Three on a Theme: Female Mathematicians

March is Women’s History Month, so each Friday my Three on a Theme will focus on picture book biographies of well-known and lesser-known women in history. This week, check out these three women mathematicians who wrote the first computer code, was considered a human computer, and the woman who coined the term “computer bug.”

Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark

“Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the famous romantic poet, Lord Byron, develops her creativity through science and math. When she meets Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer, Ada understands the machine better than anyone else and writes the world’s first computer program in order to demonstrate its capabilities.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker

“As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe.

From Katherine’s early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, this is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark

“Who was Grace Hopper? A software tester, workplace jester, cherished mentor, ace inventor, avid reader, naval leader—AND rule breaker, chance taker, and troublemaker. Grace Hopper coined the term “computer bug” and taught computers to “speak English,” and throughout her life succeeded in doing what no one had ever done before. Delighting in difficult ideas and in defying expectations, the insatiably curious Hopper truly is “Amazing Grace” . . . and a role model for science- and math-minded girls and boys.” (Taken from Goodreads)