I'd like to start my review by extending a thank you to the author, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, the illustrator, Jemma Skidmore, the publisher, Frances Lincoln Childrens Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this children's picture biography of Katherine Johnson. I will share my review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble upon release.

I love the Little People, Big Dreams series, and this one is no exception. This book tells the store of a young Black scientist from West Virginia who faced a huge amount of struggle and difficulty in her career at NASA. Her contributions to space exploration, science, and the United States are enormous, and show that despite hardship, amazing people like Katherine are able to overcome and contribute to the society that doesn't fully value their humanity. I'm glad children will have a way to learn about such a valuable and commendable member of our history, and this book is full of cute illustrations and context about her story in order to share that story in an entertaining and engaging way. At the end, there is more context and a timeline with real pictures of Katherine Johnson in order to provide more information. I would definitely recommend this book for any child's library, but especially for little girls who need to see themselves in subjects like STEM. This would also be great for school and classroom libraries. Thanks again for the privilege!

"Little People, Big Dreams’ releases yet another incredible book, this time spotlighting Katherine Johnson—a math enthusiast whose calculations transformed space exploration history. Having read many books from this series, I'm familiar with their charming illustrations and fascinating facts, along with the biographical timeline and photos that vividly bring each story to life. This book is an ideal gift for STEM enthusiasts and young girls inspired to dream big and achieve even bigger.

Ever since hidden figures came out, I have been interested inKatherine Johnson. This book brought some of her achievements into a level that young readers can understand. I also always appreciate when a children’s book has a timeline at the end so you can learn a little bit more.

Thankyou to NetGalley for the eARC of this beautiful book. All opinions are my own.

I’ve seen the film Hidden Figures and it fascinated me so it’s no news that I loved this too. The story is so captivating and she really was an astonishing woman. The illustrations are stunning. A perfect addition to a bookshelf of a young child interested in STEM.

"Katherine Johnson" by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara is a heartwarming addition to the "Little People, BIG DREAMS" series, celebrating the remarkable life of the mathematician whose work was pivotal to NASA's space missions. The book beautifully narrates Katherine's journey from a child prodigy in mathematics to a key figure in the success of the Apollo 11 mission. It's an inspiring story, told with engaging illustrations and accessible language, that highlights the importance of perseverance and passion. This book not only educates young readers about a significant figure in science but also encourages them to dream big and break barriers, just like Katherine did.

I love this series, as soon as I see a new book is released I have to grab a copy!

This is another brilliant addition to this series – even as an adult I look out for the next book in the series being released and now my daughter is 7 and fully reading independently I love being able to share the new releases with her and she read the books to me - she loves finding out about the people chosen in the series.

The books are an excellent introductions to some of the well-known, and less well-known, characters that have had a great impact in our lives through a variety of subjects such as literature, women’s rights and science.

This book features Katherine Johnson and as my daughter learnt about space in her last term at school it was a great topic as we had talked about Mae Jemison who was the first black woman in space and also a release in this series before. My daughter is space mad and she loves mathematics and excels at it at the moment in school so Katherine really intrigued her and I think she is a brilliant role model and inspirational tool - just such a shame it too so long for her, and the others that worked on the projects to get her the acknowledgement and praise deserved, but that also allowed us to discuss the differences between the past and now and Black History month which has just ended for her at school too.

Katherine is an inspiration to me and her story should be shared with children to show what she managed to achieve despite the political situations and the way that Black people were treated at the time in the USA - she is a fabulous role model. It is 5 stars from me for this one – a delightful read and one I will be very highly recommending!!

Katherine Johnson is an icon and true American hero, so to finally have her featured in the Little People, Big Dreams series is such an exciting moment. Learning about Katherine's upbringing in West Virginia, her family's sacrifices and endurance of racism to help her achieve higher education, and then her lasting impacts at NASA was such a rewarding reading experience as a family. The illustrations are delicate yet bold, just like Katherine, and are the perfect accompaniment to the story. We cannot wait to add the physical edition of this book to our home library.

