This is a great non-fiction read for young readers! The story is told in such an engaging and yet informative way. The illustrations are whimsical and flat-out beautiful. Every piece of this story fit together like a perfect puzzle into a gorgeous book. Highly recommend.

I hadn’t heard of Maria Mitchell before reading this book (and that is no longer embarrassing to admit after having done so with so many picture book biographies over the past few years here on this blog!). But I am glad I did, and you will be too.

This is an engaging and inspiring biography about Maria Mitchell. She was, as the author’s note states at the end of the book, ‘a woman of firsts!’ Ellen Rooney’s whimsical and beautiful illustrations are a perfect complement to Laura Alary’s narrative in this biography. The costumes, colors, tones, and other details of the artwork are in sync with the topic – astronomy, and the time period the book is set in (or rather, the time Mitchell lived in). I loved looking through the details in the art as well as in the many scattered text boxes (to add emphasis to the narrative) as much as I enjoyed reading the story of Mitchell told in simple, straight-forward language while keeping the words and language needed for a book about an astronomer (like chronometer).

Everything from the stunning cover to the author’s note and list of resources at the back of the book make this a must-read biography of a woman who needs to be more well-known than she is currently.

Thanks to Netgalley for making the digital review copy available for an honest review

U say STEM? I'm in.
Maria Mitchell. You'll forever live in my heart.
I LOVE ASTRONOMY I LOVE SCIENCE I LOVE STEM I LOVE WOMEN AND THIS WAS PERFECT now i'm going to sob in the corner
all the graphics, they were marvellous

5-OH HOW MARVELOUS STARS!

oh my love this book to pieces. You know... science, female scientist, astronomy, stars.. UNIVERSE. Yeah. On top of that whimsical mixed media celestial art and charming storytelling, Perfection!

I loved to learn more about Maria Mitchell, whose story doesn't get all the attention it deserves and I love how the book shows how important her childhood was to become the amazing scientist she was!

I love reading these children's biographies and recognizing what the reader is meant to apply to their own life from the details that the author gives focus. In this book Alary devotes most of the focus on Mitchell learning to ask questions, to be curious in an era that didn't encourage such things for girls. So the reader can gather the importance of thinking for yourself when it comes to innovation The story is fairly simple, easy enough for elementary readers to follow. The illustrations are stylized but not to a degree that makes them hard to follow. A solid addition to a picture book biography collection, especially one with a STEM focus.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* very charming book! love the artwork and love nonfiction kids books, perfect!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.

This is a good biography about Maria Mitchell who was the first professional astronomer in the US, librarian and educator. The art style is nice and simple and I think many children will enjoy this, especially because it encourages children to become whoever they want to be.

An inspiring biography about Maria Mitchell, who was, among many things the first professional female astronomer in the US, a professor at Vassar, and hired by the US government to perform scientific work.

Maria was a curious, intelligent child more interested in mathematics and the stars than her needlework. And due to persistence and hard work, she achieved many things, including being the first to find a comet in the sky for a competition started by the King of Denmark.

I liked the illustrations, with their flat style and pastel-like shading.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Kids Can Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Going into this I had no idea it was a non fiction.

I'm such a sucker for children's books and I'm thankful I have a daughter who also loves to read. This book is not only interesting but it includes beautiful art and scattered facts (which.I also love).

I can't wait to read this one to my toddler!

The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell is a nonfiction picturebook written by Laura Alary and illustrated by Ellen Rooney. Maria longed to travel beyond her small island of Nantucket. But she wasn't sure how. Her father taught her to look to the stars for guidance. If you knew how to read them, he said, the stars could tell you where you were, and where you needed to go. They spent hours scanning the night sky together through a telescope on the roof. Maria learned how to use astronomers' tools to measure and track time by the stars. But what could she do with her skills? Then, one day, she heard that a prize was being offered to the first person to find a new comet. Could this be the opportunity she was waiting for?

The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything is an engaging biographical picturebook of a little known nineteenth-century woman scientist and women's rights advocate. Maria Mitchell would go on to become the first professional female astronomer in the United States, first female member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the first female college professors. I think this book balances accessible storytelling, lovely artwork, and encouragement for young readers to keep observing the world and follow their passions. I like that the story itself included some of the obstacles that Mitchell had to deal with and followed up with more information on her activism and encouragement for all readers to explore their interests, work hard, and follow their dreams even if it goes against cultural norms.

I think The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything would be a great addition to public, school, classroom, and personal libraries.

