I WISH THAT YOU KNEW Written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington Illustrated by Alyssa Russell (Little…
Picture Book Review for National Space Day 2024 – Dancing Through Space
DANCING THROUGH SPACE:
DR. MAE JEMISON SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Written by Lydia Lukidis
Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
(Albert Whitman; $18.99; Ages 4-8)
From the Publisher:
“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 passions: 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.”
Review:
Author, Lydia Lukidis introduces her new book about astronaut Mae Jemison by highlighting Jemison’s
love of science and dance. “Mae’s curiosity was as wide as the sky … [but] Mae could not sit still.” She
continues, “Mae spotted science everywhere, from symmetry to gravity … [she also] spotted
choreography everywhere, from birds soaring to waves swirling.”
e
e
Lukidis uses this dual narrative format to showcase how Jemison’s dual loves guide her through life
building her courage and determination, her mind, and her body. As Jemison considers her future, her
mother wisely counsels: “You can always dance if you’re a doctor, but you can’t doctor if you’re a
dancer.” So Mae studies both. Eventually, Mae’s dual-loves merge when she is invited to join the space program …
e
e
And in 1992, she became the first Black woman to “dance through space” when she traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Lukidis’ own love of science and art shines as she shares this phenomenal woman’s story, as does the art by Sawyer Cloud which illuminates Jemison’s determination to pursue her dreams.\
e
Purchase the book:
Goodreads – Click here.
Barnes & Noble – Click here.
Find out more about the book here.
•Reviewed by Roxanne Troup
Share this:
Related Posts
Comments (2)
Comments are closed.
By drawing my attention to May Jemision’s dual love for both dance and science, this review has helped raise my curiosity to learn more about the first female African-American astronaut. Well done!
I’m so glad her accomplishments have been recognized in kidlit.