Raincoast Books

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Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

9781250137524

Henry Holt and Co.
Available: 06/19/18
8.8 x 11 · 40 pages
Ages 5-9 years
9781250137524
CDN $26.99 · cl
Picture book

 Canadian Title

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Helaine Becker

illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

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

HELAINE BECKER is an experienced educational writer currently living in Toronto, specializing in math, science, and language arts, with over 90 published works. She has written science materials for American Educational Products, spelling supplementals for Rigby, middle school level biographies for school library publisher Blackbirch Press, and math and language materials for Learning Resources. 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.