Jonas Salk, born in 1914, grew up wanting to help make the world a better place. The author writes that when Jonas attended college, he got interested in science, and decided to go to medical school to become a doctor and researcher. After he graduated, he worked with a fellow doctor seeking a medicine to protect people from the flu virus. Vaccines had already been developed for other diseases - famously, in late 1776, George Washington ordered that his troops receive smallpox vaccines. Dr. Salk and his colleague Dr. Francis wondered if they could develop a vaccine for flu, and successfully developed one that saved thousands of lives each year.

But a far more serious threat was raging - polio. Each year, it paralyzed or killed thousands of people. Dr. Salk and his team of scientists “labored day and night, night and day.”

As the Salk Institute reports,

“Contrary to the era’s prevailing scientific opinion, Salk believed his vaccine, composed of ‘killed’ polio virus, could immunize without risk of infecting the patient. Salk administered the vaccine to volunteers who had not had polio, including himself, his lab scientist, his wife and their children. All developed anti-polio antibodies and experienced no negative reactions to the vaccine.”

In 1954, national testing began on almost two million children, ages six to nine, who became known as the Polio Pioneers. On April 12, 1955, the results were announced: “The vaccine WORKS!” POLIO could be CONQUERED!”

The Salk Institute notes that in the two years before the vaccine was widely available, the average number of polio cases in the U.S. was more than 45,000. By 1962, that number had dropped to 910. Hailed as a miracle worker, Salk never patented the vaccine or earned any money from his discovery, preferring it be distributed as widely as possible.

The author recounts that Salk went on to establish the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, dedicating to seeking cures for cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and many other diseases.

She concludes:

“Jonas Salk was a kid who saw things differently, a kid who wanted to help make the world a better place. . . . Ever meet a kid like that? Could that kid be YOU?”

Back matter has an Author’s Note and list of sources. In the note, the author talks about how the polio vaccine changed her own life, and how other vaccines have helped make the world safer.

Acrylic gouache and pencil illustrations by Lisa Anchin not only reflect the time period but are appealing and kid-friendly.

Evaluation: The author of this book for kids six and over is careful to point out that Dr. Salk didn’t work alone - he based his work on the understanding of those who preceded him, and always had collaborators and a “team of scientists” to help. Although individual actors get valorized, as Isaac Newton famously observed in a 1675 letter, "if I have seen further [than others], it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." It is a good lesson for kids to emphasize the value of cooperation and teamwork.

While the author does not mention the current political resistance to vaccines, this book is quite timely, and will help elucidate the safety and value of traditional vaccines. This is especially important as polio has recently reemerged, with the virus having been found in wastewater in New York. The vaccine is 99 percent effective at preventing paralytic polio. But thanks to disinformation about the vaccine, there could be hundreds of new cases as more and more people resist vaccination.

[As the National Library of Medicine explains, “Vaccines help prevent infection by preparing the body to fight foreign invaders (such as bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens). All vaccines introduce into the body a harmless piece of a particular bacteria or virus, triggering an immune response. Most vaccines contain a weakened or dead bacteria or virus. However, scientists have developed a new type of vaccine that uses a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA) rather than part of an actual bacteria or virus. . . . mRNA from vaccines does not enter the nucleus and does not alter DNA. Individuals who get an mRNA vaccine are not exposed to the virus, nor can they become infected by the vaccine.” Rather, these vaccines work by showing cells a blueprint to produce an appropriate immune response to the virus.] ( )

Brightly illustrated, this is the timely true story of a young Jewish boy who grew up to be a chemist who helped eradicate polio. Author’s note and sources included. (Sydney Taylor Notable Picture Book) ( )

Jonas Salk was not like other kids. He saw the crippling effects of war and from a young age he wanted to help. He saw the value in hard work so he decided to go to school and become a doctor. It was in medical school that he discovered chemistry and became interested in finding cures to disease.
The author creates a picture book biography that tells the story of Dr. Jonas Salk the inventor of the Polio Vaccine. The simple text and bright illustrations combine to create a real life story that young children in grades Kindergarten to third grade can identify with. This would be a great elementary school read aloud. Children will learn about Dr. Salk and be inspired to find their own path in life. ( )

A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK • Learn about the importance of vaccines and the scientific process through the fascinating life of world-renowned scientist Jonas Salk, whose pioneering discoveries changed the world forever.

I would read this book to my classroom to give them insight on no matter what your circumstance is you can still become great in life. This is a good book to let them know to never give up and always keep trying to reach their goals. ( )