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Scholastic Rookie Biographies
Mae Jemison
Meet Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel to space. Fact-filled Rookie Read-About Biographies introduce the youngest readers to influential women and men, both past and present. Colorful photos and age appropriate text encourage children to read on their own-as they learn about people like Serena Williams, Neil Armstrong, Rosa Parks, Anne Frank and many more. Mae Jemison was a bright child who was always fascinated by science. The top student and gifted dancer ignored naysayers and worked hard to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor and an astronaut.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 29, 2021
Genre: Biography
Grade: K-1
This is a great story to add to the a classroom bookshelf to provide the normality of diversity in the classroom. Mae Jemison is a successful African-American woman, and this story can inspire young women/African-American students to have confidence in chasing their dreams and striving for greatness no matter what. This book is also a great book for students interested in space. The style of the book is great for young readers to develop their reading skills as there are clear words, some bolded, real photographs, and an easy to read table of contents and glossary.
Grade: K-1
This is a great story to add to the a classroom bookshelf to provide the normality of diversity in the classroom. Mae Jemison is a successful African-American woman, and this story can inspire young women/African-American students to have confidence in chasing their dreams and striving for greatness no matter what. This book is also a great book for students interested in space. The style of the book is great for young readers to develop their reading skills as there are clear words, some bolded, real photographs, and an easy to read table of contents and glossary.
January 30, 2019
This book shows you that you can do anything you put your mind to. Mae wanted to be a scienctist and that is what she did. She did not let anything get in her way. She was smart and brave and when she wanted to do something she did it. She became so many things in her life she was a doctor, she whent to space, she traveled. This books shows kids that they can do what ever they want.
July 6, 2020
Dr. Jemison is a very inspirational person who promotes education and knowledge. I have read several books about her, but saw this one in my neighborhood book exchange and read it last night. Heading back to the book exchange now on my bicycle!
February 25, 2020
A simply-written but informative biography!
November 26, 2020
Inspiring
September 30, 2025
I like the photos of Mae, but the text and format are not my favorite.
April 25, 2016
Title: Mae Jemison
Author:Jodie Shepherd
Illustrator:
Genre: Biography (K-2)
Theme(s): Determination, Hardwork, Space, Astronauts
Opening line/sentence: "Mae Jemison was an astronaut."
Brief Book Summary: Mae Jemison was the first African American astronaut. When she was little, she wanted to be a scientist. She worked hard in school and made it into space! Now she runs an organization that helps others and is a notable leader.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kara Dean (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 19))
The Rookie Biographies series is on to a winner with this volume about the life of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space. Jemison is an individual of remarkable achievements of which being an astronaut is only one which makes her an inspiring subject for children learning to read. The book s layout is clean and flows well, using a combination of photos, fact boxes, and simple sentences that are easy for new readers to navigate. The book concludes with a time line of Jemison s life, a poem, a You Can Be a Scientist feature to encourage readers to think about how they can emulate Jemison, a glossary, an index, and Facts for Now. This final segment encourages readers to visit the Scholastic website, which links readers to Grolier and The New Book of Knowledge articles about Jemison (the reading levels of the articles are indicated), as well as third-party sources such as NASA, the BBC, and Jemison s own website. This is an engaging entry in an excellent series. Grades 1-3
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Booklist
Gr. 2-5. This inviting volume from Gateway biography series features Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. Aimed at a younger audience than Jemison's autobiographical Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life (2001), the book concisely presents information about Jemison's youth, education, medical career, Peace Corps experience, NASA training, space flight, college teaching, and public lectures. Illustrated feature sections introduce topics such as space suits, the space shuttle, and the International Space Station. With fairly large type and a photograph on nearly every other page, the presentation looks both readable and colorful. The book ends with short lists of books and Web sites recommended for children as well as a source bibliography. Carolyn Phelan.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the reviews when they say that this biography is very readable. It is appropriate for its targeted grade/age level. I also agree that the book introduces related topics well, which could be used in instructional application.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The biography was written in a simple sentence format that is adequate for its targeted audience. It contains additional "fun facts" and illustrations which accompany the text and make the book more enjoyable for readers. It also contains a glossary and alternative resources for children to go to if they want to know more.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would definitely use this book and others in this series "Rookie Biographies" by Scholastic. I think the format of the biography was accessible for young readers. I would use this book specifically in a lesson on writing biographies. I would have students write a biography on a person of their choice and have them use some of the "extras" modeled in this text: "fun facts", a glossary, "additional info", etc.
