Co-authored with Raakhee Mirchandani

A powerful story of hope about a woman who fought against all odds to become the first Indian American female astronaut.

Kalpana Chawla set her sights on flight from an early age. She was told “no” many times in life: No, girls don’t study aerospace. No, women don’t become astronauts. No, you won’t succeed in the United States. But Kalpana didn’t listen–she was too busy forging her own path to the stars. And after a long journey of dedication, perseverance, and patience, she finally made it to space. Her inspiring story is a powerful reminder for girls all over the world to never, ever give up on their dreams.

Based on the true story of the first female Indian American astronaut, Journey to the Stars details the challenges and triumphs of Kalpana Chawla’s life up through her first journey into space. Her story is sure to inspire educators and parents interested in encouraging curiosity and a passion for STEM in girls and boys. Backmatter includes an author’s note and a timeline of Kalpana’s life and awards.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Beaming Books, February 2024

• Eureka Honor Book Silver Award

• Publishers Weekly’s Women’s History Month list
• Reading Eagle’s Great Books to Help Develop Sensitivity
• CBC Hot Off the Press Spotlight

“An important STEM biography that promotes tenacity.”
―Booklist

“A heartfelt…account of a pioneering woman in STEM”
―Kirkus

“An enjoyable…picture book biography.”
―School Library Journal

“Share this with girls, especially, but with any child who has big dreams.”
―Unpacking the Power of Picture Books

“This spirited STEM story about Kalapana Chawla, the first Indian American woman astronaut will launch young readers on their own path to follow their dreams.”
―Pragmatic Mom

“Journey to the Stars is sure to inspire children to pursue their dreams. Kalpana’s story is a testament to the fact that with hard work and perseverance, even the seemingly impossible dreams can come true—proving once again that America is a land where such dreams are achievable.”
―Toka Box

In this heartwarming story about the importance of community, a little Jewish girl living on the Lower East Side during the flu pandemic of 1918 can’t start school because her father is sick, so she makes a trade with her neighbors: chores for lessons.

It’s 1918 on the Lower East Side of New York City, and Rivka is excited to start school. But when her papa gets sick with the flu, her mama has to go to work at the shirtwaist factory and Rivka needs to stay home and take care of her little sister. But Rivka figures out a way to learn anyway: she trades chores with the grocer, the tailor, and an elderly neighbor for lessons. As the seasons change, Rivka finds she can count pennies for the iceman and read the labels on jars of preserve. And one day, Papa is no longer sick, and Rivka can finally start school! Full kindness and love for your neighbors, here is a story that introduces life on the Lower East Side for a Jewish family during the flu pandemic of 1918.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Random House Studio, July 2023

• Booklist Starred Review
• 2024-2025 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Awards Nominee
• CBC’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2024
• Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of 2023, Holiday Edition
• Tablet’s Best Jewish Children’s Books 2023

“Simply told but unexpectedly moving…[an] endearing picture book.”
―Booklist (Starred Review)

“VERDICT: A unique book that would be a great asset to collections”
―School Library Journal

“This tale will be at home in any discussions about American immigration and young people pursuing education despite barriers, as well as those focused more specifically on Jewish immigrants in this period.”
―The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

This is the true story of how Judit Polgár captivated the world as she battled to become the youngest chess grandmaster in history!

The queen of chess, Judit Polgár, dazzled the world as a prodigy, winning tournaments, gold medals, and defeating eleven world champions, including Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen. At her peak, Judit was rated the eighth best chess player in the world.

But before these tremendous successes, Judit burst onto the chess scene as a ferocious, child competitor. Beating adults by five-years-old, and winning international tournaments by age nine, Judit was destined for greatness. Follow her incredible journey as she strives for chess immortality, hunting to become the youngest chess grandmaster in history.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Little Bee Books, July 2023

• CBC’s Children’s Favorites Award (3rd to 5th grade)
• CBC’s Teachers’ Favorites Award (3rd to 5th grade)
• California Reading Association 2023 Eureka! Honor Award Winner
• Children’s Book Council’s Spring Into a New You List
• Target Book Club Pick

• 2023 Eureka! Honor Award

“Wallmark has a knack for making her subjects accessible to kids. Dispelling the notion that women are inferior chess players, this biographical picture book spotlights a triumphant child/heroine.”
―Booklist

“This book is beautifully written and illustrated and will delight children who already play chess and will intrigue those yet to learn the beautiful game.”
―GrandMaster Ben Finegold 

“The picture book style of the biography turns the story into something of a fairy tale”
―The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Foreign

• Czech: Euromedia

• Hungarian: Scolar Kiado
• Simplified Chinese: Beijing Science & Technology Press

Maria Mitchell’s curiosity about the night sky led her to spend hours studying the stars. She discovered a comet as a young woman, winning an award from the King of Denmark for being the first person to discover a new comet using a telescope.

