Super Scientists; 40 Inspiring Icons

The series was originally published by the French publisher Gallimard Jeunesse. This one is illustrated by Tino, a French graphic designer, in a light-hearted very flat graphic style. Each icon is recognisable and has a face disproportionally larger than the rest of the body.

Complicated as it is to make any kind of selection, a good range of key figures from history and from around the world are included here. There are a few notable women and a comment that many women were precluded from work in laboratories until the 20^th century.

Each scientist has a double-page spread with key biographical details, one image, facts about their major discovery and its use and influences, and then examples of their actual discovery. Inevitably this is a limited amount of information but it delivers key facts well and clearly. Each scientist is given a name reflecting their work, so Alhazen is the ‘luminary’, for example.

It is an enjoyable read and one that will introduce some less well-known figures, as well as the very famous, and will inspire young readers to further research, It has an attractive illustrated contents page and a brief chronology at the end.