Dean is the author of “How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto” and “100 Things to See in the Night Sky.”
Looking Up is a production of Cincinnati Public Radio."
Jennifer Sommer |
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"Join Dean Regas, astronomer, author, and space expert on a journey through the stars! Guests from all over the globe bring their knowledge and passion about today’s latest scientific discoveries and advancements. From eclipses to supernovas, from rockets to rovers; there’s a whole universe to explore! Dean is the author of “How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto” and “100 Things to See in the Night Sky” and was the longtime host of PBS' Stargazers television program. Looking Up is a production of Cincinnati Public Radio. Dean is the author of “How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto” and “100 Things to See in the Night Sky.” Looking Up is a production of Cincinnati Public Radio."
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Best Children’s Book 8-12 **GOLD** Amanda M Cetas, Thrown to the Wind **SILVER** Jennifer R Sommer, Her Eyes Were on the Stars: Nancy Grace Roman, "Mother of Hubble" Space Telescope **BRONZE** Tricia Copeland Azreya, Aztec Priestess **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Claudine C Wargel, Hattie and Dirks Great Garden Surprise Stephanie Scott , Tools to Cool Finding Ways to Cope D, Burton Smith, Quoth the Raven Laurie Anne Zaleski, Travels with Ariel - What's up in Baker Lake? Kathe Hudson and Melanie Moyer, The Magic Peach Tree, A Yoga Storytelling Adventure Barbara Mishkin, TIP's Magical Journey Dr. Tamara Lazic Strugar, THE SUNSCREAMING SUMMER Kat Farrow, Bobbin and the Magic Thief Hans Ness, Rolo the Pet Earthling Kirja Ilijah, Alijah XII Rick Poplinger, Adventure in the Land of Changes CHRISTINA LIM, Through It All Michael D. Malone, Mousetree: The Beginning Book One Grace Wolf, May I Sit At Your Table? Paki Perkins, Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash Marsha Tufft, Project S.A.M.: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures Prequel Dawn Renee Darnell and Jim H Darnell, Jr, Schoolhouse Dogs: Face Life Jim H Darnell and Dawn Renee Darnell, Lightning Butterflies For full results of the 2023 Fall Readers' Choice Book Awards, click the button below. Nancy Grace Roman’s journey to becoming ‘Mother of Hubble’.
As a young girl, Nancy Grace was fascinated by the stars in the night sky and started her own astronomy club to search for constellations. As she moved from place to place for her dad’s job, the stars became her nearest and dearest friends. By junior high, Nancy knew she wanted to become an astronomer, but astronomy was not a typical career for a young woman in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Most colleges at the time did not accept girls, but Nancy found one that did and was accepted onto a science course. She also worked as an assistant at an observatory and earned a degree in astronomy in 1946, and later a PhD. As a scientific researcher, Nancy began to study the stars in the Milky Way and made some new discoveries. In 1959, she was asked to set up the space astronomy program at a new space agency, NASA. Nancy’s significant scientific achievements, her position as Chief of Astronomy for NASA, and her role in the space telescope project, led to her nickname the ‘Mother of the Hubble’. This is a remarkable book for middle grade readers, about a remarkable scientist, Nancy Grace Roman. During a time when few women went to college, and fewer studied astronomy, Nancy went on to become one of the leading scientists of her generation. I had heard of Nancy, but I knew little about her life. This book has inspired me to go and study more about this incredible woman and her achievements. Well-researched by Jennifer R Sommer, and based on many conversations with Nancy herself, this is an insightful and accessible book for readers of all ages. The book will appeal to readers interested in science, and particularly astronomy. The starry illustrations by Gayle Cobb are simply stunning. This is a fascinating read and highly recommended. The book will inspire children and adults alike to look up. Readers' Choice Book Award: 5 Stars Summary: A remarkable book about a remarkable scientist, Nancy Grace Roman. Full results for the 20th Annual Best Book Awards can be found at: https://www.americanbookfest.com/2023bbafullresults.html
Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Nonfiction Siege of Herons: Collective Nouns Alphabetically by Ramona Wildeman Independently Published Finalist Buzz the Not-So-Brave by Dani Nichols, illustrated by Kristin McNess Moran Punchline Publishers Finalist Her Eyes Were on the Stars: Nancy Grace Roman, "Mother of Hubble" Space Telescope by Jennifer Sommer Braughler Books Finalist Rocco at the White House Easter Egg Roll! by Rocco Smirne The White House Historical Association Finalist Rudy the Smart Kid: The Gifted Who Believes He Can Do Anything by Rudolph Valentine III & Dawn Charleston Green Dawn of a New Day 365, LLC Finalist Welcome to the Opera: Discover the Enchanting World of Opera with Mozart's Magic Flute by Carolyn Sloan Workman Publishing Finalist What to Know Before You Get Your Cat by Margrit Strohmaier Lion Face Press Finalist 100 Ohio authors and illustrators with over 300 titles will meet readers and sign copies of their latest books at the 35th annual Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster. The book fair has books for sale, author speakers, and literary activities for all ages. Saturday, November 4 from 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. at the Greystone Event Center in Wooster, OH. Visit https://Buckeyebookfair.org/ for more information. Wow! I can hardly believe it. I was hoping for a nice blurb at the most, and to not be torn to shreds at best. KIRKUS has a reputation for being tough. To get a starred review from this magazine is high praise. So excited!! "Sommer’s children’s book celebrates Nancy Grace Roman, the first woman executive of NASA, who was responsible for the beginning of the Hubble Space Telescope.
