Picture Book Biographies of Black Women in STEM & GIVEAWAY!

Please welcome my guest authors today Lydia Lukidis and Mélina Mangal with their list of children’s books featuring Black women in STEM.

We are giving away a copy of Dancing Through Space. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.

p.s. Related posts:

31+ STEM Books to Inspire Girls

30 Black Joy Picture Books and Chapter Books

Resources for Black History Month

10 Picture Book Biographies to Celebrate Women’s History Month

8 STEM Books on Scientific Minds, Methods, & Discovery

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Nonfiction STEM books are becoming increasingly popular in the kidlit market. Books that celebrate females who are/were pioneers in their respective fields are also on the rise. Mélina Mangal and I (Lydia Lukidis) got specific and curated a list of compelling books that celebrate extraordinary Black women involved in STEM. We also look forward to many more books being added to this niche in the coming years.

Picture Book Biographies of Black Women in STEM

Dancing through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

I’ll start with my latest book. Everyone knows Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African American to fly to space, but what people may not know is that she also has an everlasting passion for dance. My dual narrative book features her two passions, science and dance. As the story unfolds, the two worlds merge, illuminating how art and science are both essential parts of our world. I think this book will resonate with many on a personal level because it demonstrates that you can follow more than one path. It also encourages children to dream big and persevere through any challenges. [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]

One Step Further by Katherine Johnson, illustrated by Charnelle Pickney Barlow

In this autobiographical picture book, Katherine Johnson shares her journey from a segregated childhood to pivotal person in the first American space flight. Through simple, descriptive sentences, Katherine’s long path emerges, punctuated by her daughter’s accounts of their lives and the times in speech bubbles. Archival photos and documents supplement the beautifully textured illustrations to create an inspiring and unique book. Includes substantial back matter, including historical notes and context, a detailed timeline, glossary, illustrator note, and historic photos. [picture book biography, ages 3 and up]

Planting Peace the Story of Wangari Maathai by Gwendolyn Hooks, illustrated by Margaux Carpentier

Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai’s story comes to life in this well-written and colorful biography. This longer book adds substantial details to Wangari’s story, making it a great choice for older readers as well.  Inspired by Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Professor Dr. Jane Irungu adds a foreword.  Also included is an author’s note, glossary, and further information section. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up]

Up Periscope: How Engineer Raye Montague Revolutionized Shipbuilding by Jennifer Swanson, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison

Author Jennifer Swanson does a magnificent job at introducing children to a woman not often talked about but who was a pioneer in her field: Raye Montague. Despite the fact that girls didn’t study math and science at the time, her mother had always taught Raye that she could learn anything, do anything, and be anything. Raye followed her heart and became a naval engineer. She created the first computer program that could design every part of a ship for the US Navy, which had never been done before. The text is paired with beautiful illustrations by Veronica Miller Jamison. [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman

This book was received with critical acclaim and for good reason. It chronicles the lives of four women, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, who were all exceptional in math. They pursued careers in NASA and were responsible for some life-altering achievements like providing the calculations for America’s first journeys into space. It’s an inspiring read because children should be made aware of how limited life was for Black women. Yet, these women persisted. Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award winner Laura Freeman also did a fantastic job in bringing these stories to life. [picture book biography, ages 6 and up]

Patricia’s Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight by Michelle Lord, illustrated by Alleanna Harris

Born in a time when women couldn’t become doctors, let alone Black women, Patricia Bath dreamed of being an ophthalmologist. Blessed with a strong desire to save and restore sight to the blind, she became a ground-breaking ophthalmologist who pioneered laser surgery, changing the lives of so many. She also co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness and created the innovative concept of community preventative eye care. This is the perfect story of compassion and determination. [picture book biography, ages 5 and up]