Now famous as “the lady astronomer,” Maria went on to become a professional astronomer, an unheard of achievement for a woman in the 19th century. She was the first woman to get any kind of government job when she was hired by the United States Naval Observatory. Then as the first woman astronomy professor in the world, Maria used her position at Vassar College to teach young women to set their sights on the sky, training new generations of female astronomers. Her story inspires all of us to reach for the stars.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Creston, May 2023

• NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
• Children’s Book Council’s Hot off the Presses List, May 2023

“Colorful narrative that would certainly complement classroom curricula focused on STEM discoveries and trailblazing women in science.”
―School Library Journal

“The concise, clear text provides comprehensible explanations of her successes…Will guarantee this trailblazing scientist her place among the stars.”
―Kirkus Reviews

“A pleasing, informative introduction to Maria Mitchell.”
―Booklist

“…specially recommended for family, elementary school, middle school, and community library picture book biography collections for children ages 8-12.”
―Midwest Book Review

Join the dinos for a bash before bedtime!

Much like us, dinosaurs love to have fun. Dinosaurs from all around gather together to play instruments, dance, and sing before bedtime. But soon the dinosaurs grow tired and need their rest. This is a book that’s sure to have kids following the dinos’ lead as they get ready to go to sleep.

A bedtime, nap time, fun time, anytime picture book by the team of author/storyteller Laurie Wallmark and artist/illustrator Michael Robertson, “Dino Pajama Party: A Bedtime Book” is a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4-8. 

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Running Press Kids, October 2021

“A welcome alternative after the quadrillionth reading of Sandra Boynton’s Dinosaur Dance! or as a quick charmer in a dinosaur- or dance-party–themed daylight storytime.”
―Kirkus Reviews

“Short, bouncy rhymes and energetic art will make this celebratory, familiar book a bedtime readaloud staple for dancers and dino-lovers both.”
―Publishers Weekly

“A bedtime, nap time, fun time, anytime picture book. . . . A very special and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.”
―Midwest Book Review

“Page by page, Wallmark’s crisply rhymed couplets invite audiences to chime in, since read-it-again requests are guaranteed. Word choice is both familiar and expansive as the dinos “rock” and “roll”, “stomp” and “stroll”.”
―Unpacking the Power of Picture Books

“Dino Pajama Party, written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Michael Robertson, is an excellent bedtime story, perfect for tiring the children before bed. Wallmark’s rhymes are easy and fun, while Roberston’s digital illustrations display lively dinosaurs in pajamas with a bold color palette. I recommend this vibrant picture book to fans of dinosaurs, music, and dancing.”
―Glitter Reviews

WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK: (1) This is a great read-aloud for home or school. (2) The text is filled with action verbs and a rollicking rhythm. (3) The illustrations are delightful – bold and full of fun!
―Perfect Picture Book Fridays

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Foreign

• Chinese (Simplified Characters): Ginkgo (Shanghai)

Decode the story of Elizebeth Friedman, the cryptologist who took down gangsters and Nazi spies

In this picture book biography, young readers will learn all about Elizebeth Friedman (1892–1980), a brilliant American code breaker who smashed Nazi spy rings, took down gangsters, and created the CIA’s first cryptology unit. Her story came to light when her secret papers were finally declassified in 2015. From thwarting notorious rumrunners with only paper and pencil to “counter-spying into the minds and activities of” Nazis, Elizebeth held a pivotal role in the early days of US cryptology. No code was too challenging for her to crack, and Elizebeth’s work undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. Extensive back matter includes explanations of codes and ciphers, further information on cryptology, a bibliography, a timeline of Elizebeth’s life, plus secret messages for young readers to decode.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Abrams Books for Young Readers, March 2021 (pre-empt)

