The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne by Laura Alary

 The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne sheds light on this incredible woman who with her super curious mind found herself among men who told her she couldn’t be an astronomer and those who doubted her discovery, but she knew what she wanted and persisted even when she had moments of doubt.  

At the age of eight, Cecilia discovered bee orchid flower growing in England when her mother said it was impossible. But it turned out to be possible. From young age, she had a natural instinct to trust in what she believed in. This only increased her curiosity in the wonders of nature.

What other children saw as ordinary in nature, Cecilia saw something extraordinary in it.

Her teacher, seeing her inquisitiveness, encouraged her to read anything she wanted. So she did.

At twelve, she moved to London to study. She felt out of place like the bee orchid. Other children didn’t understand her interests, but she knew what she wanted.

Discoveries at Cambridge Observatory made her decide to be an astronomer. There, she began to explore the sky for herself. But often she was the only woman in her astronomy classes at Cambridge, even more not welcomed by some professors. Again, she felt isolated like the bee orchid.

This made her cross the ocean to study at Harvard where she was surrounded by other women studying the stars.

At the time, it was believed that stars were made of the same stuff as Earth, Cecilia reached a different conclusion. Others said it was impossible. As we grow and let others influence us, the same happened to Cecilia for the first time she doubted herself. She didn’t stay true to her natural instincts, but she was right in her discoveries, and it took a few years for others to catch up with her discovery.

When she became a professor at Harvard University, she encouraged her students to look carefully, measure accurately, and to trust themselves even if someone doubted them.

This biography is beautifully written with interesting illustrations supporting the text. I loved it how it began with her discovering a flower out of place and how the meaning of it followed her throughout her life. It’s a symbolic reminder that if a flower can bloom in a place that it never did, then a human being can adapt as well, and flourish even in harsh circumstances. It’s a human nature to doubt oneself. Life is not about the falls (which stops many) but how you rise up and pivot. It’s a truly touching and inspiring biography for children, ages 7-14 years.

Source: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, January 2026

 

 

  

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Cecilia Payne as a child discovered bee orchid growing in England which was unusual. As the plant, she felt out of place throughout her life while pursuing her passion. It’s a symbolic reminder that if a flower can bloom in a place that it never did, then a human being can adapt as well, and flourish even in challenging circumstances.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         From young age, she had a natural instinct to trust in what she believed in, especially after finding bee orchid growing in England and being told it was impossible.

·         What other children saw as ordinary in nature, Cecilia saw something extraordinary in it. She was well connected with nature. Thus, understood her natural instincts better.

·         She was encouraged to nurture her unusual curiosity, and she constantly did.

·         Even if others didn’t understand her interests, she knew what she wanted. She stood steadfast in her believes.

·         As we mature, and let others influence us, we lose our natural instincts, and that’s what happened to Cecilia. When she made a new discovery at Harvard and others said it was impossible, for the first time she doubted herself.

·         When she became a professor at Harvard University, and after learning her lesson not to doubt herself again, she encouraged her students to look carefully, measure accurately, and to trust themselves even if someone doubted them.

 

 

 “No ideas should be suppressed. (…) We must not forget that some of the best ideas seemed like nonsense at first. The truth will prevail in the end.” – Cecilia Payne

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Dear Universe 365 by Sarah Prout; each day presents a transformative force, showing how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The core of this transformation is the Law of Attraction. We’re an integral part of the Universe. “By maintaining awareness of your energetic state and choosing to align with higher frequencies you create a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.”

February is dedicated to connection and relationships.

For example, February 3 brings a message of empathy. “You possess the incredible gift of empathy, a bridge that connects hearts and minds. Empathy allows you to walk in another’s shoes, to feel their joy, their pain, and their dreams. Embrace this gift, letting it guide you in your interactions with others. Show kindness and understanding for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you may know nothing about. Through empathy, you create a ripple effect of compassion and love that touches lives in profound ways. Listen with your heart, offer your support, and be a source of comfort and strength. In practicing empathy, you not only uplift others but also elevate your own spirit, creating a world that is more connected, caring, and humane.”

Who Was Andy Warhol? by Kirsten Anderson

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade captivates with the story of Andy Warhol who was the founder of the Pop Art movement.

