Jim Ottaviani

This is a slightly fictionalized account of Dr. Mary Cleave and other "firsts" in the U.S. space program. This graphic novel uses humor to talk about the first mixed gender class of astronauts at NASA and some of frustrations and successes of the women in NASA's program. NASA has to catch up to the soviets who sent the first woman into space - Valentia Tereshkova. Mary Cleave's interest in space and her path to the space programs is a great story - glad to see girls about to read and see what's possible.… (more)

Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks’ Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas tells the stories of the three primatologists and their work with chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, respectively. Ottaviani and Wicks begin with how the Leakey’s work in the Olduvai Gorge, Kenya, and other parts of Africa helped to uncover elements of human evolution and pointed the way toward studying other primates to learn about early precursors to modern humans. Each of the women that Ottaviani and Wicks profile found their own way to primates based on childhood or later interests. Even more inspiringly, they all came to know of and appreciate each other, with Goodall paving the way for Fossey, who in turn laid the path for Galdikas. Louis Leakey was an advisor to all three and Ottaviani and Wicks manage to capture the complex portrait of how he advanced science while also crossing the line of propriety with some women students. Meanwhile, the women had to overcome structural barriers in science as well as local barriers to their work from governments and nature itself. They also had their flaws, but that makes them more approachable especially for young readers who may feel weird for their interests. Ottaviani and Wicks’ Primates is a great introduction to these three scientists for younger readers.… (more)