Dancing through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights

by Lydia Lukidis, Sawyer Cloud (Illustrator)

The true story of Dr. Mae Jemison, whose lifelong passions of science and dance prepared her to become a trailblazing astronaut.

Today, Dr. Mae Jemison is famous for being the first Black woman to travel into outer space. But when she was growing up, she felt torn between two science and dance. It seemed like an impossible choice. There had to be some way to make room for both―and Mae found one. As an adult, she combined her gifts of scientific logic and artistic creativity and became an astronaut.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Science, Nonfiction, Space, Stem, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2024

About the author

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth's Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025), DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner for the Canada and North America division, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, a Cybils Award nominee, and winner of the Dogwood Readers Award. A science enthusiast from a young age, Lydia now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.

Lydia is very involved in the kidlit community. She volunteers as a judge on Rate your Story, co-hosts the annual Fall Writing Frenzy competition, and is an active member of SCBWI, CANSCAIP, 12 x 12, and The Authors Guild. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program.

Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.

Reviews

[Amanda Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you think of a more inspiring person than a young girl who loves both science AND dance? From page one of this picture book biography of Mae Jemison, I was delighted by her grit and determination. It is not easy to embrace two such demanding and disciplined fields of study, especially when you are a young Black girl who is belittled or dismissed. But with her huge intelligence (and incredibly supportive parents) Mae triumphs.

Lukidis and Cloud present a life of contrasts that come together in a common vision, showing us how her choices impacted her life. From a young age, Mae wants to be a scientist. And she wants to be a dancer. “Science gave her courage. … Dance gave her determination.” She is pulled in different directions but finds a way to study both science and dance. “Her mind became strong and sharp. … Her body became strong and muscular.” Although as her mother points out “You can always dance if you’re a doctor, but you can’t doctor if you’re a dancer.”

Mae becomes a doctor, keeps up with her dancing, and eventually her dream comes true as the first Black woman to fly into space, aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, 1992. “The razor-sharp memory and coordination she had developed as a dancer helped her with these tough tasks.”

Dancing Through Space is a book about the work it takes to follow your dreams. It’s a book that is bound to inspire any young person who wants to embrace the movement of the stars.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book. I can see why Lydia Lukidis wanted to write about Mae Jamison. Her story is so inspiring. Teachers will want to use it to inspire their students. Parents will want to read it to their children. Yes, she is famous for being the first Black woman to travel into outer space, but more than that, she was a courageous, determined woman who never compromised, and never gave up. She proved that even the sky doesn't have a limit. Children will admire her and look up to her for those qualities.

I loved that you found someone to write about who was able to combine scientific logic and artistic creativity to work together. Mae knew from a little girl that she liked science and she loved to dance. Like a scientist, she questioned everything and science gave her courage. Attending dance classes built up her muscles and stamina. This gave her determination. She applied that courage and determination in her high school studies, graduated with honors, and was accepted into Standford. I think this is something children will carry with them as they grow, and things get tough remember Mae and her determination.

The scientific community was not very welcoming. There weren't many women in her classes and they certainly didn't look like her. When she told the class she wanted to be an astronaut. A professor laughed, "You mean like the guys who go to the moon? You got to be kidding." I like how this shows a bit of the obstacles women had to face in their daily lives, which is important to know, so we can see how far we have come as a society. 

After graduating Mae Jamison wondered what was next. Medicine was exciting and dance was energizing. It was her mother who pointed out you can always dance if you're a doctor, but you can't doctor if you're a dancer. So Mae pursued medicine but never stopped dancing. I enjoyed how she decided to keep the two things she loved and made it work. I think most people have more than one talent, so I like how this book plants the seed that you can have both if you put in the effort. I see it as an emboldening book for children to reach for the stars.

Mae studied hard and earned the title of doctor, then spent her day caring for patients. But she still dreamed of dancing through space and floating among the stars. Her background in Medicine and Science gave her the skills needed to become an astronaut, so he applied to NASA Training Program. I love how you brought in the obstacle of the Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion in 1986 and how that set up her plans when NASA put the training Program on hold.

Sawyer Cloud did a wonderful job creating the illustrations to help tell Mae's story. I think my favorite is the one where Mae blasts off into space on the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12th, 1992. And I love the end page with the timeline and dates.  Good luck with the book. 

