How to Befriend a Butterfly 06/08/20
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
Publisher: Sterling Publishing
This is the inspiring story of Grace Hopper: someone who revolutionised computer science and used her sparky sense of humour to make up the term “computer bug”.
Hopper is a brilliant subject for a picture book biography. Laurie Wallmark’s text pulls out key moments in Grace’s life with a tone that echoes the reader – sheer admiration at all of her pioneering skill.
Meanwhile, Katy Wu’s illustrations are bright and graphic and really give Grace and the situations she faces a bold and modern touch. We effortlessly relate to Grace, who was born in 1906 and confronted a lot of challenges as a woman coder.
The book includes a timeline and other useful bits and pieces for teachers to use with their class. However, this also makes a great family read for any child in need of a little inspiration when it comes to the fascinating (yet often undersold) subjects of science and maths.