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PERSONAL
Married; children: two daughters.
EDUCATION:Princeton University degree; Goddard College, degree; Vermont College of Fine Art, M.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, computer scientist, and educator. Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg Township, NJ, computer-science instructor; former scientific programmer in the pharmaceutical industry. Former owner of a mail-order book company.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
AWARDS:Outstanding Science Trade Book selection, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, California Reading Association (CRA), Amelia Bloomer List selection, American Library Association, and Cook Prize Honor Book selection, all 2017, all for Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine; Best Books for Kids selection, New York Public Library, and Best Informational Books for Young Readers selection, Chicago Public Library, both 2017, and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal, 2018, all for Grace Hopper; NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book selection and Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, both 2019, both for Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
UPDATE SUBMITTED IN SGML FORMAT.
In addition to her work as an educator on the college level, Laurie Wallmark writes books for children that she hopes will inspire an interest in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and math. Wallmark’s picture-book biographies Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, and Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor are designed to encourage girls to consider science and math as they pursue their education. She continues along this path in Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalvski, Queen of Mathematics, sharing the inspiring life story of a talented turn-of-the-twentieth-century Russian scientist who, as a woman, achieved several significant firsts.
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine introduces readers to one of the first women to figure prominently in the evolving field of computer science. Born in England, Lovelace was the daughter of famed Romantic poet Lord Byron, and her mother, Lady Byron, had a deep interest in geometry. Encouraged in both creative and scientific thinking, Lovelace demonstrated an innovative nature even in childhood. After a bout with the measles left her paralyzed and temporarily blinded, she was schooled by her mother, who challenged the girl with math problems of increasing complication. At age seventeen, Lovelace met inventor Charles Babbage, whose “difference engine”—a mechanical calculator—is considered a forerunner of the modern computer. Then at work on a second device, an “analytical engine,” Babbage asked her to create an algorithm—a set of mathematical instructions—to test his device once a prototype was finished Although this “engine” was never completed, Lovelace’s accomplishments earned her recognition: her role as the first computer programmer secured her a permanent place in the history of computer technology.
Praising the illustrations contributed by April Chu, Angela Leeper recommended Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine in Booklist, calling it a “beautiful tribute to this female computer pioneer.” A Publishers Weekly contributor described Wallmark’s picture-book biography as both “inspiring and informative, and in Kirkus Reviews a critic recommended the work as a “splendidly inspiring introduction to an unjustly overlooked woman.”
Illustrated by Katy Wu, Grace Hopper shares the life story of a twentieth-century pioneer in computer programming and computer science. Hopper grew up in a family that encouraged the study of math and science, and she pursued these interests throughout her life. Serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, she spent her career there, working on computers and computer programs before retiring in 1986 with the rank of admiral. Among Hopper’s accomplishments was programming the first compiler, which converted word-based instructions into machine language. Her compiler unleashed the new technology, allowing computer languages to become increasingly complex while also maintaining an efficient use of computer power. Hopper was also the first person to use the term “bug” in reference to a computer program; it is reported that, while diagnosing a hardware malfunction, she literally discovered that a bug—a moth—was the cause.
Reviewing Grace Hopper, a Kirkus Reviews writer cited the book’s “straightforward, accessible language” and noted that “Wallmark’s tone is admiring, even awestruck,” when “describing Hopper’s skill, inventiveness, and strength of character.” Readers “will appreciate this upbeat biography of a woman who was ahead of her time,” concluded Linda L. Walkins in an equally laudatory appraisal of the biography for School Library Journal.
Hedy Lamarr’s stunning beauty cemented her fame as a Hollywood actress, but her film career actually began in Germany and spanned the 1930s and ‘40s. Only her close friends were aware of her sprightly intellect, among them eccentric aviator and millionaire Howard Hughes and musician George Antheil, both of whom figure in Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life. Lamarr’s inquisitive nature found its outlet in a range of areas, from how to make drinks fizz to designing more efficient aircraft. However, her worries during World War II inspired perhaps her most important invention. Brainstorming with Antheil, she devised a technique whereby Allied radio-controlled torpedoes could avoid being tracked and sent off course by the enemy. Called frequency hopping, this technique was adopted by the U.S. military during the late 1950s and also inspired the twenty-first-century technologies used in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Paired with what Elissa Gershowitz described in Horn Book as “approachable digital illustrations,” Wallmark’s “peppy text” in Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life is studded with “well-chosen quotes” that make its glamorous subject come to life for young readers. “The process of invention and inspiration are explained in a succinct and inspiring way,” noted a Kirkus Reviews writer, and the inclusion of a comprehensive backmatter will aid readers inspired to learn more about “the technological principles under discussion.”
“I think it’s important to write about our passions, and I love STEM,” Wallmark remarked in an online interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith on Cynsations. “I’m also passionate about making sure that all children, regardless of race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, etc., realize that they can become scientists and mathematicians.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2015, Angela Leeper, review of Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, p. 44; April 15, 2017, Carolyn Phelan, review of Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, p. 44.
Children’s Bookwatch, January, 2016, review of Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine.