[Heather Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating biography about a remarkable woman. I’ve read other biographies about Dr. Mae Jemison, but Lydia Lukidis masterfully shares Jemison’s story from a very cool perspective—her dueling passions for dance and science. The lyrical text, as well as Mae’s curiosity and determination, drew me in immediately. An effective parallel structure on facing pages reveals Mae’s pursuit of these two passions, until eventually she discovers she doesn’t have to choose between them. Together they equip her to become the first black female astronaut. This story will not only inspire readers to follow their passions and persevere through obstacles, but it will also teach them they don’t have to limit themselves to one pursuit. This is such a refreshing message in today’s world where kids are often pushed to choose one sport/activity/career path early in life. A timeline in the back outlines Jemison’s life, and I enjoyed learning about the author’s own personal connection to the story. I highly recommend this inspiring biography!

[Nell Cross Beckerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I had never heard of Dr. Mae Jemison, but right away I fell in love with her when I learned she loved both science and dance. This was me as a kid, too! Today's kids are so pressured to pick one thing and specialize in it. What a great message to hear that not only do you not have to choose, your life can be more rich and well balanced if you don't choose! I also appreciate that the author echoed this sentiment, explaining how she loved both science and literature, and now she does both by writing stories about science. Besides the science/dance aspect, the writing was great both in the word choice and the structure. This would be a great book to use for a compare/contrast unit, but is also just an entertaining way to read. The excitement builds as Dr Jemison has her dreams of going to space dashed, and then fulfilled! What a great choice to have a beautiful double spread illustration of Dr Jemison dancing without gravity in space. Perfect! Highly recommended.

[Laura Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely picture book biography of Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space. Lukidis uses parallel passages to display Jemison's twin passions: science and dance. She brought to both of these areas her curiosity, passion, and determination. And in return, they gave her gifts too: courage as well as a strong mind and body.

This book celebrates lifelong learning and have multiple talents and loves. It also rejects the idea, through Jemison's choices and success, that you have to choose ONE thing and do ONLY that one thing. We are not just one thing. And even though Jemison's role as an astronaut is the ultimate part of the book and what secured her place in history, the language of dance oozes into that part of her story too. "The shuttle orbited the earth in a slow choreography..." and "as she danced through space and floated among the stars."

An author's note and a timeline round out the narrative of this lovely book, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud.

[Jilanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son wrote about Mae Jemison when he was in 3rd grade. I wish he'd had this book to read then, because it's unusual to see stories about famous people who have more than one occupational love and pursue both but in different ways. Jemison loved science AND dancing. And both of her loves worked together to make her the successful person she is. The parallel structure allows readers to see how these loves play out as she grows up and pursues a career as an astronaut, without giving up dance. In the end, she listened to her mother's advice: "You can always dance if you're a doctor, but you can't doctor if you're a dancer." And so, as the title states, Jemison ended up dancing through space. A great book to help kids understand that it's perfectly fine to have more than one career goal to pursue throughout their lives.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational biography of Dr. Mae Jamison, the first black woman to board a space shuttle and soar into space. Growing up, Mae was torn between dance and science and felt the attempted limitations of society because of her color and gender. Yet, she persisted and found that the art of dance and science can correspond with each other; each field involving characteristics that complement each other beautifully. She used her experience in both to succeed and achieve her dream of dancing among the stars.

Wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated, Lukidis and Cloud focus on key life moments of Mae, specifically how they relate to her success in soaring into space. Everything in the story came full circle to conclusion. Really great story to motivate and inspire young readers interested in more than one career field.

[Karen Greenwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia Lukidis' STEAM nonfiction picture book about Dr. Mae Jemison takes readers on a delightful and inspiring journey through time and space. The story, beginning in Jemison's childhood, cleverly follows the protagonist's dual, burgeoning passions (science and dance). By keeping them on different sides of each spread, Lukidis is able to build a sense of tension and competition--which should Jemison pick? How could she choose? Through twists, turns, and then a big reveal, readers learn how Jemison's two talents ultimately and meaningfully (interstellar-ly?!) intertwined. Illustrations are paired beautifully. Aside from celebrating Jemison's achievements, this story will show readers that there is an interconnectedness in nature, science, and creative expression.

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful picture book biography about Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space. I was pulled into the story immediately and eagerly read on to find out how Mae would balance her passions for science and dance. The parallel structure, with her science experiences on the left and dance experiences on the right, help to establish how meaningful both were in Dr. Mae Jemison's life. I love the reminder that we can weave our different passions together, which is reinforced in the author's note. Well-paced, thoughtfully researched, and engaging writing by Lydia Lukidis is paired with emotion-rich illustrations by Sawyer Cloud. This book will make a wonderful addition to every home, school, and library.

