Grace Hopper : Programming Pioneer

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8Hopper was a pioneer in computer programming, most notably with the U.S. Navy. This biography is chronological and straightforward, although the subject's specialtycomputers and mathwill make some sections difficult for young readers to comprehend. Whitelaw includes enough period detail to add interest, and students will laugh at the size and limitations of early computers. Those who bother to read the introduction will enjoy the author's explanation of why she likes writing biographies and how she went about collecting the information for this book. Of special interest is the list of questions she wanted to answer about Hopper when she began; she returns to these questions on the last page and summarizes her findings. Hamlin's pencil illustrations are informative and appropriate. A solid purchase.Rosie Peasley, Empire Union School District, Modesto, CA