Common Sense Media Review
By Angela Zimmerman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring bio of brilliant NASA mathematician in the 1960s.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A COMPUTER CALLED KATHERINE: HOW KATHERINE JOHNSON HELPED PUT AMERICA ON THE MOON is a picture book about a female African American NASA mathematician who overcame tremendous adversity to achieve her dreams and become an accomplished and well-respected figure. Even as a young girl, Katherine was a whiz with numbers, skipping grades and ultimately graduating from high school early and starting college at 15. Because teaching was one of the only jobs available to women back then, Katherine initially worked as a math teacher before discovering a job opportunity at a research center in Virginia. She was hired as a "computer" at NASA, and helped the male engineers chart flight plans and design airplanes. Her brilliance and tenacity soon became essential to the team, and she played a huge role in America's victory in the "space race" against the Soviet Union. A Computer Called Katherine gives preschoolers an introduction to the trials endured by African Americans and women in the workforce in the 1950s and '60s.
Is It Any Good?
With vivid watercolor illustrations and an exciting depiction of Katherine Johnson's life from early childhood through adulthood, this is a winning pick for young kids. A Computer Called Katherine offers a great way to introduce them to an important chapter in American history and an incredibly inspiring woman who helped change the world. Some of the language and math concepts will likely be above preschoolers' heads, and the text gets somewhat dense, but even young kids will enjoy the story about one of the most phenomenal minds of the 20th century.
With important messages about perseverance and the courage to break through barriers, A Computer Called Katherine reminds kids of all ages that they, too, are capable of achieving their dreams and changing the world. Back matter includes a page of some cool historical NASA documents and a handy timeline of Katherine's life and accomplishments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about civil rights and the challenges for women shown in A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon. How rare was it for a woman to be a scientist or mathematician in the 1950s and '60s, particularly women of color? How much do you think things have changed?
Who are some other women in history who accomplished great things? Who are some of your favorites?
Talk about space and go outside and look at the stars and moon. Would you like to work for an organization like NASA? Where would you like to go in a spaceship?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Veronica Miller Jamison
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : STEM , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : April 9, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate