Cover Image: Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin

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Member Reviews

Rosalind's story is so important because her name was almost lost to history when her male colleagues took her photograph of DNA and won the Nobel Prize without giving her any credit. Rosalind did amazing work for the field of Science, especially for someone who was female and Jewish 1940s and 50s. This is one of my favorites in the "Little People, Big Dreams" series. Inspiring for children of all ages, but especially for girls who want to enter STEM.

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

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This book is part of the Wonderful Series, Little People, Big Dreams. I love the people chosen to tell about. There is such a great variety of people featured.

I was not even aware of Rosalind Pike, yet she had an incredible influence on the discovery of the Double Helix, which shows the structure of DNA. I do remember two male scientists getting the Nobel Prize for working on this. Rosalind’s incredible work was not given credit.

Rosalind grew up in London and her passion was always Chemistry. Science was a difficult field for women to get into at the time. She was born in 1920. Most girls schools never even taught Science at all. Fortunately, Evelyn went to a school that did. Later, when she is in college, she becomes friends with Adrienne, who is one of Marie Curie’s students. During the war, Rosalind proves very helpful as she has been studying Coal. She is able to make better masks using Coal and this saves Soldier’s Lives.

Rosalind and Adrienne work together again in Paris uses X-Rays. This technique is used to take pictures of Molecules. At this time, many scientists are trying to figure out information of how DNA is structured. This is the molecule that contains all the information about our bodies. Rosalind is asked to take pictures of DNA’s structure. She is the only scientist in the world able to do this. She takes Photo 51, which proves DNA looks like two staircases twisted into a spiral. This is incredible information that she has discovered and forever changes our understanding of DNA.

This is an incredible story of a woman I don’t think many people are aware of. She was one of the most important chemists of all time. Rosalind just sees Science as a way to help humankind.

So, this Book it wonderful for children, especially young girls who enjoy Science. It shows them how their interest can literally change the world. This is a wonderful book that should be in libraries and schools. It gives children the opportunity to find out about people who share their interests. I thought this was a wonderful story and highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for an ARC of this book. I always love to read them.

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I knew about Rosalind Franklin, not because she is taught about in school, but because Kate Beaton did a cartoon about her, and how she never won the Noble Prize, while her colleagues did. It made me curious about her, so I read a little more about her. This book is just about as much as one needs to spark interest, the same way the cartoon did.

Very clear timeline of what happened, and the back of the book gives a brief bio as well.

As always this series is great for the knowns and unknowns out there, and is a good resource for kids to get them interested in people.

<em> Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

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I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
The world is finally learning about Rosalind Franklin's contributions to the discovery of DNA and her other contributions to scientific research. Sanchez Vegara introduces her to young readers. We see her early interest in science and her continued studies during the school years. This developed into a lifelong passion for Franklin. The text is simple to read for younger readers and a timeline of her life is included at the end.

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Many of us know the term 'DNA', and many people may even know what it looks like, a double helix, but how many of us have given much thought as to how we know this?

We know what DNA looks like thanks to the Rosalind Franklin. She is the person who figured out how to photograph DNA. It took her and her assistant 100 hours to get the famous 'photograph 51', proving that DNA looks like two staircases twisted into a spiral.

I think this book really shows the kind of person Rosalind was. From the very beginning when she gave her college scholarship to a student who need it more than she did, to how she dealt with the exclusion of any recognition of her work on the DNA photograph that led to her colleagues receiving a Nobel Prize. Rosalind showed, kindness, grace and determination. When she wasn't acknowledged for her work, she just kept on her quest for knowledge and answers.

Her journey of discovery was not to gain accolades, but to answer the scientific questions she had, and to help humankind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the opportunity to review a copy of this book.

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We love this collection of books, it’s always fascinating learning about such great people and how the sun impacted the world. Rosalind an incredible chemist who didn’t receive the recognition she deserves and all the magnificent things she found.

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An important message and a subtle insight into the sexism of the world - but as long as you fight for what is right you can achieve anything!

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Simple, clear introductory biography for early readers. The basic story of Rosalind Franklin's life is told, with an emphasis on her academic achievements, determination, and kindness. It is very frank about the challenges she experienced and how she was excluded from proper credit for her work and contributions, which is great for kids to have acknowledged in the stories they hear.

One FYI - WWII is referred to as "the war" which many need clarification for young readers.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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Young (future) scientists will surely be inspired by this story about Rosalind Franklin. What becomes clear in reading this title is that Rosalind was not only a good chemist but also a good person. She believed in helping others. While Rosalind did not always get the credit that she deserved for her pioneering work, she took pride in what she accomplished. Her discoveries around DNA were seminal. Rosalind Franklin ranks right up there with the most preeminent female scientists. She was a trailblazer at a time when there were few females studying chemistry.

