By shining a light on women in science, math and astronomy, award-winning author and former software engineer and computer science professor Laurie Wallmark has encouraged a new generation of girls to follow their dreams. Her books, starting with her debut, Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine (illustrated by April Chu, Creston Books/Lerner Books) have been models of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) choices and have earned multiple starred trade reviews, been chosen as Junior Library Guild Selections, and received awards such as Outstanding Science Trade Book, Cook Prize Honor, AAAS/Subaru Prize Longlist, and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal. We’re thrilled to have Laurie talking about her newest book, Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics (illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg, Creston Books/Lerner Books) on The Kids Are All Write today!
When did you first learn about Sophie Kowalevski? What inspired you to write about her?
I wanted to write a biography of a woman mathematician, so I looked through lists of possibilities. I hadn’t heard of her before then. When I found out Sophie had solved the “mathematical mermaid” problem, I knew she was the one.
Were you ever daunted by the challenge of describing complex mathematical concepts for kids? Did you relate to Sophie’s journey in that she had to find a way to explain difficult concepts for mathematicians and you had to find a way to explain difficult concepts for kids?
Yes, it can be difficult to describe complex concepts in picture books. In fact, I wrote my masters’ thesis about different techniques to do so. Luckily, there are real-world examples, like a spinning top, to describe Sophie’s math. That makes it easier to explain to kids.
Numbers in Motion by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg (Creston Books/Lerner Books)
I was struck by the back matter in which you shared that Sophie was not only a phenomenal mathematician, but also a poet, novelist and gifted writer. You taught computer science at Raritan Valley Community College and you have an MFA in creative writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Do you identify with someone who loves science and the arts? Is that a message you want to send kids, too, that you don’t have to like one or the other — you can like and do both?
Absolutely. That’s one of the things that drew me to Sophie–that she was this amazing mathematician who also loved to write. I think it’s important for kids to realize you don’t have to choose only one path in life.
I love the way you framed the story with Sophie trying to find a way to describe the way a top turns using mathematics. Did you have that idea at the start of your journey with the story?
I had the idea of the top from the very beginning, because it was a way to make a difficult math concept–the rotation of solid bodies–accessible to kids. Can you tell us more about your journey with this book — how long it took you to get it where you wanted it, any aha! moments that helped you along the way? As is always the case, this book went through many revisions even before being sent out on submission. Then I did several revisions for Marissa Moss at Creston books both before and after she made the offer to buy the book.
Numbers in Motion is also very much a story about female empowerment. At every step of the way, people try to discourage Sophie because she’s a woman. But she persists. It takes a lot of persistence to write a picture book, particularly one like this that has to incorporate a subject normally beyond the reach of young readers, into a story with emotional impact. Did you ever feel discouraged? Is there anything about Sophie herself that kept you pushing through?
I think anyone who writes has felt discouraged at time. All of my nonfiction books are about women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) who have had to overcome obstacles to pursue their studies and their professional lives. Although there are still barriers today for women in STEM, it’s nothing like it was in Sophie’s time. For that I am grateful
Numbers in Motion by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg (Creston Books/Lerner Books)
Please share your thoughts on Yevgenia Nayberg’s illustrations. Did they surprise you? Which are your favorites and why?
I absolutely adore Yevgenia’s illustrations. When my editor first brought her up as a possible illustrator, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. One of my favorites spreads is when she’s giving the stink eye to men congratulating the person who published before she did. I also like the last illustration, which shows her teaching a class.
You’ve been shining a light on smart and determined women of science in books like Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine; Grace Hopper, Queen of Computer Code; Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life and now Numbers in Motion. You’ve been picking up a lot of critical acclaim. Which awards have meant the most to you?
The Cook Prize Honor for Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine has meant the most, because children do the final voting on it. Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life is a finalist this year. Because children aren’t in school to hear their teachers read it, the committee asked me to make a video. You can find it here:
What kind of response have you been getting from kids learning about these women for the first time? What are some of the things you have you heard from kids that make you want to keep telling these stories?
I get a lot of “Wow, I didn’t know a woman did this.” That’s why I write these stories–so the idea of women is STEM becomes normal for both girls and boys.
Thanks, Laurie, for hanging out on THE KIDS ARE ALL WRITE!
You can visit with Laurie on social media
On her website: lauriewallmark.com
On Facebook: Laurie Wallmark
On Twitter: @lauriewallmark