Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Superb art adds to inspiring bio of 1800s female astronomer.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
WHAT MISS MITCHELL SAW begins with parents whispering the name "Ma-rye-ah" to a baby swaddled in a starry blanket. Maria's mother notes her "steady ways" as a child and tells her to assist her father in his work. From their rooftop walkway, Maria's father teaches her to "sweep the night sky" with a telescope. She learns everything she can about the night sky and its relationship to seafaring. As an adult, she becomes a librarian so she can study advanced mathematics and celestial navigation. At the end of each day, from her rooftop, she sweeps the sky, bit by bit, until one day, she sees a patch of light and realizes it's a comet. She sends a letter, by way of Harvard, to the King of Denmark, who's offered a gold medal to any astronomer who discovers a comet with a telescope. Others also saw the comet and sent word to Denmark, but Maria was the first! Will her diligence be recognized, or will a man be given that honor?
Is It Any Good?
This beautiful book, with its lyrical text and stunning art, will enchant readers young and old. In What Miss Mitchell Saw, Barrett's tendency toward the poetic -- "She made fast friends with stars that shone as if punched into the black with a whalebone needle" -- means this book is a joy to read aloud. And it also achieves the important aim of including women in science history. The art, however, almost steals the show. Sudyka's saturated, starlit illustrations will dazzle readers. Star speckled, shades-of-blue night skies decorate dresses and fill dark oceans, whale silhouettes splash through the sky, and tumultuous, sparkling seas surround the island. Many of the pictures also instruct -- teaching young readers star, planet, and phenomenon names, as well as the tools used for navigation at sea.
A noteworthy quibble is that other than old-fashioned clothes and references to whaling, the limitations women faced during Maria's lifetime are not part of the story, so young readers aren't likely to grasp how exceptional her accomplishments really were. Parents will need to share the historical context with their kids for maximum impact. That caveat aside, this is a great addition to the family bookshelf or for the classroom as a jumping-off point for STEM activities and lessons.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Maria's interest in learning about the night sky in What Miss Mitchell Saw. How did she become an expert astronomer? What is something you are really interested in and why?
What are some clues in the story and pictures as to the time period Maria lived? What do you know about women's career opportunities in America in the 1800s? Where could you find out more?
Talk about the character strengths that are shown in this story? In what ways have you shown curiosity or humility?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Diana Sudyka
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : STEM , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Beach Lane Books
- Publication date : September 3, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 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