Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of picture book biographies. My objections are many - they focus more on the artistic side than the informational side, they don't provide enough context for the age and knowledge of the assumed reader, they don't circulate... but every once in a while I find an exception and this is absolutely a book I will happily purchase for the library!

In simple, brisk language Becker tells the story of Johnson's youth as a math prodigy, the many barriers she faced, and the support of her family and her own enthusiasm and determination that helped her move past them to become an integral part of NASA. The science behind the rockets and Johnson's math is explained in easy metaphors and illustrations and show more Katherine's refrain, "count on me" keeps readers following and connecting the story to the end.

An author's note explains more details about Katherine Johnson's life and work and gives a brief list of sources. The endpages are covered in mathematical calculations, many of them accessible to young readers "Find the volume of an ice cream cone" and the cheerful, bright illustrations personify Johnson's determination to follow her dreams despite many barriers. This is an authorized biography, for which Becker interviewed Katherine Johnson and her family.

This picture book biography works because it explains Johnson's life in a way that kids can grasp - her love of math, her involvement in the space program, and offers enough context for them to have an understanding of the time period - her family having to move to a different town for her to attend high school and the discrimination she faced, "They were given the tasks that men thought were boring and unimportant."

Verdict: Hand this to young readers who are interested in space and science and recommend to teachers presenting lessons on the space race, biographies, and looking to diversify their classrooms.

ISBN: 978125013524; Published 2018 by Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less

Apicture-book biography of a humble genius who excelled in a career once out of reach for most African-Americans.

The 2016 film Hidden Figures tells the story of three black women who began working as human computers in the early 1950s for the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, which later became NASA. This book focuses on the life of one of those women, Katherine Johnson. From an early age, Katherine loved numbers and counted everything. Skipping three grades in school, Katherine was ready for high school at age 10, but her hometown in West Virginia allowed only white students to attend the high school. Her family moved to Institute, West Virginia, to enable Katherine to attend a black high school—from which she graduated at show more 14. Becker emphasizes Katherine’s tenacity, competence, creativity, and intellectual curiosity as she gains the trust of the astronauts whose safety and success depended on the work of the human computers. Phumiruk’s stylistically varied, colorful illustrations feature mathematical computations and notes in the backgrounds, emphasizing Katherine’s passion for numbers. Becker makes good use of the title, playing on different forms of the word “count” throughout the story, as when Katherine says, “Count on me” to calculate the Apollo’s flight paths.

An excellent biography that will inspire young readers, especially girls, to do what they love . (Picture book/biography. 5-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

Counting on Katherine is a great book to inspire future female mathematicians. I love the fact that it shows the math that was used by NASA during that time to plan and correct space flights. The use of math in almost every math is engaging to those who love math. I definitely recommend this book.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 tells the story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician whose brilliance helped NASA navigate the crisis of Apollo 13. The book follows her from a childhood filled with counting everything around her to her role at NASA, where she performed complex calculations for the space missions. The intended audience is upper elementary and middle school students. It includes academic vocabulary such as trajectory, orbital mechanics, calculus, and computation. It connects to math instruction by showing how precise calculation and mathematical thinking are used in real-world space exploration. It would be a meaningful addition to the classroom library because it highlights show more a trailblazing Black woman in STEM, and makes math feel heroic and life-saving. show less

Counting on Katherine is an inspiring picture book that tells the true story of Katherine Johnson, a brilliant African American mathematician whose calculations were vital to the success of NASA’s Apollo 13 mission. The book follows Katherine’s journey from a curious young girl who loved numbers to becoming a key figure at NASA, breaking barriers in both race and gender. With engaging illustrations and clear storytelling, this book makes complex ideas like space travel and math accessible and exciting for middle-grade readers. It’s a powerful read that highlights perseverance, intelligence, and the importance of believing in yourself.

This book gives a quick biography of Katherine Johnson's life, and then goes to tell the story of her work with NACA and how she saved Apollo. There were several things I loved about this book. One, it takes the complex world of engineering and mathematics and makes it easy to understand. Two, it mentions the impact segregation had on Katherine, and could foster great discussions about the societal barriers that many black women faced in the 70s and still face today. Three, it gives the reader information about the space race. I would highly recommend this book.

This book tells the story of Katherine Johnson, a brilliant African-American mathematician whose calculations were crucial in bringing the Apollo 13 astronauts safely home. It highlights her determination and intelligence, overcoming racial and gender barriers at NASA. It's great for the classroom because it connects math and science to real-world heroes, promotes diversity in STEM, and sparks conversations about perseverance and equity.