Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 Hardcover – Picture Book, June 19, 2018

Easy to read aloud in the primary grades. Students will pick up on the repeating line, "You can count on me" which serves to reveal one of the main ideas in this book--that Katherine Johnson played a critical role in the success of NACA/NASA's early space exploration. I'd read this aloud to students for enjoyment and then read aloud again and pose questions for students to turn and discuss in small groups. Questions like -*How does the author show that Katherine Johnson was determined to become a professional mathematician?*What were obstacles Johnson (and her family) faced? How did she overcome those?*Would you describe Johnson as perseverant? Why?*How does the author's repeated use of the response "Count on me" help develop a big idea in this book?*How do the illustrations contribute to understanding the details in the text?ANOTHER STRENGTH of this book is the author's explanation of the kind of mathematics that Johnson did for NASA. I've read several books now about the "computers" at NASA, women who did mathematics for the agency (in its early days) and the authors frequently fail to explain the mathematics or the purpose of the mathematics (other than "it helped NASA") in a way that young children can understand. Young children may wonder why 2+2 is a big deal, you know? Becker, the author, and Phumiruk, the illustrator, have a great two page layout explaining very simply how and why math was helpful in sending a rocket into space. They use the analogy of throwing a ball up--"But as it runs out, the ball's path curves back toward the ground. Where it lands depends onwhat angle it was thrown and how high and how fast it flew.Because math is a kind of language, Katherine could ask those questions--how high wouldthe rocket ship go and how fast would it travel?--using numbers..."With Becker & Phumiruk's simple explanation and illustration, students in the primary grades can begin to grasp the value of Johnson's work. After reading aloud the book, reread just these two pages and use this as a jumping off point for a hands-on experiment as part of an integrated approach, using math and thinking about forces and motion. Lots of potential while learning about a very important person.

This is an outstanding book that should be in all primary school classrooms. This book has an accurate and exciting story for kids. The illustrations are fantastic - whole page color pictures. The story is a small slice of history with a huge impact. Katherine Johnson a hero, an African-American woman who dreamed big, and was an amazing mathematician. She was an integral part of space exploration and literally saved astronauts lives. Long for my first grader to read himself, just the right length for a first grader to listen to though. Very impressed how a non-fiction story was made into a fascinating story book for kids. Highly recommend.

This is a wonderful book about the life of Katherine Johnson. It is written so young children can understand the story of her life with appropriate context. The illustrations are wonderful! I highly recommend this book!

I love a good book. As a teacher, I love a good book that also has a great message. This book, Counting on Katherine is well written. It's pictures are great. The message is fantastic. I was very impressed. I can't wait to introduce my students to Katherine. What a great hero for girls!

This is a wonderful book in that it makes Katherine Johnson's life story really compelling for young readers (and those being read to.) The illustrations are bright and cheerful. The writing is accessible. An important person in modern human history that children need to know about!

Purchased for a teachers use to start young children reading.

We live this book. I am so glad we interpreted it in to our homeschool room while we studied Black History month. I have learned so much along with my children. Katherine is an amazing women and pioneer. I’m so glad my children have such stories to look at, learn from and inspire them. This book is beautifully written and illustrated. It prompted us to watch Hiddem Figures after reading her story and just WOW! What a woman!

I love this book! I have read it with my class of 5 and 6 year olds and they love it so much. It is such a nice story and has such a nice message. Katherine Johnson was an incredible woman and every child should know about her and what she did for the American scientific community.