Andrew Warhol (1928-1987) was born in Pittsburgh to emigrant family from Slovakia. He liked reading comic books. His mother encouraged him to draw as he had a gift for art.

At nine, he was selected for free art classes at Carnegie Institute.

At seventeen, he entered the Carnegie Institute of Technology where he was studying painting and design. His teachers saw his talent but he had difficulty following the assignments. He struggled during his first year.

During summer time, he worked selling fruits and vegetables with his brother, and at the same time, sketching the customers.

For a city art exhibition, he drew a boy picking his nose. His drawing wasn’t picked but people certainly talked about it. He was learning how to get attention.

After college, he moved to NYC where he got a job for a magazine drawing the ads for different products. He was doing well for himself and winning awards, but he dreamed of his pictures being sold in galleries and displayed in museums.

A friend of his helped him develop his own style in modern art. Andy began to paint his soup cans. He developed his style in something people saw every day.

His first gallery show was at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1962 which wasn’t a success but he continued to make a name for himself. He became part of the Pop Art.

He liked celebrating everyday life through his paintings. Then, he started experimenting with silk-screen process. He used pictures of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. People were noticing his art more and more.

Then, he was offered his own show at the Stable Gallery in NYC. Every painting at this show sold. He was a success.

He kept creating more art work which was showed at the famous Castelli Gallery in NYC.

Then, at gallery in Paris, he announced that he was retiring from painting and going into making movies. But he was creating movies of everyday life, simply recording life which people found boring.

Nevertheless, he continued to make movies, still created silk-screen portraits and worked in advertisement.

He had many friends and became famous like a movie star.

He also became a manager of a rock band. The rock band failed but with time their album became one of the most influential rock albums in history.

He became so famous those rich and famous wanted portraits of themselves made by him.

In 1969, he started a magazine called Interview, interviewing anyone important at the time.

Studio 54 was the most famous club in NYC at the time. People came there to be seen with Andy Warhol.

At fifty-eight, he died of complications after gallbladder operation.

This biography exemplifies a man who dreamed big and persisted in his pursuit of what he believed in.  Growing up, he received a good structure from his mother who encouraged him to draw when seeing his talent. Thus, whenever he had a chance he was drawing something or someone but the subject matter that was at his heart was everyday things or people. Even though it wasn’t something that resonated with people at first, he persisted because he believed in it. He stayed on the path that made him happy and that took him to the very top.

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2014

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: He exhibited what other successful people did: the learning process never stops and new goals need to be set to progress with the learning process.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         From childhood, he exhibited talent for art, and his mother encouraged him to draw.

·         Whenever he had a chance, he’d draw people, even when selling fruits and vegetables during summer break from school.

·         He had his struggles, one of them difficulty following the assignments at school.

·         He took part in exhibitions to make his art visible to others. Even though when it wasn’t picked for award, the subject he was picking was making noise. So he was learning how to grab someone’s attention even when his art wasn’t picked. From early age, he was learning how to pick good out of what another could see as negative or discouraging.

·         His first job in advertisement wasn’t necessarily his dream job, but he was making good money, winning awards, and meanwhile still dreaming big.

·         A friend of his helped him develop his own style in modern art. He was open to suggestions how to develop his own style.

·         After finding his own style, he persisted even when it wasn’t resonating with people at first.

·         After making a name for himself in his own art style which made him very famous, he became setting new goals for himself. He tried making movies, managing rock band, founded a magazine to interview important people.

 

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Dear Universe 365 by Sarah Prout; each day presents a transformative force, showing how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The core of this transformation is the Law of Attraction. We’re an integral part of the Universe. “By maintaining awareness of your energetic state and choosing to align with higher frequencies you create a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.”

February is dedicated to connection and relationships.

For example, February 2 brings a message of community. “You are an integral part of a greater whole, part of a global community that thrives on unity and mutual support. In community, we find strength, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Embrace your role within your community, knowing that your unique contributions make a significant impact. Foster connections with those around you, offering your skills, your time, and your compassion Together, you create a network of support that can overcome any challenge and celebrate every triumph. Recognize the power of collective effort and the beauty of shared dreams. Your community is a living entity, growing and evolving with each act of kindness and cooperation. Stand tall within this circle of life, knowing you are never alone.”