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Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories
Prepare to be inspired with this fantastically great new series for young readers. In this first book, read the true stories of amazing scientists and discover things that are out of this world.
Women have been responsible for many of the world's most groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline Pankhurst, tells the stories of some incredible female scientists whose hard work and persistence changed our understanding of science, and transformed people's ideas of what women can do.
As a child Mae Jemison imagined herself reaching for the stars and that's exactly what she did: she became the first African-American woman to go into space. When Elizabeth Blackwell was told women weren't allowed to be doctors, she didn't take no for an answer. Tu Youyou spent months on a remote island during the Vietnam War to try and invent a treatment for malaria - and she did it.
Including comic strips, family trees, maps and more, Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories is a celebration of women who made some of the world's most important scientific breakthroughs.
Women featured: Mae Jemison, Marie Curie, Elizabeth Blackwell, Janaki Ammal, Caroline Herschel, Katia Krafft, Tu Youyou and Rosalind Franklin.
Women have been responsible for many of the world's most groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline Pankhurst, tells the stories of some incredible female scientists whose hard work and persistence changed our understanding of science, and transformed people's ideas of what women can do.
As a child Mae Jemison imagined herself reaching for the stars and that's exactly what she did: she became the first African-American woman to go into space. When Elizabeth Blackwell was told women weren't allowed to be doctors, she didn't take no for an answer. Tu Youyou spent months on a remote island during the Vietnam War to try and invent a treatment for malaria - and she did it.
Including comic strips, family trees, maps and more, Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories is a celebration of women who made some of the world's most important scientific breakthroughs.
Women featured: Mae Jemison, Marie Curie, Elizabeth Blackwell, Janaki Ammal, Caroline Herschel, Katia Krafft, Tu Youyou and Rosalind Franklin.
- GenresNonfictionChildrens
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2021
2 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Kate Pankhurst
116 books39 followersKate Pankhurst is a British writer and illustrator, known for a series of children's picture books. She won second place in the 2002 Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 28, 2021
I decided to read this book after I saw that it was listed in the guardian as one of the best new children’s books of 2020. The illustrated book includes eight different biographies of women scientists who have all made groundbreaking discoveries in science. It uncover’s the difficult truth about the history of science - often women’s work has been overlooked and their credit stolen my men. In my opinion, Pankhurst approaches the issues of gender inequality and discrimination in a way that is easy for children to understand and at the same time inspires and motivates them to make change.
I wish I had been introduced to more books like this when I was younger, however, I am very excited for all the young girls and boys (and adults) who are yet to read this book!
I wish I had been introduced to more books like this when I was younger, however, I am very excited for all the young girls and boys (and adults) who are yet to read this book!
April 10, 2021
I like the idea of telling stories of great women through cute illustrations and narration. A very enjoyable series of books.
August 8, 2021
I always thought of what a children's book with women inventors would look like. Now I know - like a crash course on women inventors for adults.
April 18, 2021
I’ve tended to disagree with nonfiction titles about pioneers because those I’ve seen have truncated their stories and simply tried to list their main achievements and then been done with that.
Kate Pankhurst has turned this genre around into such a readable format, and I learnt so much reading this.
She employs a narrative arc around human, emotional moments of every woman scientist and generates stories that young readers care about.
She also expertly weaves in essential history (such as the time of the American civil rights movement when first African American astronaut Mae Jemison was growing up).
There is so much I didn’t know about the times and the struggles of our women pioneers and this book provided for much insight and riveting reading.
Pankhurst, also the illustrator, uses comic panels, training manuals, letters, diaries and speech bubbles to propel the stories forward.
I loved Marie Curie’s story best. From her work together with her husband Pierre, who once had to give a lecture in her place because women were not allowed, but who also pushed hard to give credit to her work. Oh, and she tried to have her (not one but) two gold Nobel prize medals melted down to help with the war effort in WW1. (The bank refused!)
Medical hygiene, tectonics and volcanoes, astronomy, botany, chromosomes, traditional Chinese medicine, the cultural Revolution, the DNA — this book is choc a bloc with information that engages. It also does not shy away from the struggles of women in history, or the more complex concepts.
Pankhurst already has a picture book set in this series, and this is the first chapter book spinoff done with the help of writer Kate Plaice. It is so well done, I’m looking forward to the rest of it!
📚: @definitelybooks (Pansing Distribution)
Kate Pankhurst has turned this genre around into such a readable format, and I learnt so much reading this.
She employs a narrative arc around human, emotional moments of every woman scientist and generates stories that young readers care about.
She also expertly weaves in essential history (such as the time of the American civil rights movement when first African American astronaut Mae Jemison was growing up).
There is so much I didn’t know about the times and the struggles of our women pioneers and this book provided for much insight and riveting reading.
Pankhurst, also the illustrator, uses comic panels, training manuals, letters, diaries and speech bubbles to propel the stories forward.