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• NSTA Best STEM Book
• Cybils Finalist, Nonfiction
• Framingham Reads Together 2024: Storywalk
• Mathical Honor Book 2023

“Youngsters will be fascinated by this engaging biographical selection of an original thinker, which includes elements of STEM and history and provides a picture of a dedicated, resilient woman.”
―Kirkus Reviews

“Wallmark’s lively, detailed text maximizes the appeal of Friedman’s story, focusing on the demand for Elizebeth’s skills apart from those of her acclaimed husband, and Smart’s digitally assembled watercolors sport a vibrant stylishness.”
―Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“An engaging introduction to a unique woman in a fascinating field.”
―School Library Journal

“Painted in watercolor and gouache and digitally assembled, the book’s attractive illustrations often incorporate a quote or a stream of letters representing code.”
―Booklist 

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Dreamscape Media

Iconographic Video

• Playaway on Launchpad

Sophie Kowalevski was both a brilliant mathematician and a talented writer. Creative work nurtured her mathematical research, giving her a flexibility of thought she treasured. A wonderful STEAM figure, she not only did mathematical research, but she also created many literary works. This inspiring title tells the story of Sophie’s journey as the first woman to receive a doctorate in mathematics, which required original research, holding a university chair in mathematics, and becoming the editor of a major scientific journal.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Creston Books, March 2020

• NSTA Best STEM Book
• Mathical Honor Book
• A Mighty Girl’s Books of the Year 2020

“Wallmark relates Kowalevski’s extraordinary story, showcasing her persistence and describing her landmark achievements in the field of partial differential equations (‘the mathematical tools that can be used to describe many natural phenomena, such as sound, heat, and movement’), including her Kowalevski Property, which mathematically describes the path of a spinning top.”
―Publishers Weekly

“A celebration of perseverance in the face of adversity and a strong addition to all young biography collections.“
―School Library Journal

“Meet Sophie Kowalevski, a girl who loved numbers, math, and solving equations, in this inspiring children’s biography based on a real-life legend.”
―Foreword Reviews

“An inspiring choice for budding feminists, explorers, historians, and scientists.“
―Kirkus Reviews

Movie star by day, ace inventor at night: learn about the hidden life of actress Hedy Lamarr!

To her adoring public, Hedy Lamarr was a glamorous movie star, widely considered the most beautiful woman in the world. But in private, she was something more: a brilliant inventor. And for many years only her closest friends knew her secret. Now Laurie Wallmark and Katy Wu, who collaborated on Sterling’s critically acclaimed picture-book biography Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, tell the inspiring story of how, during World War Two, Lamarr developed a groundbreaking communications system that still remains essential to the security of today’s technology.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Union Square Kids, February 2019

• New York Public Library Best of 2019 List
• NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
• Mathical Honor Book
• Cook Prize Honor Book
• CA Reading Association – Eureka! Gold Medal
• Nerdies – Nonfiction Picture Books 
• Crystal Kite Winner – Atlantic Region
• ALSC Children’s Notable Book Discussion List
• AAAS/Subaru SB&F Picture Book Award – Longlisted

“Revelatory to young audiences in more ways than one.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Many STEM-for-girls biographies fan excitement over women’s achievements, but this title actually brings the central scientific concept within middle-grade reach.”
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Even readers who don’t know Hedy Lamarr, ‘the world’s most beautiful woman,’ will become fans after learning how she balanced her fame as a 1930s movie star with a passion for science and inventing.”
—Booklist

“Lamarr’s zeal is conveyed superbly.”
—School Library Journal

“Laurie Wallmark’s lively biography also explains Lamarr’s most brilliant idea (conceived with the composer George Antheil), which improved the guidance system for torpedoes and led to today’s wireless communications.”
—Washington Post

“If you’ve got a good idea, and you know it’s going to work, go ahead and do it.”

The inspiring story of Grace Hopper—the boundary-breaking woman who revolutionized computer science—is told told in an engaging picture book biography.

