THE GIRL WHO TESTED THE WATERS: ELLEN SWALLOW, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST, by Patricia Daniele and Junyi Wu, MIT Kids Press, Feb. 4, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 5-8)
Learn about the first woman student at MIT—a pioneering environmental chemist — in The Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist, by Patricia Daniele and Junyi Wu.
Ellen Swallow found a friend in nature and a lifelong love of science as a child exploring the woods around her family’s home. She was a voracious learner with an interest in chemistry, and continuing her education at the newly established Massachusetts Institute of Technology seemed a good fit.
But in 1871, many believed that women belonged in the home, not in schools dedicated to the study of science. Ellen thought, why not both? She believed science could help solve the problems of everyday life, including the pollution she observed in Boston, so when offered the chance to study the city’s water systems, she seized it. What she found would change the way we think about clean water.
In her lifetime, Ellen pioneered science education for women, advocated for a healthier environment, and helped develop the field of ecology. —Synopsis provided by MIT Kids Press
The Girl Who Tested the Waters is the type of nonfiction book that young readers, especially girls, will be drawn to. From its beautiful cover to its inspiring topic. This book is the full package.
Author by Patricia Daniele’s conversational text is inviting and accessible. And Junyi Wu’s warm colored pencil illustrations set time and place. Excellent back matter, includes a time line, an author’s note, source notes, and a bibliography.
The Girl Who Tested the Waters is a fantastic biography of a woman who worked toward making the world a healthier, better place.
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