- Sep 21
How S. Chandrasekhar Predicted
the Existence of Black Holes
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Margaret K. McElderry Books
(Simon & Schuster)
pub. 10.14.2025
40 pages
Ages 4 - 8
Author: Shruthi Rao
Illustrator: Srinidhi Srinivasan
Character: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
Overview:
"When scientists get things right, science leaps forward. When they get things wrong, they learn from their mistakes, and science continues to advance. But sometimes, even when scientists get it right, nobody pays attention. Then, for a while, science stands still.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was a brilliant scientist with eyes fixed toward the stars. As a young man, he developed the theory that would eventually lead to the discovery of black holes. But when he presented his findings to the world’s leading Western scientists, they scoffed at his ideas. Chandra knew he was right. But would anyone listen?
Learn the true story of a relentless scientist and his cosmic discovery that had to wait for science to change its mind."
Tantalizing taste:
"For Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, math
wasn't made up of problems, but of solutions.
Sitting by himself among his grandfather's
books in the South Indian city of Madra,
Chandra devoured books on advanced math.
He often biked to the beach to sit under the twinkling stars,
those big balls of gases made of a gazillion atoms swirling around,
gravity squishing those atoms together so hard that they combined
to give out heat and light."
And something more: A Closer Look at the back of the book explains: "Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Chandra, was an Indian-bor American astrophysicist... He was just nineteen when, on the voyage to England, Chandra made his groundbreaking discovery. Einstein's special theory of relativity explains how speed affects mass, time, and space, especially the speed of light. Chandra thought of applying this theory to stars, because particles inside stars travel at speeds close to that of light. That is when his calculations suggested that some dying stars behave differently."
And as Shruthi Rao writes in the final pages of the story:
"This discovery has led to a better understanding
of the universe,
of how it works,
and how it began!
An understanding that came decades late because
the world ignored a brilliant young scientist.
Finally, about fifty years after Chandra first talked about
stars disappearing, he won the Nobel Prize for his work.
More than the recognition, what mattered to him was that,
finally, the world saw the truth.
And once again,
science was leaping forward."
- Sep 4
The True Story of One Woman,
the Declaration of Independence,
and America's Fight for Freedom
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Roaring Brook Press
(MacKids)
pub. 2.18.2025
40 pages
Ages 4 - 8
Author: Karen Blumenthal and
Jen McCartney
Illustrator: Elizabeth Baddeley
Character: Mary Katharine Goddard
Overview:
"Who was Mary Katharine Goddard?
Born in 1738, she was homeschooled by her mother in reading and math. She took over her brother’s printing shop a few years later and became an expert in printing newspapers, essays, and posters.
When the American Revolution started, she published important news that helped the fight against the British – even if it meant that if she was caught, she’d be punished for treason. In 1776, Mary was asked to print the Declaration of Independence – she is the only woman whose name is on the Declaration."
Tantalizing taste:
"She wanted to put her mark on this document [The Declaration of Independence] even if it would be considered treason. She wasn't just M.K. She was Mary.
That was daring.
That was revolutionary.
That was…
M-A-R-Y POUND!*POUND!*POUND!
K-A-T-H-A-R-I-N-E
CRANK, WHOOSH! CRANK, WHOOSH!
G-O-D-D-A-R-D
And something more: Jen McCartney in the Author's Note explains: "When my mom, Karen Blumenthal passed away unexpectedly in 2020, my family and I knew there was so much more work that she'd wanted to share with the world. She had written a draft of this, her first picture book, and was excited about its possibilities. My mom and I had always talked about writing a picture book together, and so I dove into her draft and research to finish the project.
Mary's story explored many topics my mom was passionate about: feminism, defiance in the face of stacked odds, a free press, and characters in history who are so often forgotten. In
working on this book, I was also struck by the mother – daughter relationship between Mary and Sarah.… It was an honor to finish this project and finally get to collaborate with my mom."
How Lillian B. Disney Shaped the Disney Legacy
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Beach Lane Books/A Paula Wiseman Book
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
pub. 6.3.2025
40 pages
Ages 4 - 8
Author: Brittany Richman
Illustrator: Joanie Stone
Character: Lillian B. Disney
Overview:
"As a child, Lilly learned that working behind-the-scenes was its own special talent. When she grew up, her magical sense of adventure led her to the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. She became one of the first women in the animation industry, where she worked as an ink and paint artist and later, as the studio’s first secretary.
After Lilly and Walt fell in love, they got married in 1925, and Lilly continued adding her own magic to Walt’s wild ideas—including encouraging him to keep trying cartoons when the studio was in danger of closing and giving Mickey Mouse his name. Together, they became an unstoppable team. From cartoon ideas to theme park innovations, Lilly helped shape Disney history."
Tantalizing taste:
"Lilly thought about the magic that had shaped her life – in the behind- the- scenes, everyday moments….There was magic found in laughter… in courage … and in love. So there must be magic inside herself, too – a magic that would never fade, as long as she kept believing. And even though her magic was different from Walt's, it was enough.
With Roy's Help, Disney World was completed…
Lilly B. Disney still believed in magic. She promised herself she'd spend the rest of her life behind the scenes, helping others believe in it too. After all, that was just the way she liked it."
And something more: Brittany Richman in the Author's Note explains: "I've been a huge Disney fan since I was a little girl.… In fact, writing this story came about quite unexpectedly on one trip. As we walked down Main Street, we passed the copper Partners statue of Walt Disney holding Mickey Mouse's hand. Something about it caught my eye: Walt's hand had a wedding ring on it. I had never thought about Walt being married. Who was his wife? Surely she had played a role in his success. My research into the life of Lillian Bounds Disney started that very moment."
