Saturday, February 6, 2021

The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine by Linda Elovitz and Lisa Anchin - OPTIONAL

The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine by Linda Elovitz, illustrated by Lisa Anchin
. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Knopf (Random), 2020. $18. 9780525646518 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Jonas Salk met chemistry, he fell in love. Always tender hearted, he wanted to research ways to help prevent disease, not just care for them afterwards. He and his partner Dr. Francis were successful in creating a influenza vaccine, but could they do the same thing for polio – a disease that struck every summer all around the world and left many people unable to walk. 

While I like this introduction to Salk and to polio, it seems to lack heart – and it makes creating a vaccine seem very simple. In this case, also, the illustrations have a cartoon aspect that seems out of place for the topic. I want to love it, and it is an important picture book, but it doesn’t hang together in a way that I can love. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

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