Horn Book, January-February, 2019, Elissa Gershowitz, review of Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life, p. 121.
Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2015, review of Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine; March 1, 2017, review of Grace Hopper; December 1, 2018, review of Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor; January 1, 2020, review of Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalvski, Queen of Mathematics.
Publishers Weekly, December 2, 2015, review of Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, p. 43.
School Library Journal, December, 2015, Myra Zarnowski, review of Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, p. 140; May, 2017, Linda L. Walkins, review of Grace Hopper, p. 119.
ONLINE
Children’s Book Review, http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/ (May 16, 2017), Bianca Schulze, author interview.
Cynsations, http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/ (May 3, 2017), Gayleen Rabakukk, author interview.
Laurie Wallmark website, http://www.lauriewallmark.com (March 30, 2020).*
My full-time job is writing for children, and I love it. Some previous jobs I've held are software engineer, owner of a mail order company (I had a bookstore on the Web before Amazon did!), and computer science professor.
My books have earned multiple starred trade reviews, been chosen as Junior Library Guild Selections, and received awards such as Outstanding Science Trade Book, Best STEM Book, Cook Prize Honor Book, Mathical Honor Book, AAAS/Subaru Prize Longlist, and Parents' Choice Gold Medal.
My debut fiction picture book is DINO PAJAMA PARTY (Running Press Kids). I have five picture book biographies of #WomenInSTEM: CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER (Abrams, 2021); NUMBERS IN MOTION (Creston Books); HEDY LAMARR'S DOUBLE LIFE (Sterling Children's Books, 2019); GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE (Sterling Children's Books, 2017); and ADA BYRON LOVELACE AND THE THINKING MACHINE (Creston Books, 2015). Learn more about my book by clicking on the "Books" tab.
I speak at many educator conferences such as NCTE, NSTA, TLA, ISTE, NJASL and have been a keynote speaker at the Kutztown University Children's Literature Conference and the NJ SCBWI annual conference. I enjoy doing school visits and sharing my love of reading and STEM with children. Learn more by clicking on the "Speaking" and "Visits" tabs.
I have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and am co-chair of the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature. I live in Ringoes NJ with my husband. My two grown daughters (software engineers!) live in the Boston area.
I am represented by Liza Fleissig and Ginger Harris-Dontzin of the Liza Royce Agency. You can find me online at www.lauriewallmark.com and @lauriewallmark.
Laurie Wallmark, an award-winning author, has been teaching for many years and enjoys sharing her knowledge of both STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and writing with children. She offers several hands-on, interactive workshops that can be tailored to any age or size group. If you are looking for information about her adult programs, click here. Download your author visit brochure here.
Laurie can adapt any of the below workshops for virtual visits.
STUDENT WORKSHOPS
REVISION (grades 2 and up)
Many students don't realize the many times a manuscript is revised before publication. After Laurie shows pictures of her own manuscript pages covered with editorial notes, students will realize that having to revise doesn't mean you did it wrong before. These before and after examples show students the importance of revision in everyone's writing. Then she'll share the methods she uses when editing her own work.
This hands-on writing workshop will give students some revision tools to add to their writing toolbox.
"I still think about the questions you asked."--fourth grade student
BEING A WRITER (grades K and up)
What does it take to become a professional writer? In this presentation, Laurie talks about the many possible paths to becoming a writer, emphasizing that there is no one correct way. She then shares the non-traditional steps she took on her own writing journey.
Through the give and take of this workshop, students will come to understand both the work, and more importantly the fun, involved in being a writer.
"I am certain that many young minds now feel empowered to become writers or scientists."--elementary school librarian
FUN WITH MATH AND TECHNOLOGY (grades K and up)
Children can't wait to participate in Laurie's interactive math- and technology-related activities. Here are a just a few of the many hands-on activities your students may have the chance to experience in this exciting workshop:
Moving like robots (programming)
Guessing a number (binary arithmetic)
Sorting themselves into numerical order (algorithms)
Calculating distances (units of measure)
Finding room where there is none (infinity)
Making one-sided paper loops (topology)
After taking part in this lively workshop, your students (and you!) will be eager to learn more about math and technology.
"She did a wonderful job engaging the students and is clearly passionate about her content."--library media specialist
WOMEN IN COMPUTING (grades 3 and up)
Coding and computers aren't just for boys! In this workshop, Laurie will talk about the achievements and lives of several women computer pioneers, including Ada Byron Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and Hedy Lamarr. Then she'll share her own journey as a computer scientist. Laurie will explain why in today's technological world, everyone needs to be computer literate. Most importantly, through her enthusiasm and love of computers, she'll show your students how fun coding can be.
After attending Laurie's workshop, your students will be eager to try their hands at coding activities, both in school and at home.
"Laurie's visit and presentation were the talk of the 5th grade for weeks, leaving the students with a curiosity to pursue a deeper understanding of coding."--program coordinator
WRITING BIOGRAPHIES (grades 3 and up)
A common school assignment is to write a biography. Your students need to make two decisions before beginning. First, whom should they write about? There are so many choices. How do they narrow it down to just one person? Then, after knowing the subject, your students have to find a focus for the biography. A cradle-to-grave biography is traditional, but there are other options. Finally, they need to decide on the form of their biography.
The tips and suggestions in this workshop will give your students the tools they need to write a biography they will be proud of.
"I like how you were inspired to write about female change makers."--seventh grade student
STORY ORIGINS (grades 3 and up)
Just like superheroes, all books have an origin story. How do authors come up with ideas for their stories? What makes them choose one topic over another? How do they decide the type of book to write--fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, picture book or novel? Using her own writing journey as an example, Laurie will guide your students in finding a story to tell.
This highly-interactive workshop will leave your students eager to write about their own story ideas.
"You are the coolest author of all time!"--fourth grade student
BEGINNER'S CODING WORKSHOP (grades K and up)
In our increasingly technological world, it's important that all children have the opportunity to learn computer science. This workshop introduces students to the logical thinking and basic programming concepts needed to understand computers. Using Blockly, an easy-to-learn graphical system, students will soon be running simple computer programs that they've written themselves.
As students progress through these fun programming challenges, they'll gain confidence in their ability to work with computers.
BOOK YOUR AUTHOR VISIT NOW!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FREE VIRTUAL VISITS
Here's a chance for your students to meet an author at no cost to the school. Laurie can visit with your class via Skype for a FREE 15-minute visit. (limit one per school). All she asks is that you buy a copy (or more than one copy!) of her books for your school library and read them to your students before the visit. Laurie will answer students' questions about writing, her books, and/or herself.
BOOKS
Laurie would be delighted to autograph books for your students. Books can be ordered before her visit through your local bookstore.
BOOKMARKS
Click here for autographed bookmarks to copy and distribute to your students.
FEES
Click here for school visit fees.
Laurie Wallmark, an award-winning author, has been teaching for many years and enjoys sharing her knowledge of both STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and writing. Click here for a one-sheet about Laurie's presentations. If you are looking for information about her children's workshops, click here.
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
MANY INTERESTS, MANY CAREERS
Many people assume the profession they enter after leaving college is the one they will pursue the rest of their life. That does not have to be case. Using her own life story as an example, Laurie will discuss the benefits and challenges of transitioning to a new career(s), either while actively working or after retirement.
THE WRITERS JOURNEY
What does it take to become a professional writer? In this presentation, Laurie talks about the many possible paths to becoming a writer. She shares the non-traditional steps she took on her own writing journey. Attendees will come to understand both the work, and more importantly the fun, involved in being a writer.
WOMEN IN COMPUTING
In this presentation, Laurie talks about the lives and achievements of several women computer pioneers, including Ada Byron Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and Hedy Lamarr. She'll also share her own journey to becoming a computer scientist. Attendees will learn the vital, but mostly forgotten, role woman have played in the history of computing.
ENCOURAGING CHILDREN’S INTEREST IN STEM
How do we encourage children, especially girls and those from underrepresented minorities, to consider a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)? Some children believe this is not an option, since they may have heard the opposite from parents, teachers, peers, and/or the society as a whole? We can change this mindset.
BEGINNER'S CODING WORKSHOP
Are your children or grandchildren learning to code at school? Now it's your turn. This workshop introduces attendees to the logical thinking and basic programming concepts needed to understand coding. Using Blockly, an easy-to-learn graphical system, attendees will soon be running simple computer programs that they've written themselves.
FOR TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS
PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHIES: HELPING YOUR STUDENTS FIND A SUBJECT AND FOCUS
There are many questions your students must consider in choosing a subject for a biography, including the availability of research material. After that, they still need to decide what aspect(s) of that person’s life to highlight. This workshop will help you show your students how to write a biography they will be proud of.
USING BOOKS TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN’S INTEREST IN STEM
In our increasingly technological world, it is important for children to be familiar with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Barriers to learning about these subjects include: inadequate access and exposure; prejudicial expectations; and lack of interest. STEM-related books, both fiction and nonfiction, can help children overcome all these obstacles.
FOR WRITERS
PICTURE BOOKS 101
Picture books are not just books with a lesser word count. The text needs to work in concert with the illustrations to create a story children will want to read over and over again. Since these books are meant to be read aloud, each word, each phrae, each sentence must have a rhythm that propels the story forward. Learn what you need to know to write that perfect picture book.
NITTY GRITTY MARKETING FOR WRITERS
Marketing takes more time, energy, and money than you could ever imagine. In this talk we’ll get down to the basics of marketing your book— author events, blog tours, swag, trailers, websites, and much more. We’ll discuss what works and what doesn’t. Whether you’re pre-published, launching your debut book, or just need to up your marketing game, learn from my mistakes and successfully market your book.
PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY: FINDING YOUR SUBJECT AND FOCUS
The first step in writing a picture book biography is to choose your subject. Sounds simple, right? Not so fast. There are many questions to consider: should that person be famous or a relative unknown; contemporary or historical; be of wide-spread or niche interest; etc.? Now it’s time to choose what aspect(s) of that person’s life to highlight. Again, there are many questions to consider. Finding a focus for your book can be one of the most difficult parts of writing a biography. This workshop will help you with the many decisions you need to make before writing the first word of your picture book biography.
