Who Did It First?: 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World (Who Did It First?)

by Julie Leung (Author) Caitlin Kuhwald (Illustrator)

Who Did It First?: 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World (Who Did It First?)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

A boldly illustrated and fascinating collection of profiles featuring the women and men who were pioneers of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.

You likely know that Mae Jemison was the first African American woman in space. And maybe you know that Jane Goodall was the first human accepted into a chimpanzee community. But you might not know that Alan Turing was the first person to introduce the concept of artificial intelligence. Or that Tu Youyou was the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Who Did It First? 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World brings together all of these trailblazers into one stunning package. With both well-known figures and lesser-known heroes, editor Alex Hart, writer Julie Leung, and illustrator Caitlin Kuhwald celebrate the inspiring innovators who braved uncharted waters to pave the path for future generations.

Perfect for fans of Little Leaders, Women in Science, and Rad Women Worldwide, Who Did It First? makes a wonderful gift for any occasion and is a must-have for every young reader's library.

Featuring Ada Lovelace, Mindy Kaling, Temple Grandin, Maria Tallchief, Riz Ahmed, and many others.

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Hardcover
$19.99

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Kirkus

Each entry features a motivational quote or two, some of which occupy entire pages of their own, and, from Kuhwald, a stylized but easily recognizable portrait placed in an evocative setting.... This broad take on “firsts” is unusually rich in lesser-known figures and feats.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Arranged in chronological order, these 50 historical and contemporary figures include scientists, mathematicians, artists, and engineers who come from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. A majority of the people have a page-long description of their life and work, along with a highlighted quote, but some only receive a paragraph. There are a significant number of lesser-known innovators (Alexa Canady, the first female African-American neurosurgeon), along with familiar faces like Isaac Newton and Ada Lovelace. The real highlight of this book, however, is the artwork; Kuhwald's digitally-painted portraits depict these trailblazers in vibrant color, surrounded by settings and patterns that reflect each person's work and personality. VERDICT Although this book will not provide adequate details for a school report, it may motivate some readers to dig deeper into the lives of many inspirational pioneers.-Sarah Reid, Four County Library System, NY

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781250211712
Lexile Measure
1120
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Henry Holt & Company
Publication date
October 15, 2019
Series
Who Did It First?
BISAC categories
JNF007010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Art
JNF007020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Historical
JNF006040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Art | History
JNF007090 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Science & Technology
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
JNF051190 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | History of Science
JNF025000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | General
Library of Congress categories
Biographies
Biography
World history

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