 Braving the Frozen Frontier : Women Working in Antarctica
Rebecca L. Johnson
This interesting science text introduces readers to the day to day experiences of several women working in Antarctica. Filled with color photographs, the book presents the brave women scientists, helicopter pilots, snowplow drivers, and doctors who make their living in the frozen frontier. Readers meet Judy Coffman, the first female helicopter pilot in the squadron that supports the US Antarctic Program, Diane Stoecker, who was spending her third season studying algae and protozoa, and Jennifer Moss and Tania Zenteno-Savin who are studying Weddell seals. While it was rare to meet a woman in this frozen land thirty years ago, today they hold a variety of jobs and are not an unusual sight. The book's conversational style, excellent photographs, and easily absorbed facts make it a fascinating read. 1997, Lerner Publications, $23.93. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph
The Chimpanzee Family Book
Jane Goodall
Photographs by Michael Neugebauer
Jane Goodall writes with the sensitivity of an advocate and the intellect of a scientist about the chimpanzee family. She is obviously at home, not just in the country of Tanzania, but also in the environment of the creatures she studies. She names the chimps, giving all chimpanzees in the same family names starting with the same letter. The book follows the chimps for a day beginning with Gremlin gently grooming her baby Galahad. Gremlin's oldest brother is Goblin and he is the boss of their community. The family relationships are important, as illustrated by the way Wunda, a nine and a half-year-old chimp, cares for her little brother, Wolfi, after the death of their mother. The author cites cases where baby chimps themselves died because they were so upset after losing their mothers. Each chimpanzee's own personality shows through in the actions and antics captured in the excellent photographs of the creatures and their world which accompany the text. Part of the "Animal Family" series. 1997 (orig. 1989) North-South Books, Ages 8 up, $8.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 1-55858-803-5
The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours
Jane Goodall
In personable first person language, Jane Goodall narrates how she came to be a foremost scholar of chimpanzee communities. While the book's primary purpose is to convince us that chimpanzees are remarkable, endangered and worth preserving, certainly its subtext is how someone with a passion, support from family (in this case a remarkable mother), and mentors (in this case Louis B. Leakey) has made a tremendous difference in the world. Six chapters show how Goodall inserted herself into a chimp community, how chimps communicate, a pair of mother/baby stories, a typical day for a chimp in the forest, the mind of a chimp as indicated in laboratory studies in captivity and the action she is taking and hopes others will take up to preserve chimps in the wild. Throughout the book, the reader experiences remarkable stories of chimp behavior similar to humans except for using speech (but chimps can "talk" with sign language and computers). Photographs from all periods of Goodall's life make the text even more approachable, and endearing chimp photos win our sympathy and attention, as does the text. Endmatter features a map of the Central African area in which Goodall works, interesting facts, a primate family tree, information about Roots & Shoots, Goodall's environmental education program for young people, and other resources. There is no index but report writers will be so engrossed in the text, which is easily entered mid-book, that searching for relevant information will not be difficult. An important and involving book about saving the African chimpanzee. 2001, Scholastic Press, Ages 9 to 14, $17.95. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-439-21310-X
 Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas
Jane A. Schott
Illustrations by Ralph L. Ramstad
Dian longed to go to Africa to study gorillas. Although she was not a formally trained scientist, she studied and read all she could about the Mountain Gorillas. In 1967, her dream came true and she set up camp in the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda. She called the area Karisoke, named after the mountains that loomed above. Dian began to record all aspects of the lives of the 300 remaining Mountain Gorillas. She followed one named Digit for ten years until he was killed by hunters. In order to protect the gorillas, Dian wrote Gorillas in the Mist and went on the speaking circuit. She raised world awareness and the funds necessary to hire guards and spur additional research. In the afterword, readers learn that she met an untimely death at the age of fifty-three; she was apparently killed by hunters. Her studies spanned eighteen years and her final resting-place is beside her beloved gorilla Digit. Part of the "On My Own Biography" series for grades 2 and 3. 2000, Carolrhoda/Lerner, Ages 6 to 8, $19.93 and $5.95. REVIEWER: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-57505-082-X
ISBN: 1-57505-477-9
Eugenie Clark: Adventures of a Shark Scientist
Ellen Butts and Joyce Schwartz
Local authors Ellen Butts and Joyce Schwartz describe the amazing life and work of a world-renowned ichthyologist. Born in 1922, Genie came of age at a time when the few women working outside the home were usually secretaries or teachers. But the girl who kept a huge fish tank in a tiny New York apartment was determined to get her doctorate in zoology and become a scientist. In addition to providing an illuminating portrait of an intelligent, warm woman, this biography is full of details sure to connect with kids. I especially enjoyed learning about Genie's gift to the Crown Prince of Japan in 1965 and how she brought the young live nurse shark on board the plane in a container the size of a hatbox. 2000, Linnet, Ages 8 to 12, $19.50. REVIEWER: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-208-02440-9
Fish Watching with Eugenie Clark
Michael Elsohn Ross
Illustrations by Wendy Smith
As in other "Naturalist's Apprentice" books, this one introduces a person, a career, and ways a young person might practice some of the skills in the field. Noted marine biologist and longtime teacher at the University of Maryland Eugenie Clark is profiled here and her work with fish explored. Clark was fascinated with fish and spent many childhood hours in a New York aquarium while her widowed Japanese mother worked. World War II persecution of Japanese Americans touched her family briefly but her career was even more influenced by her determination to overcome sexism in the male-dominated field of marine biology. She learned to dive, earned a Masters and Ph.D., studied platys, swordtails, sharks, garden eels, lived around the world, married four times, and had four children. Clark's lifetime contribution to marine biology is similar in depth and breadth to Sylvia Earle's, another pioneer in the field. The book includes a timeline, glossary, bibliography (which lists her fine children's book, The Desert Beneath the Sea co-authored by Ann McGovern), index, and numerous framed boxes suggesting projects, sketching challenges, and information about fish species. Useful in any school themes which study the sea, the book also compellingly presents a career in marine biology, surely one of the cutting-edge sciences for this century. 2000, Carolrhoda, Ages 9 to 14, $19.93. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 1-57505-384-5
Heart and Soul : The Story of Florence Nightingale
Gena K. Gorrell
When most people think of Florence Nightingale, they think simply of a nurse or an "angel of mercy," as she was often called. This stunning biography reveals the true grit and strength of character that this privileged woman possessed. Through unshakable determination, fierce willpower and an ever-increasing awareness of social injustice, Florence broke away from her frustrating life and status as a proper Victorian lady. She became a pioneer in the fields of nursing, sanitation and hygiene, and military medical practices, among many other areas. Florence Nightingale is most famous for revolutionizing nursing practices and standards during the Crimean war. But she also championed many causes in an effort to bring about needed social reforms, at a time when the rich ruled and the poor were left largely to fend for themselves. She did this in spite of her own fragile health, both real and imagined, and doggedly tried to right the wrongs she had seen and heard of throughout the world. Careful thought and detailed research bring to life the meticulous and demanding person known as the "lady of the lamp." A truly captivating read that is filled with detailed information and references. This biography is a must-have for libraries and middle school science and/or health classrooms, if only for the lesson that "anyone who tries hard enough can change the world." 2000, Tundra Books, Ages 10 to 15, $18.95. Reviewer: Trina Heidt
ISBN: 0-88776-494-0
Mae Jemison
Sonia W. Black
Mae Jemison is a role model by any measure. A woman of diverse interests such as dance, science, travel and social work, she most notably became the first African-American woman selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1987. As a young girl, she dreamed of traveling to outer space while also participating on her school's cheerleading squad. After graduating from medical school, she served as a doctor in Sierra Leone and Liberia for the Peace Corps. By the time she applied to NASA's astronaut program, she had already established herself in the field of medicine, but her wanderlust took her to outer space and back. In this inspirational biography, we learn of Mae's journey from childhood that ultimately takes her on this space mission, as well as her experiences aboard the space shuttle, Endeavor. An easy yet informative read, this biography would work well in the classroom and also for pleasure. Eight pages of photos highlight the career of Mae Jemison. 2000, Mondo, Ages 9 to 12, $3.99. Reviewer Karen Deans
ISBN: 1-57255-801-6