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Like the next book, this book highlights what we now call STEM at a time and/or place where they didn’t have access to formal ‘STEM’ training. One Plastic Bag is the incredibly inspiring story of Isatou Ceesay, an African woman, who started a recycling movement to combat pollution caused by plastic bags in her community. It’s an important message wrapped in an engaging narrative nonfiction story. What I really appreciate about it is how close author Miranda Paul got to the subject. She took her research to the next level and traveled to Gambia, Africa five times to research her book and interview Isatou. [picture book biography, ages 5 and up]

Sweet Dreams, Sarah by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Chris Ewald

This is the true story of a lesser-known protagonist who rose against the odds to pursue her dreams despite numerous challenges. Ultimately, Sarah E. Goode became the first African-American woman to get a US patent. After working in a furniture store, she saw a need and invented a unique cupboard bed. I’m in awe of Sarah’s determination and author Vivian Kirkfield’s lyrical language (“with freedom in her pocket and hope in her heart…”) Chris Ewald’s illustrations are equally mesmerizing. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up]

Black Women in Science by Dr. Kimberly Brown Pellum, illustrated by Keisha Morris

Dr. Kimberly Brown Pellum presents profiles of 15 amazing Black women in science, from the 1830’s to today. Colorful portraits and quotes from each woman highlight the informative text.

Including more well-known figures such as Bessie Coleman and introducing others like Alexa Irene Canady, young readers will find plenty of inspiring models of scientific success. [picture book biography anthology, ages 7 and up]

Aerospace Engineer Aprille Ericsson by Laura Hamilton Waxman

In this very accessible 32-page chapter book biography, young readers are introduced to Aprille Ericsson, who loved math, science, and sports as a kid, and dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Detailed photos enhance the story of Aprille’s rise to becoming the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in engineering at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This book is part of the STEM Trailblazer Bio series. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up]

Urban Biologist Danielle Lee by Kari Cornell

Young readers will love learning about Dr. Danielle Lee’s work as a biologist and outreach scientist. Out in the field or traveling the globe, researching animals like voles or land mine-sniffing rats, Dr. Lee’s exciting work will propel readers to keep reading this accessible 32-page chapter book biography. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up]

Ayanna Howard―The Story of a Robotics Engineer That Impacted Math, Science, and Space Exploration by Stephanie Anne Box, illustrated by Elena Bia

In this accessible biography, young readers are introduced to roboticist Ayanna Howard. With simple, short sentences, and text features such as quotes in a different colored serif font, readers learn of Howard’s early interests, her education, and her role as an educator and entrepreneur. With appealing illustrations and more detailed back matter, Ayanna’s story is sure to spark interest. [early reader biography, ages 6 and up]

Annie Easley―The Story of a NASA Computer Scientist by M. M. Eboch, illustrated by Elena Bia

This book is an early reader that will inspire young children. Annie Easley is a lesser-known hero but played a huge role in her field. She began her career as a “human computer” doing computations for researchers. She worked for NASA and helped send rockets into space. She also helped advance energy technologies. As a computer scientist and accomplished mathematician, this story is an inspiration to all, but especially to young children who will be encouraged to study STEM topics.[early reader biography, ages 6 and up]

Dancing Through Space GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away a copy of Dancing Through Space. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lydia Lukidis is the author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was shortlisted for a Silver Birch Express (Forest of Reading) award, THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST (Kane Press, 2019) which was nominated for a Cybils Award, and NO BEARS ALLOWED (Clear Fork Media, 2019). A science enthusiast from a young age, she now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.

Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. Lydia is represented by Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. To learn more, check out her website and blog, and follow her on Twitter/X and Facebook.

Mélina Mangal writes picture books, biographies, and short stories that focus on connections with nature and culture. She is the author of The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award, Jayden’s Impossible Garden, named One of the Best Children’s Books of the Year by Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature, and the sequel, Jayden’s Secret Ingredient.  Her latest YA short story appears in Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities.  Mélina also works as a school library media teacher in Minneapolis, spreading book love daily. To learn more, check out her website, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram @melinamangal, and LinkedIn.

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My books:

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

• Junior Library Guild Gold selection
• Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
• Starred review from School Library Journal
• Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
• 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
• Green Earth Book Award longlist
• Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me