[A Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Throughout the book, Lukidis uses one page to talk about Mae's love for science and the opposite page is used to tell readers about Mae's love for dance. I like this format. Readers can compare and contrast how these interests helped shape Mae. For example, Lukidis says science made Mae's brain "strong and sharp" on one page and then on the opposite page Lukidis says dance made her body "strong and muscular." However, on this page Lukidis also tells readers that Mae often went to bed at midnight and woke up at 4:30AM to continue studying. Although I understand that chasing your dreams can be demanding and take sacrifice, I hate to teach young children about unhealthy and, for many people, unrealistic habits as if they are positive characteristics. Not my favorite picture book about Mae.

[Ellen Leventhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

DANCING THROUGH SPACE with words by Lydia Lukidis and pictures by Sawyer Cloud takes the reader on an unforgettable, inspiring journey. The text and art blend perfectly as we discover Dr. Mae Jemison's dual passions and how she ultimately blends them. I love this book on so many levels. The clever design of having each of Mae's childhood passions on different sides of a spread adds tension. Which will she choose? The multiple hooks, including a story about perseverance, a story about a woman astronaut, and one that demonstrates that perhaps we don't always need to choose between two passions, make this book one that will want to be read over and over again. I highly recommend it.

[Nora Nickum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia Ludikis has written an engaging biography of an incredible person, focusing in on how Dr. Mae Jemison's love of both science and dance combined to put her on a path to develop the skills and knowledge to become an astronaut--the first Black woman to travel into outer space. The parallel structure, with each spread having the left page devoted to how Dr. Jemison explored science and the right page describing her experiences with dance, makes the tale of how these things came together interesting and easy to follow. Sawyer Cloud's illustrations beautifully capture movement and Mae's sense of wonder.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

With beautiful illustrations and lyrical language, Dancing Through Space provides a fascinating portrait of Dr. Mae Jemison. From an early age, Jemison was torn by two passions, science and dance. Double-page spreads show how Jemison’s questioning mind and active body gave her the discipline and strength to become an astronaut. Dr. Mae Jemison’s life is a shining example of how the creative arts and science do not have to be mutually exclusive. Dancing Through Space gives young readers an inspiring role model. A timeline and author’s note offer more information. This should be a first purchase for all school libraries.

[Jyoti Gopal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Mae Jamison may be known as the first Black woman in outer space but did you know that she was also a doctor and a dancer? Lydia Lukidis’ picture book biography shares how an intrepid and determined young Mae refused to be boxed into being one thing, choosing to pursue her passion in both the arts and the sciences. Mae is a shining example of how to follow your own path, despite hurdles, naysayers and repressive and restrictive societal norms.
Children will be inspired by her story and her dual passions, that ultimately, were also the perfect fit for her entry into the astronaut program!

[Chana Stiefel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancing Through Space is a beautiful picture book biography of Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black female astronaut to travel into space. Author Lydia Lukidis creatively shares parallel text of Jemison’s two lifelong passions: science and dance. Jemison faced many challenges to follow her dreams, including discrimination, sexism, the academic rigors of science, and the physical strains of dance. With beautiful illustrations by Sawyer Cloud, readers will love following these parallel stories and discovering how Jemison overcame her struggles and combined them to make her career take off and soar! The sky is not the limit. An inspiration for all!

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This inspirational biography about Mae Jemison shows us how her determination allowed her to bypass setbacks to reach her personal goals and become a role model for girls pursuing STEM fields. I like that we are shown her passion for dancing because, at first, it may seem different than ending up in space but, throughout, it's her drive that fuels her success. Even though dance is an art, it can absolutely be demanding and require fortitude. The dance element also gives this nonfiction picture book a new feel from some of the others we've seen. This book would be a welcome addition to elementary school class libraries.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating picture book biography of Dr. Mae Jemison highlights young Mae's two passions, science and dance. Employing a clever parallel structure, the author shows how Mae pursued both passions at each age. And though she was sometimes advised to choose only one, she persevered in following both interests. Studying science gave her courage and made her mind sharp, while studying dance gave her determination and made her body strong. She become a doctor, applied to the NASA astronaut training program, and eventually Dr. Jemision became "the first Black woman to fly into space." Inspiring and lyrical, this is a fantastic STEM title!

[Stephanie Wildman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too often parents, teachers, and culture require children to choose between creative endeavors like writing, art, or dance and scientific exploration with analytical reasoning and disciplined methodology. In this perfect book -- Dancing through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud), author Lydia Lukidis shows how the melding of both sides of Dr. Jemison’s self – creative and analytical- enabled her to become a success in the world of science as an astronaut and to always keep dancing.

[Zainab Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This incredible book should be in every classroom and household. The author does a fabulous job of engaging the reader sharing Mae's life and the steps that brought her to being an astronaut. I love how it easily shows Mae's different interests without once pulling the reader out of the story. This book is inspirational and empowers every child and adult.
The art work is phenomenal. The rich colors and beautiful illustrations enhance the writing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's a must have for teacher, student and family.