Mae Jemison: A Space Biography
Della A. Yannuzzi
This is a well-organized, well written account about the first African-American woman in space. It will especially appeal to children who are interested in becoming an astronaut. Organized into five chapters, the book begins with Dr. Jemison's lift off into space aboard the space shuttle. Next, a journey through her early years of school until her graduation from medical school and volunteer work with the Peace Corps. Photos of Dr. Jemison's life are interspersed. The next couple of chapters detail interesting insights into her training with NASA and finally her blast off into space. A concluding chapter describes what Dr. Jemison has accomplished since her travels into space. The book ends with a chronology of her life, a glossary of space terms, further readings on the subject of space and an index. This is a wonderful account of a positive role model for girls. Readers will learn many interesting experiences about Dr. Jemison's journey along with the hard work and dedication that it takes to become an astronaut. This is part of the "Countdown to Space" series. 1998, Enslow Publishers Inc., Ages 7 to 12, $18.95. Reviewer: Melissa A. Caudill
ISBN: 0-89490-813-8
Mae Jemison: The First African American Woman Astronaut
Liza N. Burby
Mae Jemison dreamed of being an astronaut from the time she was a very young child in Chicago. Although she studied chemical engineering and eventually became a doctor, she never wavered in her desire to fly in space. In 1986, she was one of 2,000 people who applied to NASA for the astronaut training program. She was selected and after several years of training and working for NASA, on Sept. 2, 1992, she became the first African American woman to go out in space. This book is part of a series "Making Their Mark, Women in Science and Medicine." Mae Jemison is an excellent example; she shows children that dreams do come true. 1997, Rosen Publishing Group, Ages 5 to 8, $13.95. Reviewer: Leila Toledo
ISBN: 0-8239-5027-1
 Marie Curie
Dana Meachen Rau
This biography tells the story of a remarkable woman whose life was dedicated to science at a time when few women were involved in its pursuit. Understanding the unique contribution Marie Curie made will be hard for a young person of today to grasp, but this brief account puts it simply for the reader. The unglamorous photographs paint the reality and the significance of her struggle. Without dwelling on the sacrifices she made, her huge contribution to science and medicine is acknowledged. Bold-face print indicates difficult terms, which are defined in a glossary. A timeline of important events in Marie Curie's life and an index are helpful. Library and web site exploration is encouraged. Part of the "Compass Point Early Biographies" series. 2000, Compass Point Books, Ages 8 to 12, $19.93. Reviewer Margarette Reid
ISBN: 0-7565-0017-6
Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon
Jeannine Atkins
Illustrated by Michael Dooling
One of several excellent stories (others are by Catherine Brighton and Laurence Anholt) about the young discoverer of the first entire ichthyosaur in the early 1800's, this book is distinguished by its vivid text and dramatic illustrations. In her dead father's sturdy top hat to protect her from falling rocks, eleven-year-old Mary Anning roamed the seashore and crumbling cliffs of Lyme Regis looking for shells and fossils to sell in her family's curiosity shop. She chipped and brushed away at fossils and persisted in removing the stone that would later make its way to London. An author's not explains that Mary lived to see the coining of the word "dinosaur" in 1841, never married, and furthered the study of paleontology. Dooling's oil paintings capture the sweep of the foggy gray-tinted seashore and the individuality of the young scientist whose patience, persistence, and curiosity are an inspiration to scientists of any age. 1991, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Ages 7 to 11, $18.00. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-374-34840-5
Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter
Sally M. Walker
Illustrated by Phyllis V. Saroff
The bicentennial of Mary Anning's birth produced a plethora of biographies, some with handsome illustrations and vigorous prose. This biography has neither, with average but scientifically correct illustrations in tones of beige, browns and greys and a straightforward controlled vocabulary. However, this biography does the job with emphasis on the role her brother Joseph had in her discoveries of an ichthyosaur skeleton, and her discoveries made later in life. Based on a long list of primary sources, this is a valid informational book for young report-writers, with a timeline and an afterword included, but no index. Part of the "On My Own Biography" series. 2001, Carolrhoda, Ages 7 to 10, $19.93. Reviewer Susan Hepler
ISBN: 1-57505-425-6
The Math Book for Girls and Other Beings Who Count
Valerie Wyatt
Illustrations by Pat Cupples
