GALAXY MAPPER: THE LUMINOUS DISCOVERIES OF ASTROPHYSICIST HÉLÈNE COURTOIS, by Allie Summers, Sian James, MIT Kids Press, Nov. 12, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 5-9)
Learn about the woman who mapped Earth’s address in the universe in Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist Hélène Courtois by Allie Summers and Sian James.
Growing up in a small French village, Hélène Courtois had big questions about the world around her. Avidly, she observed the trails, roads, and water pathways traversing planet Earth; but her mind always wandered higher, toward the night sky.
What would a map of “out there,” beyond the moon, look like? The question traveled with her to university, where curious Hélène—often the only woman in her science classes—learned to map the compositions of galaxies.
Numbers swam with the stars in her brain, and after years of wonder and experimentation, Hélène and her team make a dazzling discovery—a supercluster of galaxies they name Laniakea, home to our very own Milky Way. —Synopsis provided by MT Kids Press
Galaxy Mapper introduces readers to a woman whose connection to the moon led her to study astrophysics and eventually led the team that mapped our greater cosmic neighborhood.
Author Allie Summers pulls readers along with the continued threads of the moon and maps throughout Hélène’s life. Summers’ text is as confident and assured as Hélène’s belief in herself. Illustrator Sian James utilizes color and light to help readers understand both simple and broader concepts.
Galaxy Mapper is a compelling picture book that would be a welcome addition to any school or classroom library.
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