My Super Science Heroes is a picture book series for children ages 4-9. Written in partnership with the Marie Curie Alumni Association–a global organisation of over 17,000 researchers and scientists, this series highlights key traits and characteristics (super powers!) that all children embody, showcasing how those skills can play a meaningful role in helping people reach their dreams.

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Each trait is paired with a specific scientist who flexed that super power to great effect in their own life. Our hope is that children will be inspired by these super science heroes, to draw on their own super powers in pursuing their goals.

What if superheroes didn’t have supernatural powers, but were humans with incredible drive, who worked really hard to expand their knowledge? What if our superheroes were our scientists?

The first book in the My Super Science Heroes series explores key moments in Marie Curie’s life that demonstrate the power of persistence and how it played an important role in helping her discover Radium and Polonium. In her super science hero story, Marie must rely on this persistence to defeat her arch nemesis, Mr. Opposition. In this way, Marie Curie represents an important role model for girls and boys who face their own version of Mr. Opposition.

The second book of the series looks closely at key moments of Alan Turing‘s life that highlight his great power of curiosity, and how this power was critical to his ability to decode and solve important questions of his time (and in the process, lay the groundwork for artificial intelligence). In his story, Alan Turing must face off against the elusive Miss Enigma, whose task is to confound and confuse him every step of the way.

What people think of the book

There is a lot to love about Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence - the focus on important women in science history, the well-crafted text, the vibrant illustrations - but what really stands out to me is the theme of persistence.
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Jess
In short, Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence is a book I would have read thousands of times as a child and fallen in love with each time. It's a tale of hope and resilience that many parents, educators and young readers wish they had more of. And now they do.
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Johnell

Love My Super Science Heroes?

Get stuff to remind your kids (or you! who are we kidding?) that they can be a Super Science Hero!

If you’re outside of the US, you can shop in one of our international stores!

(there’s plenty! if your country is not listed here, click on the flag in the menu bar of our Zazzle stores to see if we have one where you live!)

The proceedings from our sales will be used to fund the activities of the Marie Curie Alumni Association. We really appeciate your contribution!

The MSSH project owes its success to the creativity of Karla and Annalisa, two excellent artists who have teamed up with our scientific advisors to deliver a book that is widely appreciated by kids and parents alike!

Words by Karla Valenti

Karla Arenas Valenti was born and raised in Mexico, but has since put down roots in various countries she now also call home: the US, Japan, France and Germany. She currently lives in the Chicagoland area where she wields words, to different ends, as a lawyer and an author of children's picture books and middle grade novels.

Pictures by Annalisa Beghelli

Annalisa studied architecture and publishing illustration all across Italy. She's now a freelance illustrator and in 2017 she founded FAI31 communicational Studio, a consultant studio specialized in private and customized publishing projects, based on the creation of books able to join both promotional and educational aims.

Management and scientific advice
by Micaela Crespo

Micaela holds a PhD in chemical engineering from EPFL (Switzerland) and spent her Marie Curie Fellowship at the University of Cambridge. Micaela believes that multiculturalism brings exceptional richness to our lives and opens new horizons and alternatives that were otherwise unexpected. Science is, after all, essentially international!

Strategy and scientific advice
by Marco Masia

Marco works at the intersection between Research, Innovation, and Policy, as freelancer consultant for startups, research institutions, and for the European Commission. He holds a PhD in physics from the Technic University of Catalunya (UPC). Marco defines himself an optimistic, unstoppable enthusiast: he is always up for embracing the next challenge and to learn new things!

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) is a not-for-profit association established in 2014, that currently has more than 13,000 members who are, or have benefit, from the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions of the European Commission. MCAA connects researchers throughout Europe, and around the world, to enable international, transdisciplinary collaborations. At MCAA, we envision a future in which knowledge will be used to benefit society. We support and contribute to the advancement of knowledge for a global, diverse, and informed society. These books are part of that vision.

Sourcebooks’ mission is to reach as many people as possible through books that will enlighten their lives. We are a company bound together by the idea thaBooks. Change. Lives.