A brilliant little bio fo a brilliant contemporary mathematician and physicist. The perfect addition to any elementary or middle school classroom or school library to inspire kids and raise interest in STEM fields.

This is a children’s biography of Katherine Johnson, one of the main characters in the 2016 movie Hidden Figures. Her mathematical calculations while working for NASA helped our astronauts make it safely into space and back again. Young girls will especially like reading about a female who excelled in mathematics.

I've already read a lot of the Little People, Big Dreams books with my son so I knew we wouldn't be disappointed! Like the rest, this is well written and illustrated in a way that my 5 year old will engage with the book and wants to hear the story. Whilst highlighting and beginning to educate children on issues such as racism and sexism, it continues to be inspirational and enforce that you can be anything you want, no matter who you are.

Brilliant, though so sad that Katherine's abilities and accomplishments weren't recognized at the time. I think all children should read this, and hopefully Black girls will find a role model and inspiration.

Absolutely fascinating story of a brilliant black woman who never gave up on her passion for maths despite facing discrimination at every level. This is such an inspiring story of determination and resilience for children, particularly girls or children of colour, interested in maths or science, to encourage them to pursue their education and show them what they could do. I really love reading the Little People Big Dreams with my kids, as it's such a great way of teaching them about history and current affairs, as well as overcoming challenges and adversity. The words and illustrations worked really well together in this too. Definitely one I'll be adding to our collection when it's released.

This is a great entry in the Little People, BIG DREAMS anthology! I loved reading about Katherine Johnson & her astounding work with NASA. This book does a great job of opening the conversation of racism for young readers. Thanks to NetGalley, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, and Quarto Publishing for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

“Katherine Johnson” is another fantastic addition to the Little People, BIG DREAMS series by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara.

I really enjoyed reading about her life in this beautifully illustrated children's book. It highlights her early love of math, her key role at NASA, and her contributions to space missions, all while overcoming the challenges of racism. With engaging illustrations and fun facts, this book makes an excellent gift for kids, especially girls interested in STEM. It’s a wonderful way to inspire young girls to pursue their passions in science and math. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the opportunity to read this advance copy

The "Little People, Big Dreams" series is always worth a read!
As is so often the case with women, especially in STEM, Katherine Johnson's contributions to science have long been overlooked. This book gives a valuable insight into her early struggles to overcome racism and prejudice and into her eventual success in STEM research.
The illustrations are wonderful as usual and the story is simply inspiring.

I love this series! Just like all of the other books in this series that I've rated and reviewed, this book was wonderfully well-written and the illustrations were adorable while still being accurate. I can't properly articulate how educational this book is. I even learned a lot of stuff myself! So, I have no doubt that young readers will learn from this book and be inspired by Katherine Johnson's story. The creator of this series really knows how to appeal their stories to a range of young readers, which is impressive. I know that there will be or is a book in this series for every kid out there, which is really an amazing feat. The plot was cohesive and made sense, and moved in the way a biography should. Lastly, the illustrations were colorful and complemented the story amazingly well.
Bravo!

This series is always a winner for me, and this instalment about Katherine Johnson - “the girl who loved to count” - is one of my favourites yet. Telling the story of Johnson, a Black trailblazer whose love and aptitude for mathematics led her to a job at NASA where she was pivotal in key missions including the moon landing, this little book is inspiring and important.

Having seen ‘Hidden Figures’ some time ago, which introduced me to Katherine’s story, it was great to see her life represented in a way that will resonate with young children. I hope this book inspires many kids to strive for their dreams regardless of the barriers in place and to get excited about numbers! I will be buying for my god-daughter and really appreciate the opportunity to see a Digital Review Copy - thanks NetGalley!

