Friend of Numbers

The Life of Mathematician

Srinivasa Ramanujan

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

(pub. 10.17.2023)

48 pages

Ages 5-9

Author: Priya Narayanan

and Illustrator: Satwik Gade

Character: Srinivasa Ramanujan

Overview:

" Growing up in southern India during British rule, Srinivasa Ramanujan was fascinated by numbers: they made patterns only he could see. Soon he spent as much time as he could in the world of mathematics, exploring concepts and trying to publish his ideas.

In 1914, twenty-six-year-old Ramanujan sailed to England to work with the acclaimed mathematician G.H. Hardy. Cambridge University was so different from home, but Ramanujan’s love of numbers kept him going. He had big questions to ask—and important discoveries to make!"

Tantalizing taste:

"Like an artist exploring forms and colors or a poet exploring words and images, Ramanujan threw himself into exploring numbers.

Soon he lost interest in all other subjects. Every time he opened his English or history book, numbers sneaked and slunk into the pages.

They made patterns only he could see."

And something more: Priya Narayanan on the last page of FRIEND OF NUMBERS explains that "Ramanujan passed away on April 26 1920, when he was only 32. In that short time, he not only worked with his beloved numbers to make important contributions to mathematics, he also fulfilled his childhood curiosity by calculating the length of the equator to be 40,078 km. Today, it has taken us calculators and computers to know that the length is around 40,075 km!"

Desert Queen

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Levine Querido

(pub. 10.24.2023)

56 pages

Ages 7-14

Author : Jyoti Rajan Gopal

and Illustrator: Svabhu Kohl

Character: Queen Harish/ Harish Kumar

Overview:

" Fueled by an inner fire, young Harish yearns to join the captivating desert dancers, their music pulsing through his veins. But societal constraints paint a narrow path, one that clashes with his vibrant spirit. Through lyrical stanzas and Svabhu Kohli's evocative art, Harish's story unfolds, a tapestry woven with resilience and the transformative power of dance.

From village gatherings to Bollywood stages, Queen Harish twirls her way into hearts, leaving a trail of shattered stereotypes and empowering others to embrace their true selves. This is a celebration of courage, finding your inner queen, and dancing to your own rhythm."

Tantalizing taste:

"And

deep down

he clings

to the spark that was lit,

and he wonders,

can he?

Dare he?

Not softly.

Not quietly.

But for all to see.

For two years,

The dancer lives two lives.

Jeers and insults in the day.

Acclaim and applause at night."

And something more: Jyoti Rajan Gopal, in the Author's Note explains that "Desert Queen was inspired by drag performer Queen Harish, known as the 'Whirling Desert Queen of Rajasthan.' I met her at a concert in Rajasthan, India, in the middle of the Thar Desert, where she performed every year. She mesmerized us with her talent, but I was most struck by the compassion, humor, and love that radiated from her when she spoke. She had every single member of the audience, from the youngest to the oldest, captivated."

Jyoti Rajan Gopal's dedication for the book is "To those who dare. Not softly. Not quietly. Thank you for your inspiration."

The Snow Man

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Beach Lane Books

(SImon & Schuster Children's Publishing)

(pub. 10.3 cvjusdx.2023)

40 pages

Baby to 8 years

Author: Jonah Winter

and Illustrator: Jeanette Winter

Character: Mercedes Sosa

Overview:"When billy barr came to the mountains as a young man, his only companions were a skunk and a pine marten. He needed something to fill the hours. So he began measuring the snow that fell. Day after day, and year after year, he measured.

As he grew older, he noticed something: the snow was disappearing. It arrived later, melted sooner, and there wasn’t as much of it. He shared his records with a local scientist, who shared them with other scientists, until his measurements were used by scientists all over the world studying climate change. Thanks to his curiosity, groundbreaking data was gathered that still helps us today!"

Tantalizing taste:

"He recorded the date

of the first snowfall each winter

and the date in spring

of the first wildflower blossoms.

He noted when animals

came out of hibernation

at the end of winter.

He noted when certain birds

arrived in spring -

such as the broad-tailed hummingbirds

who always arrived just in time

to drink the nectar

of the glacier lily blossoms.

This was his life."

And something more: Jonah Winter in the Author's Note explains that "The Snow Man is a true story about a real person named billy barr ... who grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, but has spent most of his life in the Rocky Mountains, living alone at the bottom of a 12,631-foot mountain in the wilderness of a ghost town called Gothic, eight miles from the nearest town with any people, Creston Butte. He first came to this location in 1972 when he was twenty-one years old, still a college student and only intending to stay for one summer ...

But as the years progressed, he started noticing patterns - signs that the climate up there in the mountains was changing, getting warmer. And what started as a random pastime soon became the focus of his life - and an invaluable resource for scientists studying climate change."