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Subject areas: BIPOC, Science

Katherine Johnson

Author: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara

Illustrated by: Jemma Skidmore

BUY Katherine Johnson

Learn about the incredible story of Katherine Johnson! The trailblazer whose calculations changed the future of space exploration.

Little Katherine loved learning and her favourite subject was maths. In class, she worked so hard that she was able to move up to high school four years early! Due to the racist laws of the time, Katherine’s family had to move town for her to go to a school where Black students were admitted. After high school and college, she was accepted to one of West Virginia’s top universities and was the first Black woman to attend.

In 1953, she joined the US space agency, which later became NASA. Alongside other talented African American women, Katherine’s mathematical skills were essential to the early successes of the space programme. She was part of the team that planned the Apollo 11 mission which landed the first people on the moon! Katherine’s tenacity and expertise led to the dawn of a new era for humankind, making her an inspiration to all of us.

This powerful book is the perfect gift for STEM and space enthusiasts.

Jemma Skidmore

Jemma Skidmore is a dyslexic, mixed-race illustrator who grew up in rural Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Although she wasn’t a confident early reader, she has always been fascinated by the art of storytelling. Jemma studied fine art at Falmouth University and has gone on to work in print, film and television in London and Vancouver, British Columbia. She has now returned to Gloucestershire, where she lives with her family and a cat named Blue.

Specs:

Extent: 32 pages

ISBN: UK 9781836001768

Published: January 9, 2025

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