When I was a little girl, I loved going to the library and reading the biographies in the children's section of the library. It was so exciting to see how normal people became part of big events. This series is aimed at even younger kids, and every book I've read in the Little People, Big Dreams series is excellent.
This is the story of a little girl who knew from a very young age how much she loved numbers, and her family had to help her get past barriers because so many schools didn't welcome young black women. Katherine got her college degree when she was 18, and eventually went on to play an important part in NASA, protecting the first moon landing.
This little picture book was so positive and informative. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I live all of the Little People, Big Dreams books but it‘s especially great to read something about female scientists! These are the people young girls should get to know and aspire to be!

Katherine Johnson is such an inspiring woman in history. I have always loved her story. As a mom of 2 girls this is a book I couldn’t wait to read with them. The illustrations are wonderful and my oldest came away wanting to learn more about her! Such a treat to sit down and read a story together about a woman who constantly pushed boundaries.

Books from the Little People, Big Dreams series always seem to be pretty solid, and this is the case once again with this installment on Katherine Johnson. If you've read or seen the movie on Hidden Figures, you will know about Katherine. This book is a great kid friendly bio on her life and how she went for her dreams. This would be a great book for younger kiddos and could be included in a unit on space travel. The illustrations are very cute and go along with other books from this series.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I am so happy that Little People, BIG DREAMS created a book about Katherine Johnson's life. I have enjoyed reading books and watching movies about her as an adult.
The book presents the struggles of being a black woman in STEM with just the right about of depth for children.

I really enjoyed how they had real photos and more information at the back of the book,

I would give the story 5 stars. I felt the illustrations were just ok, so I would give them 4 stars. I would definitely add this book to a home library if my children were still at home. A great series. This story was inspiring and so informative. I learned even more about Katherine Johnson, such an amazing woman who flourished under difficult circumstances. I was blessed with a free ARC, and I’m voluntarily leaving my review. Highly recommend.

This might be my new favourite book in the Little People, Big Dreams series and is definitely a book I wish I had had when I was younger. I've always loved maths and science so would have been inspired by Katherine Johnson's story. As always, I loved that the story was told in a way that was accessible and appropriate for a younger audience whilst being a great summary for an older audience. I love that at the back of the book there is a biography and further reading suggestions for older readers. The illustrations were very charming and really helped to enhance the story being told.

Overall I love this series and am very glad to see a female mathematician being included!

I absolutely adore the Little People Big Dreams series and how diverse it is. I’m so glad Katherine Johnson was introduced to the series as well as her story is so important!

The illustrations throughout the story are beautifully done and in much detail as well.

I appreciated the span of illustrations featuring her personal adversity through her achievements and recognition for how important she was to NASA.

A cute, inspiring story to inspire future little leaders to follow their dreams, this one will be a big hit.

Another fantastic book in the series!

My four-year-old and ten-year-old both love the Little People, Big Dreams series. This latest book focuses on the life of mathematician Katherine Johnson. I love how these books present complex topics in a very approachable fashion for children of any age. This book sparked a conversation on racism with my eldest, while my youngest was very taken with the beautiful illustrations.

A recommended read for fans of Hidden Figures and fun educational reads for children.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Katherine Johnson

Such a good children’s book that covers the history of Katherine Johnson. I loved Hidden Figures and feel the essay of that full story was captured so well in this book for children to understand. It’s delivered in a positive, inspiring and factual way. I would recommend for classrooms and at home collections for all children.

I received a free copy of this book from Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this series. It gives plenty of information on the title person without being overwhelming for a child.
As always, the illustrations are simple, yet interesting to look at.

This book was informative and is easily digestible for younger children as always in the little people, big dreams series of books. The illustrations were beautiful and will really help children who may be more visual learners to learn about Katherine.

Katherine Johnson is an inspiration for all girls who want to learn, particularly Black girls and this book will create pathways for conversations about race with young people.

The book doesn’t hide or ignore the fact that Katherine was barred from school due to her race and instead states it clearly that racism prevented her from education originally. This really sets the message straight for any readers who are learning about her story.

This book belongs in all libraries, particularly school libraries. It is another great edition to little people, big dreams.

These books may be aimed at children but I always feel like I've learned something, too, after reading them. While I certainly knew who Katherine Johnson is and her role with NASA, I knew nothing about her life. Did you know she was so advanced in her studies that she was able to move to high school four years early? Since this was during a time when black students weren't offered such advantages everywhere, her family even had to move 120 miles away to make this happen. Since she seemed to inherit her love for numbers and study from her father, a black man forced to drop out of school at 12, this shows family love and support.

I won't detail the rest but will say the illustrations are bright and colorful. Numerical calculations scrawled across boards pop up here and there, too, one showing her atop a rolling ladder as she checks and rechecks and rechecks the calculations of engineers and later herself. In her head. On paper. After all, lives were on the line. Johnson, as many know, had a role in launching the first Americans into space, not to mention contributions to the successful conclusion other memorable flights. It was interesting to see how she had to deal not only with the idea that blacks couldn't possibly be equal to white, male engineers, but the woman thing, too. She persevered. I didn't realize she was once a teacher, so that was a new bit of info for me, too.

Bottom line, interesting and well written with simple but effective illustrations. Even those math challenged may find inspiration within as she represents what can be accomplished when you focus on your dreams. That rocket ship shown here and there among the calculations and doodles was no accident. The sky beckons dreamers and achievers. Thanks #QuartoPublishingGroup - #FrancesLincolnChildren'sBooks for this early look at a fascinating, meaningful life.

As someone who was not good at math and struggled through it in school I’m so glad that people like Katherine Johnson exit!
This was a great book, especially to show not only a women but a women in a male dominated profession.
I love the Little People Big Dreams series and will continue to purchase them for the kids in life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Katherine Johnson is a short yet impactful book not only for children but for people of all ages. In a simple matter, it shows how her life changed the lives of others when it comes to mathematics and astrophysics. She was one of the first women of color who had an impact on the first landing on the moon with Apollo 11. It uplifts and encourages kids by showing them how dedication and hard work can have positive benefits, make their dreams come true, and give them a positive and relatable role model to look up to.

Another great instalment from a fabulous set of books.
This book was about Katherine Johnson, and I will be honest, I had no idea who she was or what she is known for so from the first page, I was learning - and I am 41 years of age!
Anyway, as always all the information was written in short easy to understand pages, with bright illustrations alongside.
Katherine Johnson is a very inspiring lady, and I think anyone who has an interest in maths needs to read this story.

Another wonderful addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series! As a woman who studied mathematics and is currently an engineer, I've always been a huge fan of Katherine Johnson and it is great to share her accomplishments with young kids.

The illustrations in the book are vibrant, the story told in 1-2 sentences per page. It sums up Katherine Johnson's life from leaving school at twelve to becoming the first black woman to graduate from a top university in West Virginia, her first job as a calculator, and eventually helping land a man on the moon because of her mathematical skills. And as always, I enjoyed the brief timeline with real pictures of Katherine Johnson at the end of the book.

I highly recommend this for anyone with young children with an interest in math, science, or space. It's a great little intro to important issues, historical landmarks, and the importance of mathematics in space exploration. Of course, its also just great to learn about an amazing woman of color or read it along with the movie Hidden Figures (which is rated PG).

5/5 ⭐️


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I have shared my review on Goodreads and will also be sharing it to Amazon and Barnes and Noble after release.

This is another great book in the 'Little People, Big Dreams' series. Hopefully the beautifully illustrated story of Katerine Johnson inspires many young people to follow their dreams. Katherine Johnson was a talented mathematician, the first black woman to go to Univerity and a central person to many of NASA's space missions. Her incredible achievements were recognised with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This book would make a great present for any aspiring young scientists.

I‘m a big fan of the Little People series and seeing a book on Katherine Johnson was just the cherry on top (we love seeing women get the recognition they deserved, even if it happens post mortem.

As far as the content is concerned, it is a Little People book, so yes, the facts are there and it offers a great summary of Katherine‘s life, made child-friendly. I also loved the additional sources in the back for those interested in learning more about her, as well as the timeline of her life in the back, perfect for when the kids have additional questions or for when they get older.

