Mae Jemison

Children's Literature

This title in the "First Biographies" series for early readers presents the life of Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman astronaut. The body of the text is accompanied by photographs and a running timeline of the major events in Jemison's life: her initial interest in science, her work as a doctor, her training as an astronaut, and her historic flight on the space shuttle Endeavor. Students will also be interested in Jemison's life after NASA, when she starts a science camp for kids. This mini-biography is limited to the most basic facts about Jemison. It introduces early readers to some subject-specific vocabulary words (i.e. astronaut and experiment) and defines them in a glossary; other features for early readers include a short bibliography, a link to Internet sites authenticated by Capstone Press, and an index. 2006, Capstone Press/Pebble Books, Ages 5 to 7.
—Anamaria Anderson

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Through simple sentences and black-and-white photographs, readers are given snapshots into the lives of three notable African-American women. Coleman was the first woman of her race to earn a pilot's license, Jemison was the first African-American astronaut, and Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals at the Olympics. Short chapters, with a time line at the bottom of the page, give basic biographical information and show how these women continue to be an inspiration for all. On each spread, a photograph faces a paragraph of large-print text. The concise information is perfect for the intended age group.-Tracy Bell, Eastway Elementary School, Durham, NC Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.