Author:Jodie Shepherd
Illustrator:
Genre: Biography (K-2)
Theme(s): Determination, Hardwork, Space, Astronauts
Opening line/sentence: "Mae Jemison was an astronaut."
Brief Book Summary: Mae Jemison was the first African American astronaut. When she was little, she wanted to be a scientist. She worked hard in school and made it into space! Now she runs an organization that helps others and is a notable leader.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kara Dean (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 19))
The Rookie Biographies series is on to a winner with this volume about the life of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space. Jemison is an individual of remarkable achievements of which being an astronaut is only one which makes her an inspiring subject for children learning to read. The book s layout is clean and flows well, using a combination of photos, fact boxes, and simple sentences that are easy for new readers to navigate. The book concludes with a time line of Jemison s life, a poem, a You Can Be a Scientist feature to encourage readers to think about how they can emulate Jemison, a glossary, an index, and Facts for Now. This final segment encourages readers to visit the Scholastic website, which links readers to Grolier and The New Book of Knowledge articles about Jemison (the reading levels of the articles are indicated), as well as third-party sources such as NASA, the BBC, and Jemison s own website. This is an engaging entry in an excellent series. Grades 1-3
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Booklist
Gr. 2-5. This inviting volume from Gateway biography series features Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. Aimed at a younger audience than Jemison's autobiographical Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life (2001), the book concisely presents information about Jemison's youth, education, medical career, Peace Corps experience, NASA training, space flight, college teaching, and public lectures. Illustrated feature sections introduce topics such as space suits, the space shuttle, and the International Space Station. With fairly large type and a photograph on nearly every other page, the presentation looks both readable and colorful. The book ends with short lists of books and Web sites recommended for children as well as a source bibliography. Carolyn Phelan.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the reviews when they say that this biography is very readable. It is appropriate for its targeted grade/age level. I also agree that the book introduces related topics well, which could be used in instructional application.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The biography was written in a simple sentence format that is adequate for its targeted audience. It contains additional "fun facts" and illustrations which accompany the text and make the book more enjoyable for readers. It also contains a glossary and alternative resources for children to go to if they want to know more.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would definitely use this book and others in this series "Rookie Biographies" by Scholastic. I think the format of the biography was accessible for young readers. I would use this book specifically in a lesson on writing biographies. I would have students write a biography on a person of their choice and have them use some of the "extras" modeled in this text: "fun facts", a glossary, "additional info", etc.
Read
November 9, 2016This book hasn't won any awards. It is written for children in K-2. This story is about Mae Jameson. It talks about her life as a child and then as an astronaut. Since Mae Jameson was the first African American astronaut. This book is also another easy read for children. there aren;t illustrations but photos of Mae and other astronauts. It intrigues children into careers they've always talked about wanting to be. I would use this in my classroom around a career day type of lesson. The children could discuss their careers and learn about them. Another activity would be to have the students be astronauts for a day when star lab comes to school. They could pretend they are out in space and looking at planets, galaxies and stars.
November 9, 2016
Appropriate Grade Levels: Preschool - 1s Grade (Ages 3 - 7)
Follow Mae Jemison's journey of success before, during and after making history. Read as you learn about how much work it took her to be known for what she is today - the first Black woman in space.
Mae Jemison is a perfect biography for young students with amazingly appropriate language as well as an appropriate amount of informational text features, including a table of contents a glossary and an index. The fact that the book highly emphasizes her hard educational work towards her success doesn't hurt either.
Classroom Uses:
1) During a lesson on outer space
2) Teaching on the components of an informational text
Follow Mae Jemison's journey of success before, during and after making history. Read as you learn about how much work it took her to be known for what she is today - the first Black woman in space.
Mae Jemison is a perfect biography for young students with amazingly appropriate language as well as an appropriate amount of informational text features, including a table of contents a glossary and an index. The fact that the book highly emphasizes her hard educational work towards her success doesn't hurt either.
Classroom Uses:
1) During a lesson on outer space
2) Teaching on the components of an informational text
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews