Annie Jump Cannon, astronomer

Born during the Civil War, young Annie spent evenings learning constellations by rooftop and later attended Wellesley College, the only women's college that offered physics classes at the time. Years after graduation, she left a privileged yet boring life to become one of Edward Pickering's assistants (known as computers ) at Harvard Observatory. Although the text is straightforward and accompanying paintings are lackluster, libraries will want to consider this picture-book biography given the paucity of resources about female scientists, its descriptions of early astronomy, and its look at women's entry in the workforce. Cannon and her fellow female computers, never allowed to work in the evenings alongside male astronomers and paid only one-fourth of men's wages, examined images of a star's light, or spectrum, which had been imprinted onto photographic glass plates. While ranking stars from hottest to coolest, she developed a stellar classification system and its mnemonic device ( Oh Be a Fine Girl, Kiss Me ), still used by astronomers today. This book is sure to bring Cannon some overdue fame.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2010 Booklist

Gr 1-4-This inspiring picture-book biography of a trailblazer in the field presents insight into the challenges of women interested in science during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cannon was born in 1863 and as a young girl her mother nurtured her interest in the night sky by taking her to the rooftop of their home to observe stars and match them to star charts. When her father learned that Wellesley College was the only women's college offering physics classes, he enrolled her. She graduated with a degree in physics and had a successful career in astronomy. While working at Harvard Observatory, she developed a system to classify a star's light, and her Harvard Spectral Classification System is still used. The realistic illustrations capture the time period and complement the text. They're scientifically accurate, including a physics equation on the professor's chalkboard. Some of the pictures have helpful labels to inform readers that the building is Harvard Observatory, the man is Edward Pickering, or to make a scientific explanation understandable. A solid resource for Women's History Month, this title will be a welcome addition to collections looking for biographies of women, scientists, or people who overcame adversity.-Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.