Prior to reading this storybook, I had never heard of Maria Mitchell so I am very grateful to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book with my eight year old and we both found it to be an engaging read. The story flows easily and the accompanying illustrations suit perfectly.

I especially appreciated all of the extra bits of information at the back of the book.

This storybook has left my son with a desire to take up stargazing and has inspired me to seek out a more comprehensive biography of Maria Mitchell.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Astronomer who Questioned Everything is a beautifully illustrated and interesting read for children about the famous female astronomer Maria Mitchell. This book is a short biography of her life and achievements over her lifetime from childhood to adulthood. This book is so inspirational especially to females. What made this book different to most was the way the author included practical life lessons that can be taken from and learned from Maria's life. This was a great little area at the back of the book! The illustrations are very befitting for the story and this is sure to be a book that catches the eye of many children.

The story of Maria Mitchell and the childhood curiosity that led her to a love of astronomy is wonderfully told in this picture book biography. The author carefully shows that Maria found ways to satisfy her own voracious curiosity "feeding her mind with ideas as sweet and juicy as oranges." Incidents such as repairing a broken chronometer or fixing her own telescope emphasize her determination and ingenuity. Collage illustrations capture the look and feel of Maria's nights stargazing with her father in early 1800s Nantucket. The endless curiosity that led her to decide "she would rather look for stars than whales" is reinforced by the images of her collecting items on the beach, reading constantly, and the repeated inclusion of her journal in various scenes. The story comes full circle as Maria returns to the seaside with her own nieces and nephews. Back matter includes an author's note about life in Maria's day, her Quaker background, and her belief in freedom of choice for boys and girls, as well as a list of resources.

I first wrote this review for my Instagram @miloureadsbooks
A beautiful non-fiction book about Maria Mitchell, a girl who was fascinated by the stars and adventure. Yet, living in a world that expected her to do housework instead. A tale about passion and perseverance, showing how she discovered a comet, became the first professional female astronomer in the US and became a university professor. I loved how it both focused on how both her personality as her background helped her succeed.

This picture book biography shares the story of Maria Mitchell, a young woman who would eventually use her talents to develop a career in astronomy. Bored with the tediousness of "woman's work," Mitchell learned from her father how to read the stars and use them in navigation. She combines her keen observations with her mathematic skills to chart her own course, eventually becoming the first professional female astronomer in the U.S., the first female member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the first female college professors. This picture book partners an inspiring true story with beautiful illustrations to spark any child's interest in astronomy and the universe.

This would be a great book to include in a space unit. The story is light enough to serve as an introductory read for ages 5-12 years. The author includes a section that goes deeper into some of the life lessons Mitchell learned along the way as well, providing for a great opportunity to talk about growth mindset and perseverance. We love discovering these lesser known pioneers in history. I would recommend this book for children interested in astronomy, whether male or female, as the life lessons and character far transcend gender. A delightful piece of history to be introduced to.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A very empowering book for little girls (and boys too). The illustrations are just lovely and the colors peaceful. The story shows to follow your dreams and never give up. Even when no one gets it, still hold on.

This is the story of Maria Mitchel, the young girl who was inspired by the stars and the vastness of the sky. The girl who grew up to be the first professional female astronomer in the United States.

The book tells her story from when she was was a young girl taught by her father, who was a mathematician to when she grew up and became a source of inspiration to many young children.

The book was so good and the illustrations were wonderful. The only negative thing about the book was how the story was told. It felt a little bit loose and without a strong connection.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for providing me with an ARC of This book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the Kids Can Press and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this wonderful book. This beautifully illustrated biography of Maria Mitchell, a woman astronomer from Nantucket, written for a young reader, encourages readers to question everything around them, exercising their curiosity. The author’s note at the end of the book provides more information about Maria as well as suggestions on how to choose what one wants to do or be. A wonderful read-aloud, I can’t wait to share this book with my students.

The story of Maria Mitchell, who was curious about so many things, yet her era didn't permit her to do much. But Maria had her own way, and makes her one of respectful astronomer at her time. A very inspiring book, mostly for girls, to try doing things they like and be good at it.

A worthy entry into the blossoming genre of picture book biographies, the story of Maria Mitchell, the first female professional astronomer in the US, is illustrated with Ellen Rooney's delightful pictures. Her depictions of the nighttime sky seem too expansive to be captured on the pages of a book. The author's note includes some further information but felt more inspirational and didactic than informative. I wish the book had included a timeline and more easily accessible facts to supplement the narrative biography. A great book to share with children fascinated with the night sky.