Blast Off into Space Like Mae Jemison (Work It, Girl)

This installment of the Work It, Girl series focuses on Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman astronaut. Over 10 easy-to-read chapters, Moss uses conversational prose to an approachable, relatable introduction Jemison’s life, from childhood dreams (“When Mae Jemison was a little girl, she dreamed of sailing off into space”) to adult triumphs (“In 1981, she graduated Cornell as a Doctor of Medicine”). Throughout, Moss focuses on the obstacles Jemison faced (“Dreaming big was not something a young Black girl from Alabama in the 1960s was encouraged to do”) and the hard work necessary to overcome them. Bright cut-paper illustrations by Erkas complement inspirational pull quotes and factoids. Includes “10 key lessons from Mae’s life,” reflective questions, and further reading. Ages 8–12. [em](Mar.) [/em]