Awesome Achievers in Science; Awesome Achievers in Technology by Alan Katz, illustrated by Chris Judge

Alan Katz, best-known for his silly rhyming books like Take me out of the bathtub dives into an entirely new genre, nonfiction, but still retains his well-known silly humor.

Both were published simultaneously, in paperback, at the beginning of August. Science includes twelve scientists. Each is covered in a brief chapter on their achievements, influence, and inventions. Additional facts are sprinkled throughout the book, as well as jokes and humorous interjections, mostly at the end of chapters and in separate sections. There are also black and white sketches, mostly of the people included. There is no back matter, only a silly note from the author and a blank page for notes.

The people included in this book are Michael Collins (astronaut), Dr. Henry Heimlich (I believe there is some controversy about the use of the technique, but this was not mentioned), Dr. Patricia Bath (African-American opthalmologist who pioneered a technique for laser surgery on cataracts), George de Mestral (inventor of Velcro), Dr. James Jude (pioneer of CPR techniques), Katherine Blodgett (inventor of anti-glare glass coating, among many other things), Edwin Land who invented the Polaroid, Stephanie Kwolek (inventor of Kevlar), Sally Ride, Dr. Roy J. Plunkett (inventor of Teflon), Dr. Spencer Silver and Arthur Fry (creators of Sticky Notes), and Dr. Hugh Herr (current researcher in bionic prostheses)

Awesome Achievers in Technology focuses on people who invented, improved, or made unique uses of technology. Like the Science volume, it starts with a brief introduction, profiles twelve people in two or three pages each, includes extra facts, jokes, and silly chat from the author after most chapters, and finishes with a humorous note from the author and a blank page for notes.

People included in this book are Nolan Bushnell (co-founder of Atari and early computer games), Adam Cheyer and Dag Kittlaus (creators of SIRI), Nils Bohlin (inventor of the seat belt), Roberta Williams (computer game developer who pioneered graphics and character development), Robert Adler (creator of the tv remote), Mary Anderson (inventor of windshield wipers), Martin Cooper (cell phones), Marie Van Brittan Brown (used existing technology to create personal camera security system), Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson (African-American pioneer in physics and fiber optics), Percy Spencer (microwaves), and Patsy Sherman (Scotchgard).

These brief vignettes don't go into any depth about the characters or their experiences; there's no reflection in the technology book, for example, about the continued issues of sexism and discrimination. Prejudice and historical sexism are mentioned casually, but not dealt with in any in-depth manner. The collection of people is varied with no really strong core holding them together. They also focus on the single, brilliant idea concept rather than the more realistic version where a group of people works together to come up with an invention.

So, these are not the books you'd use for research on the topics. Katz' humor is juvenile and, to an adult, rather annoying. However, these don't purport to be research books or thoroughly cover the subject. They're a nice introduction to some different people, many who are not well-known, and will certainly be new to children.

Verdict: This is the perfect new series to hand to Who Was fans. They whet the appetite with a brief introduction to the topic and kids can go on from there and learn more. A strong addition to biography and science collections, adding browsing materials for younger readers.

Awesome Achievers in Science
ISBN: 9780762463381

Awesome Achievers in Technology
ISBN: 9780762463367

Published August 2019 by Running Press; Galleys provided by publisher; Purchased for the library