Who was Grace Hopper? A software tester, workplace jester, cherished mentor, ace inventor, avid reader, naval leader—AND rule breaker, chance taker, and troublemaker. Acclaimed picture book author Laurie Wallmark (Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine) once again tells the riveting story of a trailblazing woman. Grace Hopper coined the term “computer bug” and taught computers to “speak English.” Throughout her life, Hopper succeeded in doing what no one had ever done before. Delighting in difficult ideas and in defying expectations, the insatiably curious Hopper truly was “Amazing Grace” . . . and a role model for science- and math-minded girls and boys. With a wealth of witty quotes, and richly detailed illustrations, this book brings Hopper’s incredible accomplishments to life.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Union Square Kids, May 2017 (pre-empt)

• Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Greenwich Reads Together Children’s Book
• School Library Journal – 2017 Favorite Nonfiction Picture Books
• SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (Atlantic Region) – Finalist
• Scripps National Spelling Bee – Great Words, Great Works – 2nd grade winner
• Grand Canyon (AZ) Read Award – Finalist Nonfiction
• South Dakota Prairie Bloom Award – Nominated
• Bluestem (IL) Award 2020 – Nominated
• Louisiana Young Readers Award 2019-2020 – Nominated
• Texas Topaz Award 2018 – Nominated
• Great Texas Mosquito List – Nominated
• Science Friday Best Science Book for Kids 2023

“Wallmark’s tone is admiring, even awestruck, describing Hopper’s skill, inventiveness, and strength of character in straightforward, accessible language, introducing a neglected heroine to a new generation of readers. Amazing Grace indeed.”
—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

“Well-chosen anecdotes and quotes offer a sense of [Grace’s] personality . . . Wu’s digital illustrations feature rich colors, strong structure, and unexpected but accurate details. An inviting picture-book biography.”
—Booklist

“Inquisitive readers who, like Hopper, ‘want to understand how things work’ will appreciate this upbeat biography of a woman who was ahead of her time.”
—School Library Journal

“. . . an upbeat biography . . . Newcomer Wu’s digital illustrations are rendered in a vivid and appealing cartoon style that harmonizes with Wallmark’s enthusiastic writing, which emphasizes how Hopper’s accomplishments arose as much from her intuition as her number sense. Quotes from Hopper, scattered throughout, further amplify the personality and drive of a trailblazing programmer.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Grace Hopper was mechanically, scientifically, and mathematically minded since childhood, as this biography playfully explains via several anecdotes. Then, while serving almost fifty years in the Navy, she broke barriers for women–and for computer science.”
—Horn Book

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Foreign

• Chinese (Simplified Characters): Cypi Press-Roaring Lion Media
• Japanese: Iwasaki Publishing (at auction)
• Korean: Dourei Publications

Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the famous romantic poet, Lord Byron, develops her creativity through science and math. When she meets Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer, Ada understands the machine better than anyone else and writes the world’s first computer program in order to demonstrate its capabilities.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Creston Books, October 2015

• Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
• School Library Journal Starred Review
• Booklist Starred Review
• Publishers Weekly Starred Review
• NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
• CA Reading Association – Eureka! Gold Medal
• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Cook Prize Honor Book
• Crystal Kite Winner (Atlantic Region)
• National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Science Trade Book
• Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California Outstanding Book
• Alabama Camellia Children’s Choice 2016/2107 (nominated)
• Paterson Prize Winner

“An excellent addition to STEM collections.“
―School Library Journal (Starred Review)

“A beautiful tribute to this female computer pioneer.“
―Booklist (Starred Review)

“Wallmark makes her children’s book debut with an inspiring and informative account of 19th-century mathematician Lovelace, who is considered to be the world’s first computer programmer.”
―Publishers Weekly (Starred review)

“A splendidly inspiring introduction to an unjustly overlooked woman.“
―Kirkus Reviews (Starred review)

“Ada Byron Lovelace’s fascinating, overlooked story is just beginning to get the recognition it deserves, and this handsome picture-book biography does it justice.“
―The New York Times

“Wallmark brings the story alive with grace and clarity; she never showboats, but she always finds the right word or phrase.”
―Chicago Tribune

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Foreign

• Chinese (Simplified Characters): Liaoning Science & Technology Publishing House

• Korean: Dourei Publication Co.

• Portuguese: Gradiva Publications

• Russian: E.V. Kashirskaya