Review by Booklist Review
Where is the next generation of scientists? What are they doing now? In a companion book to The Next President (2020), Messner takes us back in time to look at what great scientists of the past did as children and whether their childhood interests and activities contributed to their scientific accomplishments as adults. As a boy, Isaac Newton built a sundial and flew his own handmade kites. As an adult, he explained the nature of gravity, planetary motion, and the spectrum of colors that makes up white light. Mae Jemison, who enjoyed dancing and exploring nature as a child, later became the first Black woman to travel in space. This intriguing book introduces dozens of figures in the sciences, first as children and, usually on the following double-page spread, as significant achievers in their fields. Kuo's digital illustrations capture the likenesses of a diverse group of leaders in the sciences, and the juxtaposition of childhood interests and professional contributions creates some interesting discussion points along the way. An attractive, original science book.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Stylish, rotoscope-esque illustrations by Kuo (Luminous) give this inspirational picture book poster-like visual impact as Messner (The Next President) explores the career trajectories of several dozen scientists and researchers of various backgrounds and birth dates. They're pictured first as children, "building stuff," "taking things apart," "sewing and knitting," and more, and then as scientists in adulthood as newspaper-like text draws a direct line between their early interests and their professional arcs. On one page, a young James West takes apart his grandfather's pocket watch, a young Grace Hopper disassembles an alarm clock, and a young Ayah Bdeir explores the inner workings of a portable radio. A page turn shows the trio as adults: microphone innovator West with components of his invention, coding pioneer Hopper in front of a computer, and computer engineer Bdeir with educational toys she developed. Including figures iconic and lesser-known, this pep-talk-like work suggests that STEM careers might have seeds in childhood passions, inviting readers to consider how, if their own interests align, "you might just be the next great astronaut." Ages 8--12. (Aug.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
This attractive, informative, and ambitious collective biography begins with a challenge: "Quick! Name the world's greatest scientist." Messner (The Next President, rev. 3/20) introduces well-known and lesser-known scientists throughout history and organizes the book by theme (scientists as observers, as artists, as readers, etc.). A typical spread depicts three scientists as children engaged in a similar activity, such as tinkering (James West, Grace Hopper, Ayah Bdeir) or skygazing (Johannes Kepler, Maria Mitchell, Adriana Ocampo). Short captions provide information about each as a child, and the book then reveals their corresponding grown-up versions and achievements. This clever structure allows for a smooth flow and offers connection and comparison among scientists across time, cultures, and locales. "Snapshot" interludes provide brief information about specific shared interests (sewing/knitting; the study of Pluto). Kuo's digital illustrations in clear black line and a rich color palette have a paper doll-like quality while still being dynamically posed and presented on the pages. Thoughtful curation results in representation of a wide range of identities, fields of study, and challenges throughout the history of modern science. Culminating in a hopeful call for future scientists to create "a better world," the book presents supplemental mini-biographies, further reading, selected sources, and a list of some of the scientists' favorite books. Patrick GallSeptember/October 2024 p.103 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A message to the groundbreaking scientists of the future, with connections to those of the past and present. "So," Messner writes, "where are the next great scientists now?" Perhaps they are "building stuff" in their yards or garages--like Isaac Newton, who made kites when he was a boy, or Lonnie Johnson, who as a youngster built a go-kart engine from scrap. Johnson grew up to design spacecraft for NASA (and invent the Super Soaker); as for Newton,he only became one of the greatest scientists ever. Likewise, as a child in Lebanon, Ayah Bdeir enjoyed taking radios apart and later became a maker of electronic educational toys; as a refugee from El Salvador, Carolina Peñalva-Arana came to the U.S. to become a molecular ecologist. The inspirational tenor will assure young people that they, too, can follow suit, while the variety of subjects--many not typically covered in children's nonfiction--sets this one apart from similar fare. In a gallery of over 40 people who are diverse in terms of race and cultural background, Kuo depicts this array of scientific luminaries first as children and then as adults, differing in dress and setting but all looking intently focused on what they're doing or studying. As Messner concludes in a soaring finish, all are also hoping that today's young "makers" will "be up to the job of creating a better world." She leaves it to readers to answer her opening question. A stirring invitation to join the great enterprise. (source list, further reading)(Collective biography. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
