A Computer Called Katherine: Illustrator Interview
Today I have the great honor of interviewing Veronica Miller Jamison about her new book A COMPUTER CALLED KATHERINE: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon. This picture book is a crucial addition to your classroom or home library.
Below Veronica gives us an exclusive look inside the creation of her book as well as tools and resources for inspiring young girls who are interested in STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math).
In her debut picture book, #ownvoices illustrator @VeronicaJArt gives us an exclusive look inside the creation of her book A COMPUTER CALLED KATHERINE. Share on X
Book Summary
Katherine knew it was wrong that African-Americans didn’t have the same rights as others–as wrong as 5+5=12. She knew it was wrong that people thought women could only be teachers or nurses–as wrong as 10-5=3. And she proved everyone wrong.
She zoomed ahead of her classmates, starting college at fifteen, and eventually joined NASA. It was at NASA where her calculations helped pioneer America’s first manned flight into space. Furthermore, she was responsible for the calculations for the first manned orbit of Earth, and the world’s first trip to the moon. A COMPUTER CALLED KATHERINE is the inspiring true story of mathematician Katherine Johnson.
Before we begin, please introduce yourself.
My name is Veronica Miller Jamison, and I am a former radio news producer who now works as a professional illustrator and design educator.
Fun fact: I am a trained apparel designer, meaning I can take a garment from concept to finished product, but my favorite part of that process has always been the art and illustration, which is what I focus on now.
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Where are your favorite places/locations to draw and paint when you are working?
I’m lucky enough to have space for a small studio in my apartment in Philadelphia. It’s a bit quiet and secluded, so I always have music or podcasts playing in the background when I’m working. But when I’m traveling, I like sitting outside in a park or public area and sketching with my watercolors as I observe the world around me.
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What was your favorite page to illustrate in your upcoming book, A Computer Called Katherine?
My favorite is probably the illustration that also became the basis of the book cover, pages 12-13, where Katherine’s love and imagination for math blossom. Another favorite is the spread illustrating the trajectory of Alan Shepherd’s flight in 1961. Painting that expanse of space and ocean was so much fun!
Read the exclusive interview with illustrator @veronicajart + tools and resources for inspiring young girls who are interested in #STEAM. #BlackandSTEM #ownvoices #STEMbooks Share on X
For children of color who may be alone in STEM/STEAM circles, what resources do you suggest for furthering their
education?
My husband is an engineer and professor and has been involved in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) for a long time. The organization has a program for school-age children called SEEK—the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids. The local chapters of NSBE also have programming targeting middle and school students.
In your fashion design, stationary, etc you celebrate natural hair. Why is this so important to you for young girls to see in your art?
It’s important to me that young black girls see their images and experiences normalized through everyday objects. I started making these products in 2011, when a friend and I went shopping for Christmas cards. We found that many of the cards we saw in stores featured fun, fashionable women—but none of those illustrations looked like us.
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It’s wild to me that even then, seeing black women on Christmas cards or seeing natural hair on the most innocuous of gift products like mugs and stationery was *still* uncommon. Black girls celebrate all of the milestones of life just like anyone else—dressing up for the first day of school, planning festive parties, and celebrating holidays—and the way our hair is styled is often a central component to those experiences.
So it’s important to me that young girls see not only their hair textures, but also their unique hairstyles celebrated in a loving and affirming way.
What is one piece of advice you would give to parents/teachers of children reading your book?
My favorite part of Katherine’s story is the village that helped her find and nurture her gifts—her family who encouraged her love for learning, and her professors who recognized her talents and challenged her to grow and to learn more. They helped a young girl transform her love of numbers into a skill that helped change the world.
So after children read the book, I would suggest talking to them about their own interests and talents. In turn, helping them explore how those talents can grow into something that positively impacts the world.
Who are some of your other favorite illustrators of children’s books?
There are so many! I love Vanessa Brantley-Newton and Sophie Blackall. Vashti Harrison is another peer who centers black girls in her work, and her use of digital painting is nothing short of magical. I love the work of Oge Mora and the collage art of Sean Qualls and Bryan Collier. Christian Robinson is incredible.
There is just so much talent in the picture book world. I’m excited every time I discover a new artist or book.
Purchase A COMPUTER CALLED KATHERINE on Amazon | Little Brown Young Readers | Shop your local indie bookstore
Connect with Veronica Miller Jamison: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
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