Families who loved Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child starts noticing that some people are treated differently than others, or when they need to see that 'being good at math' is a superpower that can change the world. This biography follows Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four brilliant Black women who used their minds to help NASA send humans into space. While it celebrates the thrill of the Space Race, it also addresses the reality of segregation and the resilience required to succeed when the world expects you to fail. It is a perfect choice for teaching perseverance and the importance of academic curiosity, suitable for children ages 4 to 8 who are beginning to navigate social hierarchies and their own unique talents.