In Conversation: Sandra Nickel and Laurie Wallmark
Mar 08, 2021
Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics. Her fifth book in the series, Code Breaker, Spy Hunter, about cryptanalyst Elizebeth Friedman, is out this month from Abrams. Sandra Nickel’s debut picture book, Nacho's Nachos: The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack, published in August 2020. Her first Women in STEM picture book biography released this month, The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe. In honor of Women’s History Month, we asked Nickel and Wallmark to interview each other about why they’re drawn to telling the stories of remarkable women, how they find their subjects, and the most interesting facts they’ve discovered in their research.
Sandra Nickel: You’re known as the queen of picture book biographies about women in STEM. You’ve written about code makers and code breakers, mathematicians, and women who led double lives. Did you know you wanted to take on this theme from the beginning? Or did it happen book by book?
Laurie Wallmark: I’ve always loved math and science, and I knew I wanted to share this love with children through my writing. Did I know I would have five published picture book biographies of women in STEM, another one coming out next year, and more on the way? Absolutely not. I feel fortunate I’ve had the opportunity to tell the stories of the many unsung women scientists and mathematicians. I keep an ever-growing, ever-changing list of possible subjects for future biographies. In fact, since I’m known for writing about dead women in STEM, after Vera Rubin died, many friends sent me a copy of her obituary.
Sandra, how did you discover Vera?
Nickel: Exactly like that. The New York Times put out a beautiful eulogy to Vera the day after she died. Kate Hosford, a fellow alum of ours from Vermont College of Fine Arts, told me about it. When I read the article, I was immediately captivated by Vera. I was also heartbroken. She showed what no other scientist had been able to prove—that dark matter makes up 80% of the universe. Yet, she was passed over for the Nobel Prize in Physics, as it was given to man after man, and never a woman. Forty years of being passed over! It was so immensely unjust that I started researching Vera’s story that very day. I couldn’t make up for the missed Nobel, but I could write a story that kids all over America might read.
Your heroine from Code Breaker, Spy Hunter—Elizebeth Friedman—also went unrecognized, didn’t she?
Wallmark: Yes, but for a different reason at first. Her work was classified Top Secret. When it was finally declassified, people still didn’t appreciate her contributions. Her husband, on the other hand, who was also a cryptanalyst, became well-known. I wanted to make sure Elizebeth got the recognition she so rightly deserved. As a computer scientist, I know even today, women in STEM do not always receive the proper credit for their achievements.
Are you also a scientist?
Nickel: Who was it that said, “Science is curiosity?” Sally Ride, I think. In that sense, yes, I’m a scientist! I’m curious about almost everything. But in the way that I think you mean it, no. Although I do have a Bachelor of Science, but in the social sciences.
Wallmark: Even though I have degrees in biochemistry and information systems, I’ve now also written about astronomers and physicists, inventors and mathematicians. No matter the field, I have to do the research to make sure I get all the details absolutely correct. We don’t want kids to be led astray. Once I have the facts, I need to explain them in a way kids can understand.
Do you have trouble doing the research?
Nickel: Since I love learning, I love research. I’m definitely a believer that no topic is too complicated for kids. You just have to find the right way to tell it. And for me to tell it, I have to learn it first.
Wallmark: Agreed. I actually wrote my MFA graduate thesis at VCFA on how to explain scientific facts and concepts in picture books. I knew I ran the risk that what might seem easy or obvious to me, wasn’t to children and non-scientists. I wanted to make sure any kid could understand what I was saying. And speaking of any kid, just because our books are about women scientists, that doesn’t make them “girl” books. Both boys and girls need to appreciate that, yes, women can be scientists.
Nickel: Absolutely. All children—parents and librarians and teachers, too—are going to be fascinated by Elizebeth Friedman.
Wallmark: As they will about Vera. One of the most interesting things about Elizebeth’s story is, unlike most other people who grow up to be scientists, she wasn’t interested in math and science as a kid. She loved books and languages, and she majored in English in college. She’s a great example for kids who might feel a little less confident about their math or science abilities. But when an opportunity arose, Elizebeth took it, and set out on a new path.
Nickel: Vera also forged her own path. Other astronomers were racing against each other so they could be the first to pull ahead of the pack with new theories and observations in other areas of astronomy. Vera couldn’t join in that race because she was dedicating time to her children. Instead, she chose to look at questions no one else was looking at. By doing this, she made immense discoveries relating to dark matter. I love that both of our stories plant seeds in kids’ minds that their paths can take twists and turns that differ from everyone else’s.
How did you discover Elizebeth’s path, since her work was hidden for so long?
Wallmark: A book about her, The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies by Jason Fagone, came out in 2017. After reading it, I knew I had to learn more about this amazing woman. Luckily for me, her papers are archived at the Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Va. Even more luckily, one of their amazing librarians, Melissa Davis, was able to help me with my research. (Thank you, librarians everywhere!)
How did you check your research?