Opening with Roman’s defense of the idea for a telescope placed beyond Earth’s atmosphere, this biography then backtracks to Roman’s childhood. Even early on, as a child in the 1920s and 1930s, young Roman is captivated by the stars. Her family moves frequently, and the stars serve as Roman’s constant whenever she has to leave friends behind. Despite being discouraged from her studies by high school counselors, Roman pursues a career in science, attending Swarthmore College, one of only a few co-ed colleges at the time. After earning a degree in astronomy, she completes a doctorate and successfully publishes articles and pursues research before becoming the Chief of Astronomy for the newly formed National Aeronautics and Space Administration. From this point, the narrative focuses on the mission to create a space telescope and send it into the great beyond. Even after Roman’s retirement from NASA, she remains involved with launching the Hubble into space. (The text remarks, “Is it any wonder her co-workers dubbed her ‘Mother of Hubble?’”) Along with descriptions of Roman’s accomplishments, Sommer weaves in quotes from Roman, written in cursive, about her work. Detailed notes illuminating some of the challenges that Roman and the Hubble faced, along with a full timeline of events in both Roman’s life and the Hubble’s history, are included in the endpapers. Sommer’s descriptive text is plainly delivered, with pacing that focuses on the important, star-centered moments in Roman’s life and the challenges she overcomes. Young feminist scientists are sure to notice the casual disparagement from Swarthmore’s head of the physics department, and to be appreciative that pioneering scientists such as Roman carved a path for others. Cobb’s stylized watercolor illustrations sometimes seem to show Roman looking older than her description, but the gorgeous backgrounds and detailed images of telescopes more than make up for that. An essential acknowledgement of an under-sung scientist." - Kirkus (starred review) Saturday, October 21 from 10:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY. https://kybookfestival.org/ Whom do you invite to stop by? Who will benefit from reading your book? Kids with an interest in biographies, science, astronomy, NASA, the Hubble Telescope, space, strong women or role models, or people who face challenges head on will enjoy this book. Though the vocabulary is a little high, it may be read aloud to younger kids who will enjoy it just as much as older children. Also, if you love timelines, or additional information about the story, those are also included. And the artwork is beautiful too! Could you please tell us something curious about you and/or your book? I initially had a telephone interview with Dr. Roman for my research for this book, but when I met her in person, she was 91 years old. She was still talking to groups about astronomy, and had recently given one to her senior living community, where we shared noodle soup one afternoon. She was treated like a rock star. Everyone knew her and about her accomplishments. I had learned during the telephone interview that she used a specific book for her astronomy club when she was a child. I located a copy on Ebay and brought it with me for her to autograph, which she did. That book is mentioned in my picture book, and I display the autographed copy on my table at book events. Is this your first time participating in Kentucky Book Festival? If yes – what are you looking forward to the most? If you’ve participated before – what was your favorite experience at the Festival? This is my first time participating at the Kentucky Book Festival and I’ll be so excited to be back in Lexington! After attending the University of Kentucky, I moved to Dayton for my job and I have missed Lexington ever since. I hope I see familiar faces in the crowd and that my book will make my hometown proud. Join me at the 42nd annual Kentucky Book Festival, the state's oldest and largest literary festival. To see this year's author lineup visit: https://kybookfestival.org/lineup-2023/ https://kybookfestival.org/jennifer-sommer-kbf23/ Literary Titan Gold Book AwardThe Literary Titan Book Award proudly celebrates enchanting children’s books that captivate hearts with their standout storytelling, luminous illustrations, delightful characters, and inventive concepts. Bestowing well-deserved recognition, we applaud the exceptional authors behind these literary gems, honoring their boundless creativity and remarkable talent in crafting stories that ignite imaginations and bring joy to young readers. Her Eyes Were On the Stars: Nancy Grace Roman, "Mother of Hubble" Space Telescope, tells the story of how one girl's dream of becoming an astronomer turned into a reality. What inspired you to tell her story? At the time, I was looking for subjects to write about. I was hearing a lot about STEM and biographies for women in science, so maybe it was prophetic when I was watching an episode of NOVA on PBS about the Hubble Telescope and “the Mother of Hubble” when the name of Nancy Grace Roman was mentioned, and I thought she might be an interesting person to write about. She was certainly someone I had never heard of before and I was willing to bet others hadn’t either. I realized how remarkable she was after I started some preliminary research. I was fortunate to find her email on NASA’s website and to receive a quick response from her saying she would be interested in doing a telephone interview with me. From there, there was no turning back! Your background in Engineering and having an MLIS in children's literature