All summer, I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that will interest them or offer them something new to learn about. Most of the time, these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn from fictional stories too.
I hope you will stay tuned to these posts. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and the tags. There will be books from some of my favorite publishers like Feeding Minds Press, Chronicle Kids, Twirl, Templar Books, Candlewick Press, and others as well as books on all kinds of topics kids love to read and learn about. Be sure to stop by each week to see what book I’m sharing as part of my Summer Read-to-Learn series.
To see all the books in the Summer Read-to-Learn series, click HERE.
COMET CHASER
The True Cinderella Story of Caroline Herschel, the First Professional Woman Astronomer
By: Pamela S. Turner
Illustrated by: Vivien Mildenberger
Published: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Non-Fiction/Biography
Caroline Herschel was born in Hannover (now Germany) on March 16, 1750. Due to being the only daughter and having her face disfigured during a childhood illness, her mom felt her only skill would be to be their servant. Like the fairy tale Cinderella, she was mostly ignored in their household and forced to do chores instead of learning like her brothers. Once in a while, she would get moments alone with her father where he would tell her about all the stars in the sky. She loved those moments and would lay awake at night listening to her father teach her brothers about math and science.
When Caroline was 17, her brother William left to live in England and sent money for their mother to hire a servant so Caroline could come and live with him. William was a musician and taught Caroline to sing and taught her math. Caroline was a quick learner. At night, Caroline and William would look at the stars in the sky and think of their father.
“By way of relaxation we talked of Astronomy and the fine constellations.”
Caroline Hershel
Due to their love of astronomy, William and Caroline started building telescopes. They were known for their astronomy skills and eventually, both of them were hired by King George III of England to be full-time astronomers. Caroline was known for spotting comets in the night sky and over the years found seven comets, even finding one without the use of a telescope. Caroline eventually wrote catalogs showing the positions of stars and nebulae that are still used today.
William and Caroline Hershel’s achievements changed astronomy forever including knowing about the planet Uranus, which they discovered after a night of looking at the sky. The largest telescope ever sent into space is named after them, the Herschel Space Observatory.
The watercolor illustrations allow the reader to travel back to a simpler time before streetlights which gave the Herschels a clear view of the night sky. This book includes lessons in history, science, and math as well as life lessons on perseverance. The end of the book includes more details on Caroline’s life, a glossary of terms, and a list of resources. Actual quotes from Caroline add personal details to the book as well.
Caroline Herschel’s story amazes me. A woman of no means finds a way to keep learning while using her skills and knowledge to find out more about something she is passionate about. Instead of listening to others, she kept at it becoming a much-respected woman astronomer in the 1700-1800s, which was quite unheard of. Her amazing story is one to be shared.
Pamela S. Turner is the author of several acclaimed nonfiction books. A world traveler, she has lived in Japan and has visited Uganda, the Philippines, and Australia. She has received many awards for her books. She lives in Oakland, California. Check out her website, HERE.
Vivien Mildenberger lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she works on illustrations, pottery, and other general magic making. Most of all, she loves illustrating for children and has created art for many award-winning books. Check out her website, HERE.
To purchase a copy of COMET CHASER, click HERE.
Other books about fascinating women in history:
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
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