All in all, amazing.

Me and family love this book, it is inspirational, it starts a conversation each time we read it. More questions about Katherine Johnson, more questions about math, about posibilities, dreams. It inspires my kids and it inspires me. Illustrations are wonderful, story flows well and allows childrens imagination to expand.

My daughter absolutely loved this book. She is six and mixed race so seeing a lighter skinned black woman in the book was magical to her. She loved the illustrations and found it fascinating to hear her story. We love this book series and she really enjoyed this and it has stayed with her. She resonated as she thoroughly enjoys maths and was so lovely to see her face light up and imagine the possibilities for her. We would recommend this to children of similar age and older for an inspirational woman to look up to.

As always, this is another wonderful addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series.

I absolutely love the last page of Katherine lying in the field of flowers, looking up at the stars.

I loved learning about the women behind Hidden Figured and I’m so glad to see that this is being made into a picture book for the young ones to learn!

If I were a child between the ages of 5-10, included, I would have loved to have this book.
This is a well-illustrated children’s book which honours the life and work of Katherin Johnson.
I find this format with charming pictures, milestones and the real life bio/timeline to be an ideal way to encourage and inspire children about STEM and appreciate the great contributors to humanity.
Ideal read for 6-9 yos but younger and older children can find the book engaging too.

With thanks to the author, publishers Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Little People, BIG DREAMS series continues by telling the story of another important person from history, who led from the front and in doing so paved the way for others to follow. In this case, that person is Katherine Johnson, a pioneer of the early NASA space programs whose abilities as a mathematician played a major role in enabling man to travel to and return safely from space, and ultimately to walk on the moon.

With the help of her supportive family, Katherine overcame poverty and racism in her early years to excel in her education and subsequent career, and become an inspiration to young girls everywhere through showing that, by believing in her abilities and staying true to herself, she was able to achieve great things.

Another fantastic book in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series!

This series is amazing! I love how educational it is even for a young age and the illustrations are lovely. A very inspirational book for all!

That was such a great book! I had learned of Katherine Johnson through a movie, and I found her so inspiring. This book is great and so important, especially for black girls to know that they can too become like Katherine!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.


Once again a win for this amazing series of books. I knew nothing of Katherine Johnson until this afternoon and I've already told 2 people about her. What a remarkable woman that did not let the color of her skin nor her gender dictate where she belongs. I don't see myself being that strong

Katherine Johnson is such an important figure in our history. Not only because of her accomplishments but also because she serves as a fantastic inspiration to young girls. This picture biography explains her life well but does not go into much detail about the racism that she had to deal with constantly.

This is an excellent biography and will be a great addition to any library. This will be adored by children!

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and Net Galley for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC for #KatherineJohnson from #NetGalley

This is the first time I made acquaintance of Katherine Johnson, whom I thought was a mathematic teacher. But she did more than that to be covered in such a wonderful series, isn't she? Yes, she was one of the brain behind the space mission that landed Neil Armstrong to the moon. Now am in awe of such a dedicated woman, wh0m through her hardship of being a black, can manage to do great things. Always love the works of Madame Sanchez Vegara, whom always assured children that they have role models to look up to.

This is such a wonderful addition to the Little People Big Dreams series! I loved reading Katherine Johnson's story - it brought to mind images from the movie Hidden Figures. The end of the book gives the powerful reminder that "when you find what you love to do, you must give it your all." I think that's a great lesson for kids who are reading this book and learning about the incredible work that Katherine did and the path that got her to NASA.

It's always fascinating to read about the intelligent and capable women who helped to accelerate the space program in the U.S. and be reminded of their incredible contributions toward making huge steps in history happen. The illustrations in this book are great and help to support the story being told on each page. This is definitely an excellent story to have as part of the collection - and a great historical figure that can inspire young people today. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

Katherine Johnson is a children's picture book about an African American mathematiciam whose calculations helped put a man on the moon. The book spotlights how racist policy served as an obstacle for her career. From university student, to teacher, to calculation reviewer, to engineer, the book follows her through all the steps in her career. I would recommend this book for ages 5-8. This book is an excellent addition to a classroom and a home library to increase childrens content about African American history or Women in STEM. Many adults would recognize the Katherine Johnson from the recent historical drama film, Hidden Figures.