This creative companion to The Science Book for Girls and Other Intelligent Beings (1997) introduces readers to challenging math activities and puzzles that are designed to develop critical thinking skills. This collection of math problems invites kids to measure their body parts, calculate hair growth, build a dome, design patterned wrapping paper, write coded messages, make a pizza graph, bake a cake, create a Moebius strip, and much more. Readers follow along with Nora (Natural Observation Research Activator), a fairy godmother of sorts, and her friends as they encounter all kinds of math questions throughout their daily routines. In addition to witty vignettes and step-by-step activity ideas, this resource also contains colorful artwork, diagrams, charts, short biographies of real-life women who use math in their jobs, notes to parents and teachers, a glossary, and an answer key. This humorous and engaging activity book makes math fun and shows learners (both girls and boys) how to solve mathematical conundrums in their everyday lives. It's a sure-fire winner that belongs on the shelf next to Jon Scieszka's Math Curse (1995) and Marilyn Burns' Math for Smarty Pants (1982) and The I Hate Mathematics! Book (1975). 2000, Kids Can Press, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer Debra Briatico
ISBN: 1-55074-830-0
Meeting Dolphins
Kathleen Dudzinski
Beach trips, backyard frolics, picnics in parks and gardens-summer abounds with opportunities to enjoy the denizens of the natural world, from the tiny ladybug to the 40-foot squid. Kathleen Dudzinski takes a close look at an engaging ocean inhabitant in Meeting Dolphins As a marine biologist, Dudzinski swims with dolphins to study how they communicate in the wild. Her first-person account, accompanied by stunning photographs, helps bring youngsters into the world of these creatures, so playful they even fashion "toys" out of objects in the water. 2000, National Geographic, Ages All, $17.95. Reviewer Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-7922-7129-7
Meeting Dolphins: My Adventures in the Sea
Kathleen Dudzinski
The subject of the IMAX film Dolphins tells her own career story while providing dolphins information in this nonfiction photo essay. Dudzinski's oceanic interests began when she spent time with her family at the Massachusetts seaside every year and also raised and observed animals. Both prepared her well to begin a career in marine biology. Her college work led her to dolphins as did two graduate programs which included studying how dolphins communicate. She has also invented an underwater camera with microphones to record and study dolphin sounds and their clues to dolphin behaviors. Numerous large photos present the young woman at work underwater, in the lab, and on boats and show multiple behaviors of dolphins fighting and playing, signaling with teeth or bubbles, or interacting with humans. Thirty-six different species of dolphins are depicted to scale in an elegant double-page spread at the book's end which call attention to dolphin variety. A useful research tool if a student can dig for the information, the readable text presents plenty of facts and scientific speculation to digest. Other interesting backmatter includes a "warning" about the illegality of trying to swim with wild dolphins, resources to contact, and an index. Put this on display with recent biographies of Eugenie Clark and Sylvia Earle and books about ocean research to introduce children to oceanography, one of the most exciting career fields around. 2000, National Geographic, Ages 8 to 12, $17.95. Reviewer Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-7922-7129-7
Pond Watching with Ann Morgan
Michael Elsohn Ross
Illustrations by Wendy Smith
This unique biography-one of the "Naturalist's Apprentice" series-is part personal history, part field guide, and part wet lab. In the early nineteen hundreds, when most still held that a woman's place was in the home, Ann Morgan could be found slogging around in the mud studying stump-legged mayflies or in a frozen winter stream scraping gemmules-the buds of shriveled sponge colonies-from a rock. A gifted teacher, researcher, conservationist and author, she was one of only three women to be listed among the 250 leading scientists in American Men of Science (1933). By profiling Dr. Morgan's research, teaching, and conservation activities, Ross skillfully weaves a great deal of scientific information through the narrative. Illustrations resembling pages torn from an old journal focus on many freshwater species (i.e. dragonflies and damselflies, mayflies, freshwater sponges, newts, painted turtles, and brook trout). Also included is advice on choosing a field guide, using a magnifying lens, and establishing a mini aquarium. 2000, Carolrhoda Books, Ages 10 up, $19.93. Reviewer Ellen R. Braaf
ISBN: 1-57505-385-3
 Potions to Pulsars: Women Doing Science
Sue Bursztynski; illustrated by Marilyn Pride