I loved Marie Curie’s story best. From her work together with her husband Pierre, who once had to give a lecture in her place because women were not allowed, but who also pushed hard to give credit to her work. Oh, and she tried to have her (not one but) two gold Nobel prize medals melted down to help with the war effort in WW1. (The bank refused!)
Medical hygiene, tectonics and volcanoes, astronomy, botany, chromosomes, traditional Chinese medicine, the cultural Revolution, the DNA — this book is choc a bloc with information that engages. It also does not shy away from the struggles of women in history, or the more complex concepts.
Pankhurst already has a picture book set in this series, and this is the first chapter book spinoff done with the help of writer Kate Plaice. It is so well done, I’m looking forward to the rest of it!
📚: @definitelybooks (Pansing Distribution)
June 18, 2022
A beautiful book aimed at KS2 children.
This well structured book contains eight biographies on female scientists, each of whom impacted the science we know today! These scientists include Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and Mae Jemison to name a few. Some topics covered include medicine, astronomy, DNA and volcanoes.
Displayed in creative format with beautiful illustrations, various fonts and bold text for keywords. The structure of this book is very appealing for children. Content has been adapted to be more accessible for the age group, with the use of age appropriate terminology, grammatical structure, and it even includes a glossary at the back for any keywords.
It truly is an inspirational book, and a must have for your book corner!
There are also other female scientists suggested at the end of the book, for those which are interested in further reading on the topic. As well as, suggested reads on other key women in history in various other professions.
Suggested lesson ideas based on Scientists and their stories book:
Use this book for comprehension tasks, various SPAG related tasks (i.e. conjunctions, adverbials etc), read this during national women in science day, link to Science topics (Mae Jamison and space etc) and link to PSHE (Marie Curie and equality etc).
This well structured book contains eight biographies on female scientists, each of whom impacted the science we know today! These scientists include Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and Mae Jemison to name a few. Some topics covered include medicine, astronomy, DNA and volcanoes.
Displayed in creative format with beautiful illustrations, various fonts and bold text for keywords. The structure of this book is very appealing for children. Content has been adapted to be more accessible for the age group, with the use of age appropriate terminology, grammatical structure, and it even includes a glossary at the back for any keywords.
It truly is an inspirational book, and a must have for your book corner!
There are also other female scientists suggested at the end of the book, for those which are interested in further reading on the topic. As well as, suggested reads on other key women in history in various other professions.
Suggested lesson ideas based on Scientists and their stories book:
Use this book for comprehension tasks, various SPAG related tasks (i.e. conjunctions, adverbials etc), read this during national women in science day, link to Science topics (Mae Jamison and space etc) and link to PSHE (Marie Curie and equality etc).
March 6, 2021
Perfect for children aged 8+. The stories of 8 inspirational scientists are told in a really accessible way for children.
The illustrations are fantastic and help to break up the text and engage the reader. I really like the diversity of the scientists included and it’s so important that children challenge gender stereotypes and are aware of the work of women scientists and this book goes a long way towards helping to do that!
The illustrations are fantastic and help to break up the text and engage the reader. I really like the diversity of the scientists included and it’s so important that children challenge gender stereotypes and are aware of the work of women scientists and this book goes a long way towards helping to do that!
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November 25, 2022I read this book for a review in a school paper and very much enjoyed it. However, I don’t think it’s best suited for children, to be quite honest. It was written in a child friendly format with childish illustrations but it was still filled with complicated content, speaking on topics ranging from the helix structure of DNA to malaria. In conclusion, a good overview but dense content in a very abridged book.
August 21, 2023
This was a great deal of fun to read. I learned a great deal about female scientists and the accomplishments that they made even when the world was pitted against them. Fascinating to see how revolutionary change can occur without credit being given and then later in time, the truth is revealed. Remarkable women who had a vision and followed their path even when directed otherwise.
October 6, 2025
For ages 7 to 9 years (year 3 onwards)
Subject for History
Female scientists whose hard work and persistence changed our understanding of science and transformed people's ideas of what women can do.
Subject for History
Female scientists whose hard work and persistence changed our understanding of science and transformed people's ideas of what women can do.
March 24, 2021
I had to read this for part of my course and I really enjoyed it. My students will like this book I am sure.
April 3, 2021
Such an easy to read book! I learnt a lot about some women that I had no clue about before. Looking forward to putting this book into our school library!
August 18, 2021
Great little book that has taught me so much about the women that we don't hear enough about!
June 20, 2024
What a great inspirational book for young minds. I quite enjoyed reading about women I hadn't heard if a learning interesting facts about women I had heard of.
August 14, 2024
Echt een super boek voor iets oudere kinderen! Leuk geschreven, veel complexe concepten die goed en begrijpelijk worden uitgelegd, veel tekeningen en erg empowering. Science nerd approved!
August 30, 2021
I am SO HAPPY books like this exist, and I only wish I could travel back in time 20 years and press this into the hands of my childhood self -- or, better yet, into the hands of the teacher who once told me "nothing of importance has ever been invented by a woman". 🙄
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews