Ada Lovelace: The Poet of Science by Diane Stanley

Ada Lovelace: The Poet of Science Reviews

• 
  Jennifer

  Yes, there is a sudden mini-flood of Ada Lovelace biographies. Think of it as simply correcting a terrible oversight. And this is so far my favorite of the bunch.
• 
  Melody Schwarting

  So much of a picture book is the pictures, and I just didn't like these. Even allowing for a cartoony style, the image of Lovelace throughout the book was inaccurate, giving her blonde hair instead of dark brown. The text is great, and goes into some good detail about Lovelace's life and contributions. An authors' note goes into a bit more depth about Lovelace's work. Lists of important dates, further reading, and a glossary will make this even more useful in an educational setting.
• 
  Lisa Pett

  A fantastic biography of an amazing, but little-known, hero of STEM. The art is whimsical and her story is told in an orderly fashion.
  
  Included in the back are a glossary, notes from the author and a timeline of important dates in computer science.
  
  This book is a great way to introduce kids to the concept of computer programming.
• 
  Cynthia Egbert

  This is an informative biography for children to get a sense of what Ada Lovelace contributed. It is also a quality jumping off place for adults to begin learning about Lady Lovelace. I was stunned to learn that Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the rascally, if talented Lord Byron. Now, while I am going to go to work learning more about Lady Lovelace, my real hunger is to learn more about her mother.
• 
  Danna Smith

  Review from my blog
  www.picturebookplaylist.wordpress.com:
  
  Where will booksellers keep all the amazing nonfiction books that are popping up? I recently read an article in Publishers Weekly which stated that “even before 2009 and the beginning of Common Core, some booksellers were seeing narrative non-fiction and information picture books take off.” It’s no wonder that with beautifully illustrated and well-written nonfiction books like Ada Lovelace Poet of Science that publishers and readers can’t get enough!
  
  Summary
  
  Two hundred years ago, a daughter was born to the famous poet, Lord Byron, and his mathematical wife, Annabella.
  
  Like her father, Ada had a vivid imagination and a creative gift for connecting ideas in original ways. Like her mother, she had a passion for science, math, and machines. It was a very good combination. Ada hoped that one day she could do something important with her creative and nimble mind.
  
  A hundred years before the dawn of the digital age, Ada Lovelace envisioned the computer-driven world we know today. And in demonstrating how the machine would be coded, she wrote the first computer program. She would go down in history as Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer.
  
  What I love about this book
  
  From the perspective of an author, it is a challenge to tell the life story of any significant figure in history or historical event with minimal text that will not only inform but entertain the reader. From the perspective of a reader, Diane Stanley (Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare) and illustrator Jessie Hartland (Lexie the Word Wrangler) have taken this task to heart and created a story to be devoured.
  
  Ada Lovelace’s story is told in the third person and with minimal text (just 1354 words to be exact) beginning from when she was a little girl “Long, long ago, on a cold winter day, a lonely little girl walked from room to room in a big, old, dark country house. Her name was Ada Byron and she was looking for something to do,” to a still determined, grown women with children of her own, “but she hadn’t lost sight of her dream, just postponed it. Now at last her moment had come.”
  
  I was pleased to see that Stanley managed to insert a bit of humor within the pages when tells the reader that Ada’s mother was worried about her active imagination, “She hoped the study of math and science would suppress her daughter’s imagination. So Ada was given a world-class scientific education.” She goes on to explain that “her imagination was not harmed in the least.”
  
  There is oodles of back matter to peruse including an Author’s Note, Important Dates, and a Glossary.
  
  Artwork by Jessie Hartland, rendered in colorful gouache breathes a refreshing bit of whimsy and detail throughout this 40-page picture book.
  
  
• 
  Christina Getrost

  Nice picture book biography of Lord Byron's daughter Ada Lovelace, who in the 19th century wrote a translation of an article on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, the first computer--and in so doing she created the first computer program: step by step instructions for it to function. Sadly she died of cancer at age 36 and never wrote more. Illustrations are kind of goofy, cartoony, look a little like primitive paintings. Selected bibliography, brief author's note on how Ada's work was lost for a long time, but resurfaced and noted computer genius Alan Turing read it as part of his work.
• 
  Niki Marion

  With our society inextricably dependent on technology, kids should know the name Ada Lovelace
• 
  McKenzie Richardson

  For more reviews, check out my blog:
  Craft-Cycle
  
  I have loved seeing the recent flood of materials about Ada Lovelace and was excited to find a picture book among them. Hers is a fascinating story. The combination of creativity and original thinking with an interest in math and science makes for some truly remarkable accomplishments. I really enjoy learning more about the first computer programmer.
  
  A great, informative book about Ada Lovelace's life and work. It provides information about her childhood, family, education, and of course her work with Charles Babbage. There's a strong emphasis on following one's dreams and finding people you can relate to.
  
  The writing style was great. Informative while still entertaining. The art style didn't appeal to me personally, but it represented the events of the story well.
  
  More information is included in the backmatter such as a selection of important dates, a glossary, and some of the impact Lovelace's work had after her lifetime.
  
  Happy to see Ada Lovelace get more publicity and recognition as a great mathematician.
• 
  Alice Raffaele

  La storia di Ada Lovelace, nata Byron, riassunta e illustrata in modo intelligente, simpatico e colorato; un ottimo libro da leggere ad alta voce a bambine e bambini per avvicinarli al mondo dell'informatica. Dal testo emerge bene la mente sia letteraria sia scientifica di Ada, ed è meraviglioso che si associ l'immaginazione alla creatività matematica della pioniera della programmazione.
  Mi domando quindi, purtroppo un po' delusa: perché tradurre il titolo originale "Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer" in "Ada e i numeri tuttofare. Lady Lovelace e l'invenzione del computer"? Perché togliere la parte poetica, legata al pensiero e alle parole, rimpiazzandola con qualcosa che si collega più al "fare" e a delle azioni pratiche? Non suonava bene (se non meglio) la traduzione alla lettera "Ada Lovelace, Poetessa della Scienza: La Prima Programmatrice"? Sarebbe stato, secondo me, addirittura più accattivante. Facciamo emergere, fin dai titoli per libri per bambini, quest'intreccio tra umanesimo e scienza, spesso considerati mondi (e competenze) distinti.
• 
  Jenny

  I'd never heard of Ada Lovelace before hearing of this book. It's kind of hard to fathom that she lived 200 years ago and is considered the first computer programmer. It was fascinating to read about her life and her work with Charles Babbage. This left me intrigued and wanting to know more. I'll probably read more about her. Stanley includes an author's note, a timeline of important events (about her life but also about computer programming and inventions related to programming), a bibliography and a glossary. The illustrations are fun and whimsical, highlighting her creativity and imagination.
• 
  Claudia

  I DID NOT KNOW punch cards weren't invented by someone in the 1950's to lure kids coming out of high school into this brand new profession, 'key punch operator!' I had a friend who got sucked into this idea and had to be re-educated for another job that would last.
  
  Ada Lovelace (the daughter of THE Lord Byron!) a new factory for weaving cloth into intricate patterns, and saw the punched cards that seem to be 'giving' the looms the correct directions...and her imagination started to work overtime. She inherited Byron's imagination, she just took her creativity in a new direction.
  
  She worked with Charles Babbage on a new invention called the Analytical Engine that could do mathematical functions. Ada partnered with Babbage, translated a promotional article into French, added footnotes, and actually expanded the possibilities of the Engine. She actually programmed the symbols and rules of operation into digital forms. But she was afraid to put her name on her work, fearing people would not take the work seriously if a woman was the author.
  
  Just another Mighty Girl who is finally getting her due with the general public. Bout time.
• 
  Brianna Crall

  Loved this book. I had no idea who Ada Lovelace was prior to this read. Fascinating story about a young girl who goes against the mold. Very inspiring for young girls. This will find a permanent place on my shelf.
• 
  Angelina

  A great way to get acquainted with Ada and her work.
• 
  Cami

  My daughter brought this home to read to me. A great little book giving much overdue credit to the first computer programmer. I loved learning about her life and her contributions to STEM fields!
• 
  LaTonya Roberts (IG:RemindMeToRead)

  I loved the illustrations. As a children's book I think it's fun with all the bright colors. I really like how you can see every stroke like the book was hand painted. It's a good intro to Ada Lovelace and inspirational to any child who gets to read it or have it read to them.
• 
  Lindsey

  My little one was bored but interested to learn about Ada Lovelace.
• 
  Kris Dersch

  Great book! It's a little long for a picture book biography but the details are great and the illustrations are fabulous. A very important topic to introduce early elementary kids to and a great way to do it. Did not hold the 4-year-old's attention, I would say probably primary level for this one.
• 
  Mallory

  My first exposure to the remarkable Ada Lovelace. I will definitely be exploring more books about her.
• 
  Debi Cates

  Read aloud to the littles (my youngest granddaughters). <3
• 
  Anna Chappell

  Fun introduction to Ada Lovelace and her part in history. I do wish it had incorporated more of the endnotes into the text, but I can see why they weren't.
• 
  Sarah

  2017 Amelia Bloomer Project Top Ten
• 
  Amanda Walz

  This is my personal opinion and I have nothing negative to say about the author and illustrator.
  
  I did not care for this book at all. I felt that some of the words led the reader to assume misinformation and the illustration style is not my favorite.
  
  I am disappointed, I was eagerly awaiting the book to read, I really like a lot of Diane Stanley's work. I didn't care for this at all.
• 
  Edward Sullivan

  Another picture book biography of Ada Lovelace, appealing and informative.
• 
  Ashley Smith

  For my final twin text I choose to pair my nonfiction book Ada Lovelace: The Poet of Science by Diane Stanley copyright 2016 with the fiction book Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished by Camille Andros copyright 2017. I would start by reading my fiction book, Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished. This book is about a rabbit named Charlotte. She feels like she is being squished by all of her siblings. Using the scientific method, she devises a plan to stop feeling so squished. In her first two attempts she tries to make her family disappear and then make herself disappear. That does not work. Next, she flies her rocket ship to space to get some alone time. While she is up there she, is lonely. So she comes back to earth and realizes it is not too bad to be around all the people you love. Next, I would read my nonfiction book, Ada Lovelace: The Poet of Science. Ada Lovelace is about a very unique girl, Ada. Her father was an imaginative poet named Lord Byron. Her mother was a logical reasoned thinker, who excelled in math and science. The marriage between the two only lasted a year but, they created a very smart girl, Ada. She was highly educated in math and science pairing that with the imagination she inherited from her father, she became the first computer programmer. This book was written about two hundred years ago, so it is a huge feat that Ada accomplished. I would relate these two books with both science and history. In the science lesson we would talk about the scientific method, which is outlined in my fiction book. There are also experiments in the back of the fiction book. We could all do the experiments together and be like Ada trumping new grounds. In the history lesson, I would show the class that Ada received traits from both her mother and her father. Charlotte thought that she wanted to get away from her family but she just wanted to have a break. Both of these books show the importance of family. The class could make family trees. If the students had siblings, parents, or grandparents they could find out what kind of activities others in their family like and compare and contrast those traits to their own life.
  
  Bibliography
  
  Andros, Camille, and Brianne Farley. Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished. Boston: Clarion , Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. Print.
  
  Diane Stanley (Author), Jessie Hartland. "Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer Hardcover – October 4, 2016." Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer: Diane Stanley, Jessie Hartland: 9781481452496: Amazon.com: Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 June 2017.
• 
  Gooshe Net

  اِیْدا لاولیِس (بایرون) دخترک خیال‌پرداز، عاشق علم، ریاضی، ادبیات و هنر در نامه‌هایی به مادر ریاضی‌دان و منطقی‌اش می‌نوشت که چقدر آرزوی پرواز دارد. او با شور و هیجان می‌نوشت، روزی بال‌هایی بزرگ‌تر از پرندگان می‌سازد و با روغن چرب می‌کند و به پشتش می‌بندد و پرواز می‌کند. زیر نامه‌هایش را هم امضا می‌کرد: بوقلمون مهربان کوچک تو. مادرش که روزگاری همسر لُرد بایرون، شاعر پرآوازه انگلیسی بود، به جای شگفت‌زدگی از خلاقیت دخترش، نگران سودازدگی و تصویرسازی‌های او می‌شد که شبیه پدرش بود و می‌خواست او را به زندگی معمولی و روزمره برگرداند. مادرش تصور هم نمی‌کرد دخترش اِیدا روزی نخستین برنامه‌نویس کامپیوتر شود و با همین رویاپردازی‌ها، اسم روش علمی‌اش را «علوم شاعرانه» بگذارد. شاید در آن سال‌ها تنها چارلز بابِیج، ریاضی‌دان و تحلیلگر بریتانیایی بود که رویاهای این زن جوان را جدی گرفت و با کمک یادداشت‌ها و ترجمه‌های اِیدا، ایده اولیه خود را برای طراحی یک دستگاه یا ماشین پیچیده مطرح کرد. آنچه این زن جوان نوشت سه‌برابر یادداشتی بود که چارلز بابیج برای ایده موتور تحلیلی خود نوشته بود، اما از ترس اینکه نام یک زن در این کتاب، جدی‌ و علمی‌بودن آن را زیر سوال ببرد، نام اِیْدا با حروف اختصاری نوشته شد:
  A.A.L
  با این شرایط، زن جوانی از خانواده اشرافی که همه فکر و ذکرش پرواز بود، پس از ۹ ماه نوشتن و خواندن و تحلیل، بحث برنامه‌سازی کامپیوتری را در سال‌ ۱۸۴۳ رقم زد، بدون اینکه نامی از او در آن سال‌ها برده شود.
  در کتاب Poet of science زندگی این زن ریاضی‌دان و نویس��ده انگلیسی، برای کودکان با تصویرسازی جِسی هارتلند توضیح داده شده و آخرش نوشته شده، برای اِیدا مهم‌ترین چیز این بود که نشان دهد می‌تواند پرواز کند.
• 
  Ben Truong

  Ada Lovelace: The Poet of Science is a children's picture book written by Diane Stanley and illustrated by Jessie Hartland. This book surveys the brief life of Byron's daughter, whose scientific education and inquiring mind shaped her foundational contributions to computer science.
  
  Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer, chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. She was the first to recognize that the machine had applications beyond pure calculation, and published the first algorithm intended to be carried out by such a machine.
  
  Stanley's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Stanley delivers a breezy but insightful overview of the curiosity and determination that drove Ada Lovelace to pursue her intellectual passions. An author's note and timeline could be found in the backmatter. Hartland keeps the mood light in loopy gouache cartoons that humorously portray Lovelace as the creative and intelligent product of parents in facing family portraits.
  
  The premise of the book is rather straightforward. The picture book traces Ada Lovelace's childhood dreams of flight, her friendship and working relationship with Charles Babbage, and her pioneering programming work in service of promoting Babbage's Analytical Machine.
  
  All in all, Ada Lovelace: The Poet of Science is a splendid and admiring introduction to the first computer programmer – Ada Lovelace.