Nickel: Once I finished the manuscript for The Stuff Between the Stars, I contacted Dr. Megan Donahue, the president of the American Astronomical Society, and asked if she could read it and make sure I got things right. She generously did, and then the story went off to [illustrator] Aimée Sicuro to do her magic and create the wonderful illustrations.
Wallmark: I love how throughout the book Aimée manages to keep that look of curiosity on Vera’s face, whether as a child or an adult. Her curiosity is what drove her science, and that comes through so clearly in the illustrations.
Nickel: One of the many things I love about Brooke Smart’s illustrations for Code Breaker, Spy Hunter is how she weaved ribbons of code through several of the pages.
Wallmark: I’m so happy we were able to do that. Originally, the ribbons had random letters on them. I suggested they contain coded messages, which I then provided. Brooke then had the incredibly difficult task of hand-lettering them. After that, it was back to me to check all those “random” letters. I checked and double-checked, because I’m so afraid a 10-year-old reader will find a mistake I made. I know in your book, Aimée also had to interweave information, such as Vera’s graphs and equations, into her illustrations.
Nickel: And she did it in a beautiful, dreamy way that welcomes readers in. Do you ever worry that kids might be frightened off by the math and science in your stories?
Wallmark: That’s one of the reasons I write about women in STEM—so kids can see that scientists and mathematicians are regular people just like they are. By making the facts and concepts accessible to children, it makes them less scary. When I do presentations about encouraging children’s interest in STEM, I mention that sometimes children are afraid, whether because they think it’s too hard or they’re afraid of failing. I think when STEM is presented in an inviting way, many children will embrace it.
Nickel: I couldn't agree more. It’s one of the reasons picture books are such fantastic vehicles for talking about STEM. The combination of illustrations and inviting text goes a long way in demystifying things. The biographies also show the excitement the protagonists have for their fields. And as we all know, excitement is infectious.
So, Queen of Women in STEM biographies, do you have another picture book in the works?
Wallmark: Indeed, I do. I have a picture book biography coming out in fall 2022 about the astronomer Maria Mitchell. She was the first American to discover a comet, one of the first paid astronomers in the United States, and the first female astronomy professor. In addition, she worked to convince others of the need for women in the sciences.
How about you? Do you have another book on the way?
Nickel: I do—Breaking Through the Clouds. It’s about Joanne Simpson, the first female meteorologist in the world. In the 1940s and ’50s, meteorology was a real boys club. One professor at the University of Chicago even told Joanne, “No woman ever got a doctorate in meteorology. And no woman ever will.” The male meteorologists also ridiculed Joanne for being interested in clouds, which they thought didn’t affect weather in any real way. Well, Joanne was stubborn, and she proved them all wrong. She not only earned her doctorate in meteorology, her work with clouds sparked an entire branch of science. Like Vera Rubin, Joanne was also a huge supporter of other women. A young female meteorologist, who flourished in the wake of Joanne and her work, said Joanne Simpson didn’t simply blaze a trail for women, “she blazed a road.” Just think of all those female meteorologists we see on TV now. Isn’t that fabulous?!
Wallmark: Absolutely! Diverse scientists bring diverse ideas, which leads to greater scientific progress.
Nickel: Yet another reason to celebrate Women’s History Month. Here’s to all the incredible women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics!
Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark, illus. by Brooke Smart. Abrams, $18.99 Mar. ISBN 978-1-4197-3963-7
The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe by Sandra Nickel, illus. by Aimée Sicuro. Abrams, $18.99 Mar. ISBN 978-1-4197-3626-1
Laurie Wallmark
Writer
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2021Code Breaker, Spy Hunter (Video short)
Author Interview: Laurie Wallmark
ON MARCH 8, 2021 BY ONLY PICTURE BOOKSIN AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
This month’s author interview is with award-winning children’s book author, Laurie Wallmark, who writes wonderful picture books and regularly presents at conferences. She also offers webinars on kidlit writing, too, like the one I attended last week from her at The Writing Barn!
Here are five more things you should know about Laurie. She:
has two grown daughters (both software engineers!)
co-chairs the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature
taught computer science to students incarcerated in maximum security prisons
has had four separate careers–software engineer, owner of a mail-order company selling books about adoption and infertility, computer science professor, children’s book author
had a bookstore on the web before Amazon did
Now that we’ve got a much clearer sense of the background basics, let’s get to the actual interview and find out more about Laurie’s secret to PB success.
Website
Blog
RVC: So, we know each other through Jane Yolen’s Picture Book Boot Camp. How did you get involved with that?
LW: As soon as I saw the announcement that Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple were holding a picture book boot camp, I was immediately interested. After speaking with a friend who had attended before, I knew I had to apply.
RVC: What has Jane’s support and guidance meant to you?
LW: The kidlit author community has always been a warm and supportive community. But to have someone with as much experience in the field as Jane in my corner means the world to me. Whether it’s sharing publishing business information or giving a “you can do it” just when you need it, I know I can count on Jane.
RVC: How’d you get started in writing children’s books? Since you had a career in software engineering and computer science, I’m guessing the writing bug came later.