[Kelsey Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

DANCING THROUGH SPACE offers a fascinating look at the life of Dr. Mae Jemison and her dual passions for science and dance. Through colorful side-by-side illustrations, readers see how both of these childhood interests remained important throughout her life. There’s a wonderful message about pursuing the things you love best, as well as persistence and determination. It was inspiring to learn more about Dr. Jemison’s path to becoming the first Black woman to fly into space. I highly recommend DANCING THROUGH SPACE for all children’s bookshelves!

[Tina Shepardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia Lukidis, with illustrator Sawyer Cloud, explores Dr. Mae Jemison's life in DANCING THROUGH SPACE, seamlessly weaving her dual passions—science and dance. Vibrant illustrations depict how these childhood interests shaped her amazing journey, delivering a powerful message of embracing true passions, persistence, and determination. The side by side spreads of her two life's passions make the reading journey so interesting. Dr. Jemison's inspiring path as the first Black woman in space is a wonderful book for kids, teachers, librarians, bookshelves.

[Rosanne Kurstedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancing Through Space by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud tells the story of Dr. Mae Jemison in a unique way. Most books about Dr. Jemison discuss her becoming and being the first Black astronaut but Lukidis takes a different tact. She parallels young Mae’s desire to be both a scientist and a dancer and highlights the struggles of choosing. As we learn in the book, Dr. Jemison does not wind up choosing, she winds up doing both. Children will learn many big ideas in this book—including hold true to your dreams, work hard to accomplish them and sometimes you can do both.

[Namita Mehra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible picture book biography about the first Black woman to fly into space. A fascinating story of resilience and not giving up on your dreams. I love the parallels with dance and all the beautiful dance language incorporated into the beautifully written text. Dr Mae saw a connection between science and dance and I am certain this story will inspire so many readers to realise that they can have multiple passions and pursuits. The author's note does a great job of explaining this too. Fantastic reading-- highly recommend! Works well for older readers too!

[Laurie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical writing uses a parallel structure to show how Dr. Jemison trained in both science and dance throughout her life, often persisting against challenges and overcoming obstacles in both areas. The artwork is colorful and inviting. A wonderful picture book biography about a truly inspiring person, as well as an excellent mentor text for teaching concepts of word choice, language, and structure. Readers of all ages will take away many powerful lessons from this exciting and unforgettable true story. Highly recommended!

[Jessica Stremer · Rating 5 out of 5]

DANCING THROUGH SPACE is cleverly written using a parallel narrative, highlighting Mae Jemison's love for both science and dancing. It's a great example of how sometimes it's ok to not choose between two things that bring you joy. Back matter includes a timeline of Mae's life as well as a note from the author who shares her personal connection to Mae's story. This book would make a great addition to any school or home library.

[Chloe Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book a wonderful picture book biography about Dr. Mae Jemison. I previously knew about Dr. Jemison's space missions but had no idea she was a dancer! I love that she didn't force herself to choose between her two passions but instead embraced them both. I love that this book compares Dr. Jemison's two passions side by side, the parallel structure helps young readers better understand Mae and her journey. The illustrations by Sawyer Cloud are vibrant and lovely!

[Sarah Scheerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancing through Space follows Mae Jemison and her extraordinary journey and shows young readers that anything is possible. Mae found ways to balance both the scientific and creative components of her life, and to persevere. Perfect for Women’s History Month, as well as for teaching grit, growth mindset, and following one’s passions, Dancing through Space is a great addition to any home, classroom, or library.

[Brenna Jeanneret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad this book exists because now I know the unstoppable force that was Dr. Mae Jemison! Mae's story is a lesson in determination, grit and perseverance. I love the way the author brought us into the dichotomy of Mae's world through science and dance. The most compelling part of Mae's story is her steadfastness even after so much failure and adversity. Coupled with Sawyer Cloud's magical illustrations this book is simply out of this world!

[Marzieh Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about Dr. Mae Jemison and her thoughts on science and art and how they are both expressions of creativity to be celebrated and shared. What I loved about this bio is the way the author wove the subjects' two passions in a parallel structure, just the way the subject kept both her passions alive throughout her life, side-by-side, until they intersected with her dancing through space. Such a powerful build up to a satisfying ending!
Brilliant!

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too often we separate the arts and sciences as disciplines and choices. But it’s clear from this story of Mae Jemison that they go hand in hand, each enhancing the other, and offer news ways of thinking and opportunities. This wonderful story of real life choices and perseverance is bound to inspire kids today as they find their paths!