Galaxy Mapper

Introducing our luminous address in the universe—and the determined woman scientist who mapped it with her team.

Growing up in a small French village, Hélène Courtois had big questions about the world around her. Avidly, she observed the trails, roads, and water pathways traversing planet Earth; but her mind always wandered higher, toward the night sky. What would a map of “out there,” beyond the moon, look like?

The question traveled with her to university, where curious Hélène—often the only woman in her science classes—learned to map the compositions of galaxies. Numbers swam with the stars in her brain, and after years of wonder and experimentation, Hélène and her team make a dazzling discovery—a supercluster of galaxies they name Laniakea, home to our very own Milky Way.

With fascinating back matter, illustrations that shine on the page, and a lyrical text written in consultation with astrophysicist Hélène Courtois—who continues to illuminate our view of the cosmic landscape—this portrait of a contemporary female scientist will light up young minds and inspire future sky gazers and galaxy mappers to look up and dream large.

About the Author

Allie Summers is the author of the picture book Gorilla Gardeners, illustrated by Lidia Steiner. She is fascinated by the fact that most of the elements in our human bodies were formed in stars billions of years ago. When she is not writing, Allie Summers can be found outside: running, surfing, foraging, climbing, roller-skating, or stargazing. She lives with her family in the Laniakea supercluster, on a small blue planet called Earth, in a town known as San Francisco.

Sian James is an illustrator and an early medieval archaeologist. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she has been drawing ever since she was able to pick up a pen. When she is not creating art, she loves reading fantasy novels, volunteering in museums, and drinking too much tea. Sian James lives in Cambridge, England, with her husband and cats.