(.Burleigh uses first person to introduce young readers to this truly remarkable woman, incorporating meaningful details that provide accessible entry points for young readers, like the fact that Tharp attended 17 different schools because her father’s job required their family to move, and that she loved maps. Graduating from college in 1948, she struggled to gain acceptance as a scientist because she was a woman. Tharp persevered, eventually making the profound observation that no one knew much about the structure of the ocean floor. Was it possible to map it? So began Tharp’s work on a truly ground-breaking project that spanned over 20 years, providing important information that changed how scientists understood not only the ocean floor but our planet’s shifting plates.
One of the many things I admire about this book is the wonderfully clear explanations of Tharp’s work as well as a subtle depiction of how a scientist works: with lots of conversations and debates. The text confirms, “Scientists are like that. They question everything.” All this is delivered in a perfect duet of text and stunning illustrations, done in a gorgeous watery palette, that extend the text. Aside from being simply beautiful, they aptly carry on the conversation with the reader! But let me hand this off to Cindy to tell you more.
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