The illustrations of this book are painted with generous detail. I love the way hair is styled and decorated, and the diversity of facial expressions are a real talent of this artist. My favorite pictures are the university campus, with its flowering pink trees, and the award ceremony for her receiving the Medal of Freedom, just because of how wonderful Obama's smile is.

Thanks to Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Quarto Publishing Group for giving me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Johnson is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. These are all delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail. Due out 7th Jan 2025 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Succeeding throughout her life despite formidable hurdles in place because of the time period (mid 20th century) and area in which she was born (WV), as well as being a female person of color, Katherine Johnson was a wonderfully brilliant applied mathematician who refused to be cowed and whose expertise played a significant part in the early manned space program's success.
Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's written in clear accessible language. The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Jemma Skidmore is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the school scenes, her studies, her university days, and her work at NASA and even her acceptance of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama).

Well written and appealing, all of these little books are worthwhile and enchanting. This one is a worthy addition. The author/publisher have also included a short timeline with photos in the back of the book as well as suggestions for further reading.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Mrs. Johnson was an intelligent and beloved figure and has become an icon for a more hopeful and cooperative future, an inspiration for girls choosing STEM educations, and this little book is a nice introduction to her life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Part of the Little People, Big Dreams series, which aims to educate children about historical heroes, this instalment is about NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. It follows her journey from a young girl with a love for numbers, to the first Black woman at a Virginian university, to doing the calculations for rocket launches and ensuring the safe return of astronauts, to finally receiving a medal commemorating her life’s work. Her story is really inspiring, and shows that you can do anything you put your mind to, even if the world says you can’t. It is a great little storybook, which kids will enjoy and be inspired by.

A well deserved new edition to the ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ collection. Katherine Johnson’s contribution to science was long overlooked so this a welcomed addition to the anthology.
It’s a lovely introduction into her life and career for small children and I’ll definitely be buying my daughter a copy upon release.

Katherine Johnson by Maria isabel sanchez vegara is an amazing and informational children's picture book dictating the life of Katherine Johnson, one of my favorite people to learn about in history class. This is definitely a book to add to the family book shelf.

The latest in the Little People, Big Dreams series is about Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who overcame the racial and gender limitations at the time with her work at NASA. As always with this series, the book was a delight! They always phrase the material in such a kid-friendly way, and I love the illustration style!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another fantastic book from the Little People, Big Dreams series. My son and I love reading these books together, especially when it's people we haven't heard of before. One thing that annoyed me about this particular book was the word math rather than maths. I guess it's written for an American audience rather than a UK one.

Lovely picture book that depicts Katherine Johnson as an intellect and good role model, especially for girls and kids of color.

I loved this iteration of Katherine Johnson's story! She's so influential in our lives and this absolutely knocked it out of the park with showing all of what she has done and how she got there. It does not steer away from the racism she faced but told the information at an age appropriate level. I love these books and cannot wait to see who they'll showcase next!

5 stars

“Once, in West Virginia, lived a Black girl named Katherine who lived numbers.”

Part of the “Little People, Big Dreams” series for children. This is the story of Katherine Johnson of “Hidden Figures” fame and starts when she was a child, and a high achiever in math in segregated schools in West Virginia. After high school and college she was then accepted into West Virginia’s top university, as the first Black woman to attend.

In 1953 she joined the U.S. Space Agency which later became NASA. There she, along with other brilliant Black women became an essential part of the nation’s space program.

Very well done and focuses on Johnson’s entire life. Lovely illustrations. Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

It is so great to keep knowing new people with this series.

I didn´t know that Katherine Johnson was such a good mathematicians and that she was so important for this sector.

I only have good works for this series.

