectively throughout. And the text is in a wonderful typeface that’s clean and self-effacing, sending the reader’s attention right back to the lucid prose.

Laurie talks about the book in this video link, from a book event the two of us did together (available through 29 May 2020).

Another book about a woman mathematician a century later.

Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg. (Creston: 2020).

Image shows a tree growing from a book and reads Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2020

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15Jan

Sweet Dreams Sarah

Posted by: annettepimentel@gmail.com Categories: Review
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Cover shows African American woman holding tools in a carpentry shop

Sweet Dreams Sarah by Vivian Kirkfield is a nonfiction picture book that hits the sweet spot of combining STEM principles with social studies content.

In the book, we see the engineering process at work. Every element of the story zeroes in on the engineering process:

identify the problem

brainstorm solutions

construct a prototype

analyze the results

redesign

A nineteenth century, newly-freed woman, Sarah, tries to solve a problem for the customers in her furniture shop. They live in tiny apartments and the furniture she sells is just too bulky. Once she has identified the problem, she brainstorms solutions and builds a prototype. The prototype has problems so she redesigns it. When her patent is rejected, she revises and resubmits it. Her story would be a great introduction to a unit on invention

At the same time, her story has lots of social studies content that can spark conversation and build understanding in kids. It addresses slavery, Reconstruction, entrepreneurship, and how government processes (like patents) work. Importantly, it discusses the roles of women in history in a clear way.

The book is clear and fun to read aloud. It keeps the story active and moving along with refrains like, “Measure. Cut. Sand.”

And now I want one of the desk-beds that Sarah invented!

Sweet Dreams Sarah by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Chris Ewald. (Creston Books: 2019).

Image shows a tree growing from a book and reads Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2020
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