The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything

Perfect for fans of STEM, this inspiring picture book biography tells the extraordinary story of pioneering astronomer Maria Mitchell.

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Awards and Honours

About the Book

Maria longed to travel beyond her small island of Nantucket. But she wasn’t sure how. Her father taught her to look to the stars for guidance. If you knew how to read them, he said, the stars could tell you where you were, and where you needed to go. They spent hours scanning the night sky together through a telescope on the roof. Maria learned how to use astronomers’ tools to measure and track time by the stars. But what could she do with her skills? Then, one day, she heard that a prize was being offered to the first person to find a new comet. Could this be the opportunity she was waiting for?

This absorbing picture book biography by Laura Alary tells the fascinating, though not well-known, story of a remarkable nineteenth-century woman scientist and women’s rights advocate. After winning that prize for discovering a comet, Maria Mitchell would go on to become the first professional female astronomer in the United States, first female member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the first female college professors.

Beautifully illustrated with lovely textured artwork by Ellen Rooney, this is a well-told story with a teachable STEM component, supporting both science and social studies curriculums, that supports a growth mindset. It’s also a wonderful guide sure to inspire readers to find their own way in the world. It includes backmatter that further describes Maria’s impressive life and achievements.

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Book Details

  • Author ‏ : ‎ Laura Alary
  • Illustrator ‏ : ‎ Ellen Rooney
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kids Can Press (May 3 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1525303481
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1525303487

Additional Resources

There are some excellent resources about Maria Mitchell for students and teachers available on the website of The Maria Mitchell Association.

Interview with Book Time

Reviews

“This stirring account is told in an uplifting voice highlighting Mitchell’s youthful inquisitiveness and determination to expand her knowledge. Alary emphasizes that Mitchell owed her education, in part, to her enlightened father, who foresaw the talent, ambition, and drive in his daughter; a gifted teacher herself, Mitchell endowed her students with information about great scientists, mathematics, and faraway places. Textured collage art brings the text to life.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

“The story of Maria Mitchell and the curiosity that led to her amazing discovery of a comet is wonderfully told in this picture book biography…A well-told and attractive addition to biography collections, ideal for introducing famous astronomers, female scientists, or other pioneers in STEM fields.” ~ School Library Journal (Starred Review)

“Alary’s rich vocabulary reflects respect for young readers and their ability to work with precise but challenging words. Mitchell’s reaction to restrictions placed on women are to think of them as “absurd,” “ridiculous,” and “preposterous.” Alary tells readers the scientific instruments she learned to use while still young include a sextant, metronome, and chronometer. Young readers and listeners will learn about Mitchell, but they will also have a vocabulary-expanding experience while they do so…Teachers and librarians will want to add this book to their collections. Parents and children will similarly want to add this book to their home shelves because it is a well-written, colourfully illustrated, and attractively presented book that will inspire people to seek after their passions and to overcome whatever obstacles or whichever nay-sayers stand in the way. As Alary says, Mitchell was “a dreamer. A wonderer. A collector.” The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything will inspire many readers to dream, to wonder, and to collect. It will inspire readers to reach for the stars.” ~ Canadian Review of Materials

“… rich in detail and whimsy … This title is a positive addition to a historical personage whose attitude is still a role model today.” ~ Canadian Children’s Book News, 05 August, 2022

“The author’s combination of short and long sentences and sentence fragments creates a lovely rhythm for reading aloud. So lovely that it almost seems a shame to read the story silently…if you want a happy story that encourages patient persistence, read this book.” ~ Ms. Rosen Reads Blog

“Well-written and appealing, this book offers readers a chance to learn about a woman of science whose wonder at the world led her to discover much about herself. Ellen Rooney uses collage artwork to take readers back in time, providing context for the information presented about a woman whose life is not well-known, and should be.” ~ Sal’s Fiction Addiction

“The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything is a powerful story and an inspiring biography…This book would be an asset to any Primary or Junior classroom as it can be used in a variety of curricular areas, particularly mathematics, science and technology, and social studies. Educators can use Maria Mitchell as an example to show students that these curricular areas involve a lot of questioning and exploring and that when it comes to their studies, they should feel comfortable putting their questions forward, taking risks and making discoveries…As a Primary teacher, I give this book a five-star review.” ~ Stephanie Bozz, ETFO Voice (Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario)