About This Book
Reach for this book when your child expresses a sense of being 'different' because of their quiet passions or when they need encouragement to look beyond traditional expectations. While other children are playing, Maria is looking upward, feeling the pull of the cosmos and the desire to make her own mark on the world. It is a beautiful choice for fostering a scientific mind while nurturing the emotional courage required to dream big. This lyrical story, inspired by the childhood of pioneer astronomer Maria Mitchell, follows a young girl in a 19th-century Quaker community who helps her father with his telescope. Through evocative prose and soft illustrations, it touches on themes of perseverance, the bond between father and daughter, and the quiet spark of ambition. It is perfectly suited for children aged 4 to 8, providing a gentle bridge between historical fiction and STEM inspiration.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book is secular and gentle. It briefly touches on gender roles of the 19th century, where Maria feels the weight of expected domestic duties versus her intellectual desires. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on her internal drive.