LW: The writing bug came significantly later. As a child, the only creative writing I did was a few poems and some songs. About 20 years ago, I had an idea for a middle-grade novel, so I read many craft books and took writing workshops. That book didn’t sell, so I figured I wasn’t a writer. Five years later, I had another idea for a middle-grade novel. This one did sell, but the publishing company went out of business. But by this time, I was hooked. Later, I took one more writing break when it felt like I was also so close to getting published, but never quite getting across the finishing line.
Luckily, I couldn’t stay away from writing.
RVC: Why did you choose to earn an MFA in Writing?
LW: After that second break, I decided I needed to concentrate on improving my craft rather than think about getting published. An MFA would help me to do just that.
RVC: What are some of the specific ways the MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts helped prepare you for success as a picture book writer?
LW: My first semester at VCFA, I took a picture book intensive. Having to write so many different types of picture books in so little time forced me to figure out how to get to the heart of the story and write it.
RVC: Unlike some writers who try their hand at everything, you’re laser focused—you write picture book biographies about women in STEM areas. Why is that your calling?
LW: I write about women in STEM because I love science and math, and I want to make sure that all children realize that anyone can join the field. But, I also have a fiction picture book, Dino Pajama Party, coming out in October from Running Press Kids. What’s funny is that because of my reputation, people ask me if it’s nonfiction.
RVC: Here’s hoping the cover helps clue them in!
Now, your first book was Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine (Creston Books 2015). What’s the story of how that came about?
LW: I’ve always loved math, and I wanted to share that love with kids. Since I’m a computer scientist, and Ada is a mathematician and the world’s first computer programmer, she seemed like the perfect subject for a biography.
RVC: Let’s talk about the process of writing your books. How do you get your ideas? Do you start with a subject, a person, or something else?
LW: For my women in STEM books, I keep a running list of people I might want to write about. When the time comes, I review that list and any notes I’ve already made, like the availability of source material.
For my fiction, I also keep a running list, but in this case it might be an idea, a title, a phrase, or a character. Again, periodically I review the list to see if any would make a good picture book.
RVC: How much research do you do before actually writing?
LW: I do almost all my research before I start writing. Invariably I come across discrepancies in the information, and that’s when you need to dig deeper. That’s where archive librarians are really helpful. As a simple example, in my new book, Code Breaker, Spy Hunter, the illustrator wanted to draw a picture of Elizebeth Friedman with her grandchildren. I knew she had had six, but what were their sexes and relative ages? Librarians to the rescue.
RVC: That book’s coming out this month. Congrats on that! How’d you get hooked on her story?
LW: What’s fascinating to me about Elizebeth is that she wasn’t interested in math or science as a kid. She loved languages and majored in English. Yet she went on to be one of America’s most important cryptologists, helping to capture Nazi spies and rum runners. She also created the CIA’s first cryptology department.
RVC: She sounds positively awesome. I look forward to reading the book.
But part of the challenge with writing picture book biographies is making them interesting. What are some of the strategies you use to make that happen?
LW: I think if the author has a passion for what the subject’s field, it comes through in the writing. In my case, I love science and math, as you may have figured out by now!
RVC: Back matter. How do you know if you should use it? And if so, what and how much?
LW: You need to have, at the very least, a timeline of the person’s life and selected resources. Teachers and librarians appreciate the back matter, so it’s worthwhile for authors to include more. My back matter usually includes a more detailed explanation of the scientific or mathematical principles in the book. But in addition, I’ve included more unusual back matter such as transliterating from the Cyrillic alphabet and the subject’s various nicknames.
RVC: If someone’s already covered the person you want to write about, should authors just move on? I’m thinking about the situation with your book Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life and Jan Wahl’s Hedy & her Amazing Invention.
LW: A better example is Ada Lovelace. After my book came out, three more picture books about her also came out within a year.
I’d say if you know ahead of time, you should consider writing about another person. But if the subject is important to you, go for it. Clearly we need more than one book about any specific person.
RVC: Part of what sells books is giving a great author visit to libraries and schools. What kind of activities does the Friedman story lend itself to when you’re promoting that new book?
LW: This one’s easy, because the kids can have fun learning how to code and decode messages. Maybe I can find a Dick Tracy magic decoder ring.
RVC: I’ll take one, if you have those!
One last question for this part of the interview. Cuts happen, and good things sometimes don’t make it into the pages—it’s a fact of publishing. So, what didn’t make it into Code Breaker, Spy Hunter?
LW: Elizebeth worked on so many cases that it was hard to decide which ones to leave out. Even though I had 48 pages, which is a lot for a picture book, I could only include her most famous ones. For example, she was once called in to settle a dispute between two countries by showing a sailing vessel flying a Canadian flag was actually a US ship.
RVC: Alright, Laurie—it’s time for the LIGHTNING ROUND! Zippy questions, zappy answers, please. Are you ready?
LW: Go for it.
RVC: What’s your biggest time waster?
LW: Reading.
RVC: Favorite literary villain?
LW: Professor Moriarty.
RVC: Which of the STEM women you’ve written about would you most like to hang out with?
LW: Elizebeth Friedman. We could talk about both math (cryptology) and literature.
RVC: Five words that describe your writing process.
