I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Erma Does The Math
When Tameka visits her elderly aunt, birthday gift in hand, quirky Aunt Erma puts her to work. As she hangs an old photo Tameka discovers that the women in the picture are 1940’s-era human computers at Langley Jet Propulsion Lab and that her auntie was one of them! She has lots of questions, but Aunt Erma’s price for answers is one math problem each. Tameka keeps up, but the problems get more complex with each question. Remembering the gift, Tameka convinces her auntie to open it. The contents make them both laugh and realize that they’ve learned something about each other.
Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Erma-Does-Math-Ann-Strawn/dp/0578742691
US – https://www.amazon.com/Erma-Does-Math-Ann-Strawn/dp/0578742691
Author Bio – Ann Strawn lives in Renton Washington with her husband of 34 years, daughter and family dog. She makes her living as a middle school science teacher and truly enjoys the company of kids and teens. She considers her job total immersion training for writing her middle grade novels, THE DOWNLOAD and THE UPDATE.
Ann’s most current project is a picture book about her great aunt Erma Tynes Walker who was a human computer at Langley Airforce Base. Besides writing Ann also enjoys crochet and just hanging out with her family.
My Review
I love this book that teaches children about the women who worked for NASA and did math calculations to get America to the moon. This story is about a niece of Erma Tynes Walker, who visits her aunt on her 100th birthday. The little girl has brought her aunt a present, but Aunt Erma is not ready to open it yet. She gives her niece a sweet cupcake and then leads her niece on a mathematical journey.
Erma counters every one of her nieces questions with a math problem. The niece has to use her mind and a pencil and paper to solve the math problems. Then, Aunt Erma shares with her how she worked to win the Space Race. This book is wonderful for children, who need to know how that women of color were instrumental in getting man to the moon.