Synopses & Reviews
They study the night sky, watch chimpanzees in the wild, and dig up ancient clay treasures. They search the beach for rare fossils, photograph old rock carvings, explore the hazards of lead poisoning, and wander into dark caves. And in their watching, digging, and wandering they become discoverers. Young and old, they are women and girls who discover seventy-million-year-old sea lizards, the very origins of counting and writing, Stone Age cave art, mysterious matter in the universe, and how a puddle of water can be sanitized when heated by the sun.
Here is a tribute to the findings and revelations of these remarkable women and girls: to their perseverance, their epiphanies, their wondrous curiosity. Brought to life by stunning collage illustrations, these inspiring stories drawn from primary sources consistently probe into still unanswered questions. Here are discoveries that open our eyes not only to what women and girls can accomplish but also to the astonishing world in which we live.
Review
"Required reading for serious dinophiles."
—Kirkus
Review
"Required reading for serious dinophiles."
and#8212;Kirkus
"Readers will come away from this excellent book with a new appreciation for dinosaur imagery and for the talented paleoartists who produce it."
and#8212;The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
"A stellar look at the methods paleoartists employ to bring dinosaurs to life on paper. . . . A terrific package that will draw in browsers and serve report writers while inspiring young artists to consider applying their skills to this enthralling field."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"Thimmesh raises good questions, find some intriguing answers, and leaves others for readers to ponder."
and#8212;Booklist
"This is the kind of information that can lure in readers beyond the usual dino hounds, so casual museumgoers with kids with an interest in forensic reconstructions whould find the topic of interest too."
and#8212;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
* andquot;This behind-the-scenes look at the first Apollo moon landing has the feel of a public television documentary in its breadth and detail.andquot; andmdash;
Publishers Weekly * andquot;This beautiful and well-documented tribute will introduce a new generation to that triumphant time.andquot;and#160; andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
andquot;This dramatic account will mesmerize even readers already familiar with the eventandndash;and also leave them awed by the level of care and dedication it took to surmount so many daunting technological challenges.andquot;and#160; andmdash;School Library Journal
andquot;Thimmesh gives names and voices to the army that got Neil Armstrong and company to the moon and back. The result is a spectacular and highly original addition to the literature of space exploration.andquot;and#160; andmdash;Horn Book
andquot;Catherine Thimmesh tells us the stories of the 400,000 people it took to make...that and#39;one giant leapand#39;...Their collective devotion to an exciting goal comes across strongly.andquot;and#160; andmdash;Chicago Tribune
* andquot;Kids...probably feel they know quite a bit about the first manned moon landing. But until theyand#39;ve read Thimmeshand#39;s breathless behind-the-scenes account, they know zip.andquot;and#160; andmdash;Bulletin
andquot;An edge-of-your-seat adventure...lavishly illustrated...this exhilarating book...will captivate.andquot;and#160; andmdash;Chicago Sun-Times
andquot;Thimmeshand#39;s enthusiasm for her subject is palpable, and the sense of excitement she brings is as vital to Team Moonand#39;s success the bookand#39;s very premise.andquot;and#160; andmdash;Chris Barton, author of Shark vs. Train
Review
andldquo;Extensive research, clear organization and writing, appropriate pacing for new ideas and intriguing graphics all contribute to this exceptionally accessible introduction to the mystery of human origins, timed to accompany Lucyandrsquo;s six-year tour of U.S. museums.andrdquo;--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
andquot;Hereandrsquo;s a nonfiction book that deserves the highest of compliments: it reads like a science book . . . Thimmesh opens her narrative with a poetic conjecture that gives such adventure its mystery and due: andldquo;Long ago it lived...even before it had a name. It climbed trees; it roamed the savannah on two legs; it munched on berries and grasses.andrdquo; The answer to the implied questionandmdash;andldquo;What is andlsquo;itandrsquo;?andrdquo;andmdash;propels the reader to turn page after page . . . a handsome book, but also a substantive one.andquot;--The Horn Book Magazine
andquot;With unexpected simplicity and even poetry, Thimmesh uses two beginnings to tell the story of the hominid who changed humansandrsquo; family tree . . . the final portrait of Lucy as she may have looked is a stunner. Like the investigative method itself, this sparks questions and also answers them.andquot;andmdash; Booklist, starred review
andldquo;. . . this should satisfy a young patronandrsquo;s request for material on seriously old human remains.andrdquo;--The Bulletin
andquot;The bookandrsquo;s greatest strength is how it underscores the fluidity of our understanding in a field like anthropology; it shows how one discovery can change the thinking of scientists in a dramatic way . . . The clear writing, excellent photographs, and the unique approach of exploring the field of anthropology through one spectacular specimen make this book a first purchase.andquot;--School Library Journal, starred review
Review
A stunning mosaic of the White House...This...offers a spectacular mix of entertainment, information, and inspiration." Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"Delightful and informative ." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
A lively introduction to women's political achievements.
Publishers Weekly
A sassily organized and argued rallying cry for girls-soon-to-be-women to stake a claim for Executive Office.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Thimmesh treats subjects from every point on the political spectrum with enthusiasm and respect...an excellent primer in international women's political history.
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
A good choice in this election year, Madam President is an entertaining and informative choice.
