Five STEM Books to read on National Book Day

Every year on April 23, World Book Day highlights the importance of books. Why April 23? It happens to be the day three great writers share, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, passed away on April 23. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) observed World Book Day in 1995 in Paris to commemorate these authors and promote reading worldwide.

"Indeed, books are vital vehicles to access, transmit and promote education, science, culture and information worldwide." - Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

As part of their annual themes, UNESCO has chosen Indigenous Languages for 2023. In addition, the United Nations (UN) also declared 2022-32 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. Since then, the UN has encouraged and amplified linguistic diversity and multilingualism. The UNESCO website says, "Of the almost 7,000 existing languages, the majority are spoken by indigenous peoples who represent the greater part of the world’s cultural diversity. To celebrate World Book Day's Indigenous Languages theme, here are a few STEM books written or authored by Indigenous women the staff at Built By Girls think you might like.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

In 2013, Potawatomi professor Robin Wall Kimmerer published Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, focusing on unconventional perspectives to mainstream scientific methods. The author even recounts intimate moments of reuniting with her cultural heritage in the book. The book has accumulated numerous accolades, including best-selling awards from the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times Bestseller. Native Studies Review called Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, a "book to savor and read repeatedly."

Wealth Woman: Kate Carmack and the Klondike Race for Gold, written by Deb Vanasse

Shaaw Tiáa, also known as Kate Carmack, was a member of the Tagish First Nation tribe that discovered gold in 1896 on the Klondike River. The narrative describes how Kate married a white man, George Carmack, who tries to take credit for finding the first Klondike gold. Award-winning author Deb Vanasse wrote her biography, Wealth Woman: Kate Carmack and the Klondike Race for Gold, which Pacific Historical Review described as "a riveting story told by a brilliant writer."

As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock by Dino Gilio-Whitaker

Colville Confederated Tribe member Dina Gillio-Whitaker published As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock in 2019. It focuses on Native American history in the United States from European colonization to today, particularly emphasizing the environment. You'll learn about the contemporary conservation movement excludes indigenous land and environmental stewardship concepts. In addition, discussions concerning the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock in 2016 and 2017.

Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer, written by Traci Sorell and Illustrated by Natasha Donovan

Learn about Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's first female engineer, Mary Golda Ross, who designed classified airplanes and spacecraft. A lover of Cherokee culture and history, she was also passionate about mathematics, which profoundly impacted her life. Cherokee author Traci Sorell wrote the book, while Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan designed it. Both women's contributions to Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer, are described as "a stellar addition to the genre that will launch careers and inspire for generations; it deserves space alongside stories of other world leaders and innovators."

Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future

As part of her book Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future, author Patty Krawec takes readers on a journey through indigenous and settler history. Throughout the book, Krawec interweaves the story of her ancestors to explore myth, identity, and spirituality. "The invented history of the Western world is crumbling fast, but we can still honor the bonds between us. Settlers dominated and divided, but Indigenous peoples won't just send them all home." - Patty Krawec.