Ever since reading Ada Byron Lovelace & the Thinking Machine, I’ve kept an eye out for Laurie Wallmark’s books. She has a gift for bringing remarkable women from history to life in her picture book biographies. While many books in this genre have political subtext, Wallmark’s works are refreshingly straightforward—stories of brilliant minds and pioneering achievements told with clarity, admiration, and respect—and free of politics. They are, quite simply, excellent stories about excellent thinkers.
In Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, Wallmark introduces us to a woman I think I would have liked immensely. Grace’s fierce curiosity and irrepressible spirit made her a force to be reckoned with. One of my favorite moments in the book comes early in her childhood, when she dismantles every clock in the house to understand how they work. Rather than scold her, Grace’s mother laughs—a moment of maternal understanding and admiration that beautifully supports Grace in her quest to learn how things work.
Reading this book was a delight, and even more so when I handed it to my eighteen-year-old son, a computer coder who usually scoffs at picture books. To my surprise, and his, he loved it. That speaks volumes about the universal appeal of both the subject and the storytelling.
I have mixed feelings about the illustrations. As with Wallmark’s Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life, I’m not drawn to the cartoonish, caricature-like faces. It’s not a style I think particularly helpful or lovely. That said, the art here is full of life, humor, and movement. It captures the spunky, rebellious energy of Hopper’s personality and contributes to the light-hearted yet respectful tone of the book. Even if I don’t love the style, I can appreciate what it brings to the reading experience.
I would happily recommend Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code to anyone curious about the origins of computer programming, the hidden contributions of WWII mathematicians, or the life of a child who asks big questions and sees the world a little differently. It’s a rich, inspiring read that honors the mind of a woman far ahead of her time.