“Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” Katherine Johnson
The recent passing of genius NASA mathematician and scientist, Katherine Johnson, has renewed interest in the book, Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. The book portrayed the fascinating life of Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden. In an interview about the book, author Margot Lee Shetterly stated, “I really hope that this goes a long way to helping all of us change our perception about what a scientist looks like, what a mathematician looks like, who’s capable of doing that work at the highest level. Hidden Figures, a New York Times bestseller and the Oscar-nominated movie were instrumental in the public’s growing interest in women in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field. There are many Black women in STEM whose achievements are still hidden or have not been widely told. The books listed tell well-known and lesser-known stories of Black women scientists, physicians, inventors, etc. March is Women’s History Month, what are your thoughts on the Black women in STEM book selections? Do you have any to add to the list? Happy Women’s History Month! Our stories matter.
Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM
Tonya Bolden | Abrams Books for Young Readers | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
The Women Who Caught The Babies: A Story of African American Midwives
Eloise Greenfield | Daniel Minter | Alazar Press | 2019 | MG/PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician
Lesa Cline-Ransome | Raúl Colón | Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman | 2019 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson | Atheneum Books for Young Readers | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Black Women in Science: A Black History Book for Kids
Kimberly Brown Pellum | Rockridge Press | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
All About Madam C. J. Walker (All About…People)
A’Lelia Bundles | Kirsten Halvorsen | Blue River Press | 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Mae Among the Stars
Roda Ahmed | Stasia Burrington | HarperCollins | 2018 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race (Picture Book Edition)
Margot Lee Shetterly | Laura Freeman | HarperCollins | 2018 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Hidden Figures (Young Readers’ Edition)
Margot Lee Shetterly | HarperCollins, Young Readers Edition | 2016 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Hoorah for Mary Seacole (Hopscotch Histories)
Trish Cooke | Anni Axworthy | Hachette Children’s Group | 2008 | Amazon | IndieBound
Black Stars: African American Women Scientists and Inventors
Otha Richard Sullivan | Wiley | 2001 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Fly, Bessie, Fly
Lynn Joseph | Yvonne Buchanan | Simon & Schuster | 1998 | PB | Amazon
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