This is another excellent entry in the Little People, Big Dreams series. The illustrations enhance the text and are engaging.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

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"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I love these children's biographies. This one on Rosalind Franklin was really well done and interesting. I liked that it contained some humorous anecdotes; that will be entertaining to children.

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The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The ‘My First Little People, Big Dreams’ series provides informative and inspirational biographies about people who left a mark on this earth, no matter what difficulties they have encountered.
These stories are very short, but that’s because they’re books for children, so it’s totally understandable.
I think they are a very smart and wonderful way to introduce little children to such important figures.
This little book tells the story of Rosalind Franklin, one of the most important chemists of all time. Thanks to her works we now know a lot more about DNA and ourselves. she was a genius and an inspiring figure to look up to.

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What a great storybook for kids! This is the history of scientist, Rosalind Franklin, who was a legendary chemist. The story is realistic about the challenges that Rosalind faced as a female scientist but also showcased her perseverance to discover and research in her field. The story is easy to understand for younger children and shows a strong female lead. I recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to review this book

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This was a very educational book! I didn’t know about Rosalind, so it was a great book to read! The illustrations were done very well also.

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A STEM teacher with a love of Chemistry, I absolutely LOVED this book. It is one I’ll eagerly buy as gifts for students and young people alike! Tucked inside this fantastic book about the discovery of the double-helix in DNA is a wonderful message we all need to hear.

Rosalind Franklin faced many challenges as a female scientist, yet graciously worked to further knowledge in the field rather than seek credit and fame. This book follows her from a young, inquisitive child to her discoveries about coal, DNA and viruses. Throughout each stage of her life, Rosalind’s focus was on helping other people. The simple and bold illustrations help to showcase a little-known name in science.

This is a fabulous series and a wonderful way to educate young and old alike about little people who had big dreams which lead them to positively influence our world. It provides just the right enough of information to encourage further research into the life of this amazing woman.

Publishes August 24, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

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I love science, so I love that this series also highlights historical figures who made strides in it. The crazy thing about Rosalind is that she made such an impact on the field and what we know today but was not awarded the Nobel Prize like her male colleagues, who were also working on the discovery. I do feel as though the book really tried to make that seem completely as though it was a gender issue, however, Rosalind actually passed away before the award was given, and Nobels were very rarely give posthumously. Thus, it is hard to say if her sex played a part or not then. Only two males were awarded posthumously before they formally would not permit it anymore, in 1974, so I'm sure many males and females missed out on the opportunity. The one thing that can certainly be agreed upon is that she would have still faced many challenges as a woman scientist and posthumous awards or not, she definitely deserves credit for those influential studies by the world now. Both my kiddos and I really enjoyed reading about this woman who devoted her life to her scientific contributions and discoveries!

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What a great overview of Rosalind Franklin, a scientist whose work led to the creation of the double helix model of DNA though she didn't receive the credit she deserved in her own time. Lovely illustrations, a clear narrative, and serious #girlpower vibes.

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Another great book in this series! An inspirational brief biography about renowned scientist, Rosalind Franklin, who helped discover the double helix in DNA. I loved learning about her career in science, her persistence, and desire to help others. A perfect read for children of all ages!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

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Little People Big Dreams is a series that never fails to do justice to the famous people the book covers and this is no exception. It is high time children of all ages (and adults) become more aware of Rosalind Franklin's contribution to science. In a kid friendly way, the books brings forth the bias that Rosalind Franklin had to deal with - and I am sure that kids with their innate sense of justice will be able to identity that. A 'must read' book of a 'must have' series!

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Much more successful than other recent volumes in this series, this look at the once-much-ignored scientist is a great summary of her life, even if it has to skirt the fact she died criminally young. The product of a fine education, Rosalind was able to show us huge things with the use of a tiny picture – or rather, other people were given prizes for the showing, while she took the image in anonymity that books like this help destroy. Handling the language of the STEM subjects concerned well, this doesn't look bad compared to some efforts elsewhere under the same banner, so it should find a welcome place in young readers' school libraries. A strong four stars.

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This series is always a joy to read, it’s a really nice introduction to well known people for little children. Of course the plot is always a little bit fast but that’s to be expected and it’s totally understandable.
This little book here is about Rosalind Franklin, one of the most important chemists of the 20th century. As a woman, she had to fight to get the place she rightfully deserved among her colleagues, but she persisted and her meaningful work in science is still very important today.
I'm sure children are going to love reading about this amazing and inspiring scientist!

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