gives you a unique perspective on writing nonfiction children's books. What is the most rewarding part of writing books for children to you? For me, it is that feeling I want to recreate that I had as a child reading really good books, magical books or those that gave me a glimpse into someone else’s life. I’ve always had an interest in science, so maybe I am more interested in writing about those subjects. But I am also a very creative person, and my interest in architecture and interior design goes back to my creativity. So even though I love writing nonfiction, I also love making stories up too. What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children's book? One thing I wanted to convey was how important first-hand accounts are to research. Primary sources are essential, and that was why I wanted so badly to interview Dr. Nancy Grace Roman in person. I wanted her account of events. I always tell kids that research can be like a game of telephone. The original message gets tangled the more times it gets told. So, one thing I really wanted to include in this book were the actual quotes Dr. Roman said to me. Also, I included all the other sources I used in the bibliography in the back that can be checked against my work. We all need to remember that just because someone says something, it doesn’t mean it’s true. Check your facts! Will this book be the start of a series? I would love to see more books about other women in science, or are you working on a different story? This book is a stand-alone, with no plans for more in a series. I do have other books, both nonfiction and fiction. One nonfiction book I am very proud of is “Octopus Capers” that is still unpublished, but with my agent, Stephen Fraser of Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. He also has a middle grade fantasy called “The Changeling.” Currently, I am working on a Halloween picture book called “Every Creature Eats” about a witch’s party where she is pushing lots of “treats” on her guests. It’s the kind of book I would’ve loved to have had as a Children’s Librarian at the library, where I would read a story to the kids and then we’d have an activity related to the book, in this case, a snack. Written by Jennifer Sommer and Illustrated by Gayle Cobb
As a child, Nancy Grace Roman moved from home to home. The only constant? The nighttime sky. She loved the stars and knew from a young age that she wanted to become an astronomer. But could she, during a time when many women weren’t even allowed into colleges? Nancy Grace found a way to overcome each barrier placed before her. Her persistence paid off when she was named the first female executive as Chief of Astronomy at the newly created National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, in 1959. It was here she faced her biggest challenge to date. Astronomers across the country wanted a telescope that would orbit in space above the Earth’s atmosphere allowing for the clearest view of the stars a telescope had ever seen. The problem? At this early stage of the United States space program, engineers hadn’t even successfully launched a rocket. How would Nancy Grace ever get a telescope into space? HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS introduces readers to a female scientist in the field of astronomy who will be forever affectionately known as “Mother of Hubble.” “…is often forgotten by our younger generation of astronomers who make their careers by using the Hubble Space Telescope. Regretfully, history has forgotten a lot in today’s Internet age, but it was Nancy Grace Roman in the old days before the Internet and before Google and e-mail and all that stuff, who really helped to sell the Hubble Space Telescope, organize the astronomers, who eventually convinced Congress to fund it.” – Ed Weiler, former NASA Chief Scientist for Hubble The illustrator Gayle Cobb will display her original art from HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS in an upcoming showcase presented by the Centerville Arts Commission. Please join us for the opening reception of her work, where I will be signing copies of HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS. Friday, August 11 6-8 p.m. Centerville Police Department, 155W. Spring Valley Pike Dayton, OH |
I remember the excitement of visiting the public library as a child. The magic and suspense of reading favorites like The Velvet Room and The Secret Garden tugged at my imagination. Biographies of George Washington Carver and Betsy Ross allowed me to see the lives of those who came before me and to appreciate their accomplishments. Poetry collections like my favorite The Tall Book of Poems, which I took with me on sleepovers, introduced me to a range of poetry where I could consider how the placement and rhythm of words affected your mood – sometimes bouncy, other times melancholy. Plus, I really loved the way that book felt in my small hands. My goal in writing children’s books, I think, is an attempt to recreate those feelings, those early years of reading books where everything seemed possible.
I received an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and won the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award from SCBWI. I worked as a Children's Librarian for 20 years and still prefer to read books written for young people. I have two Cavapoo dogs named Prince Albert and Daisy Wu, and a black kitten named Mortimer. I am married and split time between homes with my husband Rod in Dayton, OH and in Cadiz, KY where we enjoy our pontoon boat on Lake Barkley.
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