COMET CHASER: The True Cinderella Story of Caroline Herschel, the First Professional Woman Astronomer, by Pamela S. Turner and Vivien Mildenberger, Chronicle Books, March 5, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 5-8)
Learn about the first professional woman astronomer — Caroline Herschel — in Comet Chaser, written by Pamela S. Turner and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger.
Comet Chaser is the biography of a woman who made a lifetime of incredible contributions to science. She was the first woman to discover a comet, the first officially recognized in a scientific role, and the first to be given a Gold Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society.
In a day when girls were barely educated at all, Caroline Herschel’s father taught her math and music . . . until, suddenly, he died. Her mother saw her as little more than a household servant. Caroline might have been doomed to a life of drudgery and dimness if not for her brother, who took her from Germany to England. There they started looking for comets, and building telescopes in their free time, gradually making them larger and larger. Their many discoveries brought the great astronomers of the day to their doorstep, where they found that the Herschels had made the best telescopes of their time.
From household drudge to belle of the scientific ball, Caroline Herschel won international prizes never before awarded to a woman and earned a professional wage from the king. She and her discoveries remain as stunning today as they were then. In this delightfully imaginative retelling of Caroline’s career, her fairy godmother is none other than her own bright intelligence, hard work, and passion for science. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
Comet Chaser: The True Cinderella Story of Caroline Herschel, the First Professional Woman Astronomer is one of those books that will wow everyone who comes across it. Caroline’s accomplishments are fascinating and inspiring.
Author Pamela S. Turner tells Caroline’s story through clear, clean prose that is comfortable to read aloud or to one’s self. Artist Vivien Mildenberger’s illustrations have a looseness to them that draws in readers and invites them to imagine beyond. End papers include further information about Caroline and her discoveries; a glossary and resources; quotations and bibliography.
Comet Chaser has so many things going for it. It has many classroom applications including discussions of engineering, math, and scientific study.
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