Book Review: Ada Lovelace

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Ada Lovelace

Little People, Big Dreams #10

Written by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Illustrated by Zafouko Yamamoto

32 pages

Published by Charles Lincoln Children’s Books

Publication date: 1st March 2018

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Meet Ada Lovelace, the British mathematician and daughter of poet Lord Byron. Part of the beloved Little People, BIG DREAMS series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the colorful life of Lord Byron’s daughter, from her early love of logic, to her plans for the world’s first computer program.

As a child, Ada had a big imagination and a talent for mathematics. She grew up in a noble household in England, where she dedicated herself to studying. Her work with the famous inventor, Charles Babbage, on a very early kind of computer made her the world’s first computer programmer. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical images and a detailed profile of the mathematician’s life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.
This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

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First impressions: I love the style and message behind of this entire series. I have read several of the books in this series before and have never failed to be impressed by the illustrations and how effectively the messages about each important woman are conveyed in a way that is accessible and interesting for younger readers. I was particularly excited to read this because Ada Lovelace is a heroine of mine and I always feel that she does not get the attention and credit she deserved!

The story follows Ada from her earliest days, through trials and to her eventual triumphs. I particularly liked how it showed how you don’t have to choose the Arts or Science, when, in fact, a marriage of the two can be so much more fulfilling. (I wish a careers advisor in school had said this, even once, rather than always telling me that I would have to choose!)

Ada Lovelace is an important aspirational figure because of what she achieved through combining maths and imagination and because of the obstacles she overcame to reach success, creating something which underpins so much of our technology today.
This is a brilliant book, providing enough information to get a young reader hooked and send them off searching for more. I really like the historical notes at the back which help to situate her in history.

 

I am now going to go and read all of the other books in this series – the perfect introduction to these wonderful women! Every classroom and library should have a set!

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What I liked: Everything! The illustrations, the story, the historical notes at the end, the spotlight on a heroine who should be given more attention. This book is just perfect!

Even better if: I had this entire series already!

How you could use it in your classroom: This would be a fantastic way to introduce young children to Ada Lovelace and to talk about her importance. It could act as a springboard for further study or, simply as a way to drip-feed a little bit of history and biography in your normal storytime.

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(Thank you to Frances Lincoln Books and Netgalley for my e-ARC)

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While you’re here, why not check out my reviews of Rebel Voices, How To Catch a Witch, Ban this Book and Fawkes?

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Thanks for reading!