Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine
by Zoë Tucker
illustrated by Rachel Katstaller
Date: 2019
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley
She invents crazy contraptions, solves big sums, and reads all the books in the library.
Although she may look like an ordinary little girl, Ada Lovelace is about to change the world.
Zoë Tucker and Rachel Katstaller tell the amazing true story of a little girl who didn't go to school, but grew up to create the world's first computer program.
(synopsis from Goodreads)
This is one of the stronger kids' biographies about Ada Lovelace I've read. It gives a brief biographical sketch in the main text, including her association with Charles Babbage. The biographical notes at the end, though, I think are much more clear. The main text and pictures sort of imply that Ada and Babbage built the Analytical Engine (it was never built in its entirety). The little note at the end talks more about what Ada actually did with her code and translations, so it's a good idea to read that part of the book, too!
The illustrations are of a style that I'm not always a fan of. But here, they kind of work. Although, I was a bit confused by the crow that appears throughout; is it supposed to represent a fascination with bird flight... or did she actually have a pet crow?
Overall, this is a nice picture-book biography about a pioneering woman. Strong endnotes add more interest. I would recommend this book to kids interested in science or computers.
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.
Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Overall: 3.67 out of 5
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