Also, chapeau to the illustrator! I love the illustrations!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I love this series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. She does a great job distilling people's lives into messages easily digestible by young readers while making them interesting for older readers, too. I also love the breadth of who she covers in her series.

I know quite a bit about Katherine Johnson, having read a lot of books about her. I thought Maria did an excellent job with this one. She captured Katherine's story, life, and background extremely well and did a great job presenting hard themes like racism and segregation in ways that were accessible to younger readers. She also did a great job showcasing Katherine's accomplishments as a child and as an adult. One of her better ones.

Pages: 32

Reading age: 4-7 years of age.

The beautiful story of Katherine Johnson, a woman of color who defied all odds to become a brilliant mathematician for the US astronaut program. Provides historical context and a short biographical sketch. Great message of setting and achieving goals!

She loved math, loved learning, loved being the first to do, loved to teach, loved being a mathematician in the NASA space program! She believed in herself and worked to achieve many things, and lived to be 102!
The illustrations by Jemma Skidmore are simple, colorful, and expressive.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Jan 07, 2025
Katherine Johnson @QuartoKids @CBCBook @Frances_Lincoln #LittlePeopleBIG DREAMS @sanchezvegara @TheQuartoGroup #BlackWoman #AerospaceMathematician Illus by Jemma Skidmore @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones ***** #Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org Ages 8 and up @bookshop_org_uk @childrensbookcouncil #ChildrensNonfiction #TryNewThings #STEM 6 - 8 Years

I am always on the hunt for fun and informative nonfiction books for my classroom. Thank you to @netgalley and @quartopublishing for the arc. I cannot wait to get the physical copy for my classroom. I really enjoyed reading this biography, it was easy to follow and understand. As well as being informative, the illustrations make it easier for children to engage with and understand the facts being presented within the text. At the end of the book there is a timeline of what the book covered with pictures of Katherine. Overall the biography was really well done and I cannot wait to read more in the series.

Anyone who saw the movie Hidden Figures knows who Katherine Johnson is. Here, in this latest in the good series, young readers can meet this remarkable woman.

Katherine’s skills in Math led her to outstanding (and outer space) achievements. To me, an extra bonus of this story, is that it reminds girls that Math is not only the realm of boys. Maybe there is another amazing future mathematician reading this one.

Note that this story touches on the prejudices that made it more challenging for a bright student to get her high school education. She became the first Black woman to attend a top university in West Virginia. Yes, achieve she did, right up to when Neil Armstrong benefited from her calculations on his moon walk.

This is an excellent addition. Johnson was truly a little person with BIG DREAMS.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

I have a stack of Little People Big Dreams series in my classroom, and I think this is a great addition to the series. I know this is not the first biography of Katherine Johnson out there, but I think it's really accessible for the younger readers. I'll definitely get one for my class when it's published!

Little People, Big Dreams
Katherine Johnson
by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Pub DateJan 07 2025
Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books |Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Biographies & Memoirs| Children's Nonfiction| Professional & Technical




I am reviewing Little People, Big Dreams, Katherine Johnson, through Quarto Publishing Group and Netgalley:


This book is perfect for ypunger kids interested in Stem based subjects!


Get to know Katherine Johnson and her incredible story! A trailblazer whose calculations changed the future of space exploration.




Katherine enjoyed learning, and math was her favorite subject. She worked so hard in class that she was able to move up to high school four years early! Due to racist laws of the time, Katherine's family had to move to a town where Black students could attend school. She was the first Black woman to attend one of West Virginia's top universities after high school and college. She was the first Black woman to attend a West Virginia university after high school and college. 


In 1953, she joined NASA, which became the U.S. space agency. Katherine's mathematical skills contributed to the early success of the space programme along with those of other talented African American women. She was part of the team that planned the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first humans on the moon! Katherine’s tenacity and expertise led to the dawn of a new era for humankind, making her an inspiration to all of us. Katherine's tenacity and expertise helped usher in a new era for humanity, making her an inspiration to all. 


I give Little People, Big Dreams five out offivestars!


Happy Reading!