Eighteen brief chapters, written in an informal style with rather sensational newspaper-like lead-ins, present a wide range of women scientists--from Agnodike, a doctor in 4th century BC. Athens (who had to pretend to be a man), to women astronauts of the present. Other scientists profiled include Marie Curie and her daughter Irene, Jean Macnamara (physician), Hidegard of Bingen (naturalist and writer), and Maria Mitchell (astronomer). Many black and white drawings, some color photos, an introduction, index, glossary and further reading section add to the educational value of this collective biography which should be inspiring to young science fans of either sex. 1995, Allen & Unwin, $6.95 and $6.95. Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
The Science Book for Girls and Other Intelligent Beings
Valerie Wyatt; illustrated by Pat Cupples
This book can help girls become positive about science as a subject and possible career. Ms. Wyatt's projects and experiments are clearly presented and illustrated by Pat Cupples in the collaborators' typically upbeat style. Though--or particularly because--the images are almost entirely female, this first-rate paperback is valuable for both girls and boys. 1993, Kids Can, $8.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
Sylvia Earle: Guardian of the Sea
Beth Baker
Sylvia Earle, a foremost explorer, pioneer in sea study, and one of the staunchest defenders of the sea and its creatures, is well-served by this readable entry in the "Lerner Biography" series. When young, she was fascinated by animals and science in general, and her family's move to Florida presented her with just the opportunity to study the ocean firsthand. She began her career in marine science as a teenager when she learned to use diving gear and enrolled in a summer marine biology course at Florida State. Advanced degrees followed at a time when women scientists were so unusual that one faculty almost denied her a fellowship on the grounds that she would only end up becoming a housewife. Today's girls owe much to pioneers like Sylvia Earle for her steadfast forging of a career in science that was formerly thought of as men's territory. With over 6,000 diving hours logged, Earle lived under the ocean in the 1970s Tektite project and has studied all sorts of underwater creatures from algae to white whales. Her work with whales is chronicled in the film Gentle Giants of the Pacific, which has been shown in over 20 nations. Her desire to walk on the ocean floor led her to the "Jim suit", after which she and others developed the underwater explorer vehicle called Deep Rover. Married four times, Earle seems, says the author, married to the sea. Today, she is Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. and a noted environment spokesperson. Earle's own book Dive (National Geographic, 1999) covers some of the same scientific material but for a younger reader. Illustrated with color photographs. An index, related bibliography, and web site resources are included. 2001, Lerner, Ages 9 to 14, $25.26. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-8225-4961-1
The Technology Book for Girls and Other Advanced Beings
Trudee Romanek
Illustrations by Pat Cupples
How to interest girls in technology is the question answered cleverly in this book. It begins with a fictionalized account of Gina's science project assignment—"Advanced Technology in Our Everyday Lives." The book moves swiftly to television remote controls as Gina discovers that there IS advanced technology all around us. The infrared signal in the remote leads to an understanding of the infrared signal's function in smoke detectors, automatic doors and hand dryers. In brief, tightly packaged chapters with supportive illustrations, the text continues with laser beams in bar code scanners and CDs to optical fibers in endoscopes and telephone cables. Gina and readers learn how satellite communication and radio waves allow her cell phone to reach her dad's pager. Sidebars provide additional information, experiments and features about the work of female engineers and scientists. Although the design of the book is busy, the overall effect is appealing once the reader is hooked on the premise that the information is useful and understandable. Back matter includes science fair project ideas and a note to parents, teachers and group leaders¾less than 20% of all U.S. undergraduate engineering students in 1999 were female. The book's aim is to inspire girls and would turn on fourth or fifth grade girls who are about to tune out science lessons. 2001, Kids Can Press, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95 and $8.95. Reviewer Jacki Vawter
ISBN: 1-55074-936-6
ISBN: 1-55074-619-7
 Twentieth-Century Women Scientists
Lisa Yount
Ms. Yount surveys and assesses the work of contemporary women scientists and tells the stories of ten women who have made significant contributions. Her scientists include Lise Meitner, who was first to realize that the cores of atoms could be split to release tremendous energy and Katsuko Saruhashi, whose concern about seawater's carbon dioxide levels preceded worldwide interest in the "Greenhouse effect" by 45 years. 1995, Facts on File, $19.95. Ages 11 up. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
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