School Library Journal
Review
"Sweets exuberant collages add both information and visual energy to lively profiles of more than a dozen female adults or children who have Found Something Significant
Thimmesh makes a convincing case for the idea that the thrill of discovery is a feeling anyone can have." Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"The lively design and the mixed-media collage artwork is a creative delight, and the intricate ink-and-watercolor borders, inventive paintings, and childlike pictures will draw readers in. The best thing about the book, however, is Thimmesh's sparkling writing style, which celebrates women's curiosity and skill." Booklist, ALA
Review
"Thimmesh uses a simple rhyming text and stellar color photos to celebrate unusual friendships...The photos radiate trust and warmth, and the text is soothing and reassuring."and#8212;School Library Journal "Thimmesh hops on the cuteness bandwagon with this collection of 13 animal duos who met by chance and, for a time at least, showed mutual curiosity and affection."and#8212;Booklist
Synopsis
Sibert medalist Catherine Thimmesh unravels the mystery of how we bring to life a creature that no one has ever seen before. Strikingly illustrated with full-color images of some of the most beautiful and accurate dinosaur art available.
Synopsis
No human being has ever seen a triceratops or velociraptor or even the mighty
Tyrannosaurus rex. They left behind only their impressive bones. So how can scientists know what color dinosaurs were? Or if their flesh was scaly or feathered? Could that fierce
T.rex have been born with spots?
In a first for young readers, the Sibert medalist Catherine Thimmesh introduces the incredible talents of the paleoartist, whose work reanimates gone-but-never-forgotten dinosaurs in giant full-color paintings that are as strikingly beautiful as they aim to be scientifically accurate, down to the smallest detail. Follow a paleoartist through the scientific process of ascertaining the appearance of various dinosaurs from millions of years ago to learn how science, art, and imagination combine to bring us face-to-face with the past.
Synopsis
Here is a rare perspective on a story we only thought we knew. For Apollo 11, the first moon landing, is a story that belongs to many, not just the few and famous. It belongs to the seamstress who put together twenty-two layers of fabric for each space suit. To the engineers who created a special heat shield to protect the capsule during its fiery reentry. It belongs to the flight directors, camera designers, software experts, suit testers, telescope crew, aerospace technicians, photo developers, engineers, and navigators.
Gathering direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the scenes, Catherine Thimmesh reveals their very human worries and concerns. Culling NASA transcripts, national archives, and stunning NASA photos from Apollo 11, she captures not only the sheer magnitude of this feat but also the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of the greatest team everand#151;the team that worked to first put man on that great gray rock in the sky.
Synopsis
Illustrated in full color throughout with stunning compuer-generated artwork and with rare paleo photography, this story of scientific sleuthing invites us to wonder what our ancestors were like. From the discovery of Lucy's bones in Hadar, Ethiopia, to the process of recovering and interpreting them (a multidisciplinary approach with contributions from paleontologists, paleoanthropologists, archeologists, geologists and geochronologists), this book shows how a pile of 47 bones led scientists to discover a new -- and, at 3.2 million years old, a very very old -- species of hominid, ancestral to humans.
Scientists involved include: James Aronson, geochronologist at Dartmouth, NH John Gurche, paleoartist at Cornell, NY Donald Johansen, scientist at Institue of Human Origins at Arizona State University Owen Lovejoy, biological anthropologist at Kent State, Ohio Dirk Van Tuerenhout at Houston's Museum of Natural Science, Texas.
Synopsis
When Abigail Adams asked her husband to and#147;Remember the Ladies,and#8221; women could not vote or own property in America. Some seventy years later, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote, and#147;To vote is the most sacred act of citizenship,and#8221; the government of the United States still did not treat women as equals, having yet to grant them the right to vote. But sixty-four years after that Geraldine Ferraro declared, and#147;We can do anything,and#8221; and became the first American woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket. Today, surely our country is ready for a leader who, as Elizabeth Dole said, and#147;will call America to her better nature.and#8221; This captivating book illuminates the bravery and tenacity of the women who have come before us. With an engaging narrative, fascinating quotes, and elegant illustrations, it not only shows how far women have come but also reveals the many unsung roles women have played in political history Step by step, these capable ladies have paved the way for our young leaders of tomorrow. They have enabled and empowered us to ask today: Well, why not the presidency?
Synopsis
Catherine Thimmeshand#8217;s inspiring look at the role of women in American politicsand#151;past, present, and futureand#151;is now available with updated sections on Hillary Rodham Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Nancy Pelosi. From the time our government was being formed, women have fought their way from behind the scenes to the center of power and decision making. So, why not a woman in the White House? Two thousand eight may be the year!
Synopsis
What makes a camel friends with a Vietnamese pig? Or a wild polar bear pals with a sled dog? In this young preschool book, Catherine Thimmesh makes us wonder at the truth and mystery of unlikely animal friendships. Because the stories behind these friendships are true, not contrived, captured by photographers in many countries ranging from Siberia to Japan, they not only give readers insight into animals but challenge preconceived notions about compatibility. This book also expresses tolerance of differences and makes us look at the kindness of animalsand#8212;and humansand#8212;a little differently.
About the Author
Catherine Thimmesh is the award-winning author of many books for children, including Team Moon, winner of the Sibert Medal. Her books have received numerous starred reviews, appeared on best books lists, and won many awards, including the IRA Childrenand#39;s Book Award and Minnesota Boo