LW: Slow. Slow. Slow. Slow. Lightning-speed.
RVC: What’s a recent women-in-STEM biography that really got your attention?
LW: Teresa Robeson’s Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiun Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom.
RVC: What’s the best book compliment a kid every gave you?
LW: One of my school visit presentations is about women in computing. During a Q&A, one student said, “Ms. Wallmark, you should write a book about you.”
RVC: Thanks so much, Laurie! Best of luck with Code Breaker, Spy Hunter, too!
Wallmark, Laurie: NUMBERS IN MOTION
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Date: Jan. 1, 2020
From: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher: Kirkus Media LLC
Document Type: Book review; Brief article; Children's review
Length: 232 words
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Wallmark, Laurie NUMBERS IN MOTION Creston (Children's Informational) $18.99 3, 3 ISBN: 978-1-939547-63-7
The first woman to receive a doctorate in mathematics gets her due.
This engrossing portrait of Sophie Kowalevski (1850-1891) traces her struggles and eventual success despite assumptions about women made in her native Russia and the various countries in which she obtained an education. Though the pale, relatively small type may be a trifle difficult for young (or older) eyes to decipher, all else works quite well here. Distinctive, stylized illustrations portray Sophie's world in exaggerated proportions using unusual points of view. They are dotted with mathematical formulae while concise, accessible text tells Sophie's story, emphasizing how men's perceptions of women were ever present obstacles. Her fascination with math and her development as a mathematician pervade the text. In her childhood, she lived in a room wallpapered in math problems and explored physics by herself, much to the surprise of others. As a young adult she made a marriage of convenience that allowed her to travel from Russia to Germany, where she studied--but, as a woman, was only allowed to audit classes initially. The story continues, depicting her trials and failures as a mathematician, her struggles to be recognized in all-male academic settings, and her many achievements and awards. Informative endnotes round out this intriguing selection.
An inspiring choice for budding feminists, explorers, historians, and scientists. (Picture book/biography. 7-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Wallmark, Laurie: NUMBERS IN MOTION." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A609999120/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8ddfca4d. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
WALLMARK, Laurie. Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars.
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Author: Steven Sngelfried
Date: Mar. 2021
From: School Library Journal(Vol. 67, Issue 3)
Publisher: Library Journals, LLC
Document Type: Book review; Children's review; Brief article
Length: 320 words
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WALLMARK, Laurie. Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars. illus. by Brooke Smart. 48p. Abrams. Mar. 2021. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781419739637.
Gr 2-4--This picture book biography introduces Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892-1980), a pioneering white American code breaker who helped establish and develop the science of cryptology. After beginning with one case that resulted in the conviction of 33 German spies, the main narrative traces her life chronologically. Friedman's love of poetry and language sparked an early interest in code-making exercises. This eventually led to her pioneering accomplishments in the relatively new science of cryptology. During World War I, Friedman and her husband William "set up the country's first code-breaking unit." Brief descriptions of specific cases provide insight into the challenges and importance of her work, which included aiding the Coast Guard to prosecute bootleggers, key cases in both world wars, and the establishment of the first cryptography department for the Office of Strategic Services. Numerous quotes from Friedman add context and a more personal connection. Her life as a mother and author was regularly interrupted by government requests for her unusual skills. Watercolor and gouache drawings depict a rich visual background to Friedman's life and career, including glimpses of her family and more dramatic scenes of trials and criminals. There's just enough information about how codes work to inform readers without overwhelming them. Some of the illustrations show basic examples of code-breaking; the text also introduces simple concepts. Back matter describes basic code types and offers a "Crack the Code" challenge. VERDICT An engaging introduction to a unique woman in a fascinating field.--Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville P.L., OR
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | lib. ed. Publisher's library binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | e eBook original | BL Bilingual | POP Popular Picks
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Sngelfried, Steven. "WALLMARK, Laurie. Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 3, Mar. 2021, p. 116. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A654790407/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4d28e679. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
WALLMARK, Laurie. Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics
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Author: Kelly Jahng
Date: Feb. 2020
From: School Library Journal(Vol. 66, Issue 2)
Publisher: Library Journals, LLC
Document Type: Book review; Brief article; Children's review
Length: 228 words
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WALLMARK, Laurie. Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics, illus. by Yevgenia Nayberg. 32p. Creston. Mar. 2020. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781939547637.
Gr 3-6--Wallmark's picture book biography profiles Russian mathematician Sophie Kowalevski (1850-1891). Born at a time when many universities would not accept women as students, she became the first woman to earn a doctorate for original research in mathematics. She later became a professor and earned the prestigious Bordin prize. Her perseverance and thirst for knowledge is stressed throughout the narrative. Kowalevski displayed a precocious childhood fascination with math, which followed her into adulthood. She was determined to learn advanced mathematics even when denied credit for her work, and she took on the challenge of the "spinning top problem," which took many years to solve. The watercolor and collage-style illustrations, rendered in shades of green and gold, feature handwritten equations and pages of mathematical text. The expressive faces and gestures convey the many emotional aspects of Kowalevski's journey. While the book is beautifully designed overall, the small and densely set typeface will likely make it less accessible to children. Despite this flaw, the book deserves a place on shelves as it highlights the story of a pioneering woman in the STEM fields. VERDICT A celebration of perseverance in the face of adversity and a strong addition to all youth biography collections.--Kelly Jahng, South Park Elementary School, IL
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Jahng, Kelly. "WALLMARK, Laurie. Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 2, Feb. 2020, pp. 89+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A613048888/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=628e0d98. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
Wallmark, Laurie: DINO PAJAMA PARTY.
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Date: Sept. 1, 2021
From: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher: Kirkus Media LLC
Document Type: Book review; Children's review; Brief article
Length: 232 words
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Wallmark, Laurie DINO PAJAMA PARTY Running Press Kids (Children's None) $17.99 10, 5 ISBN: 978-0-7624-9775-1
In a rollicking romp, dinosaurs in pajamas and onesies gather to get down, then lie down.
"Dinos roar, and dinos shriek. / Dinos boom, and dinos squeak. // Dinos singing extra loud / rush to join the dino crowd." In cadences reminiscent of Paul and Henrietta Stickland's classic (and sadly out-of-print) Dinosaur Roar! (1994), dinos of diverse species march into a park to swing and shake to the "rocking sound" of a prehistoric dance band until the sun goes down, and all trail off to snoozeland: "Snug in bed, / they dance no more. // Fast asleep, / the dinos snore." The light may dim, but the intensity of Robertson's palette doesn't as he depicts in loud hues stampedes of hustling herbivores and cavorting carnivores rushing along a small-town street, boogeying to the beat, gradually winding down, and ending up snuggled beneath cozy coverlets in a dino-dormitory. Even by the end the energy level may be a bit on the high side for an effective bedtime read-aloud, but it'll serve as a welcome alternative after the quadrillionth reading of Sandra Boynton's Dinosaur Dance! (2016) or as a quick charmer in a dinosaur- or dance-party-themed daylight storytime. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Who wouldn't gladly boogie down to bed with, say, a toothy T. rex? (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Wallmark, Laurie: DINO PAJAMA PARTY." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A673649995/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=29bb76f1. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
Picture books portray cakes, fetes, and festive particularities.
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Date: Aug. 16, 2021
From: Publishers Weekly(Vol. 268, Issue 33)
Publisher: PWxyz, LLC
Document Type: Book review; Children's review
Length: 1,531 words
Dino Pajama Party: A Bedtime Book
Laurie Wallmark, illus. by Michael Robertson. Running Press Kids, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7624-9775-1
"Dinos rock and dinos roll./ Dinos stomp, and dinos stroll," Wallmark begins in this infectious picture book. "All the dinos on the street/ boogie to that funky beat," reads the next spread, and the narrative continues in couplets that match tempo as the dinosaurs dance around town, sing in onomatopoeia, form a band, and play instruments, until the party winds down as exhaustion overtakes them and they all trudge to their apparently communal home: a long hall packed with two parallel rows of beds. A variety of expressive, animationstyle dinosaurs, boldly colored and dressed in multipatterned pajamas--onesies and long-sleeves, nightcaps and slippers--groove on each page, with an inviting array of warm digital textures by Robettson adding depth to each spread. Short, bouncy rhymes and energetic art will make this celebratory, familiar book a bedtime readaloud staple tor dancers and dino-lovers both. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
"Picture books portray cakes, fetes, and festive particularities." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 33, 16 Aug. 2021, pp. 84+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A673346459/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d262dc6d. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
Wallmark, Laurie: CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER
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Date: Jan. 1, 2021
From: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher: Kirkus Media LLC
Document Type: Book review; Brief article; Children's review
Length: 276 words
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Wallmark, Laurie CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER Abrams (Children's None) $18.99 3, 2 ISBN: 978-1-4197-3963-7
From Shakespeare to secrets and spies.
When Elizebeth Smith Friedman graduated college in 1915 with a degree in English literature, she had no idea that the future held secret government work in store—she was initially hired by a wealthy eccentric to find messages in Shakespeare’s plays to reveal his “true” identity. Eventually, her talent with language and analysis led to her selection, with her husband, to set up the first code-breaking unit in the U.S. Over her career she unraveled thousands of secret messages, working for the military through two world wars, preventing countless deaths, catching smugglers and spies, and training others to do all of the above. Her work was classified Top Secret Ultra. Concise description with interesting details combines with evocative illustrations that frequently incorporate Friedman’s own words to portray the life of this extraordinary White woman. With the exception of a single quote worked into the illustrations—“Many times I’ve been asked as to how my direction, that is the direction and superior status of a woman as instructor, teacher, mentor…how these men accepted my authority”—no mention is made of how unusual her position was as a woman of the time and, indeed, how her authority was accepted. Still, youngsters will be fascinated by this engaging biographical selection of an original thinker, which includes elements of STEM and history and provides a picture of a dedicated, resilient woman. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 67% of actual size.)
An incomplete but appealing and informative depiction of cryptographer Elizebeth Friedman. (notes, timeline, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Wallmark, Laurie: CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A646950245/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=30aa87d0. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.