Biometrics: Who We Are and How to Prove It

Biometrics: Your Body and the Science of Security by Maria Birmingham, illustrated by Ian Turner.

Copyright 2017 by Owlkid Books. Ages 8-12; Lexile level 1010.

Our society's current relationship with physical technology security is a complex one. On one hand, many of us unlock our phones with a fingerprint or our face without a second thought. On the other, the use of facial recognition in public areas has been in the news recently, raising concerns about security and the potential of a “big brother” state. And as much as today’s children are native technology users when it comes to entertainment and education, they probably aren’t giving much thought to securing that technology (except maybe from a pesky little sister).

Biometrics: Your Body and the Science of Security is an interesting and informative introduction to this aspect of technology. Birmingham brings a detailed, balanced approach to educating young readers about the current biometrics in use and those that are in development. These range from those that kids have probably heard of - fingerprints, retinal scans - to those that might surprise even adult readers - did you know that we’ve started using the pattern of veins in your hand as a means of identification?

At a minimum, each biometric’s profile covers how easy the biometric is to implement and how secure it is, how the biological data is gathered, where the technique currently used, and potential challenges and downsides. Some profiles are further fleshed out with the history of the biometric and improvements or related techniques that are in process. For instance, South Korean scientists are trying to create a way for machines to read the pattern of sweat pores on fingertips as an alternative to reading the traditional pattern of ridges that make up fingerprints.

The writing level is just right - not too technical, not too simplistic. Some readers may still be initially intimidated; though each page’s layout separates information into clear subsections, there’s still a lot of text, almost to the point of being cluttered. However, Turner’s playful illustration style does help break up the text blocks and adds much needed visual interest.

Biometrics would be good for kids who are particularly curious about the technology they use. It could also be a good resource for compare and contrast lessons/exercise, in which students could each pick which biometric they think is best and defend it. Or they could even try to come up with ideas for future biometrics! In any case, readers will be better informed to make real-life choices about their personal security for years to come.

The Heart of America: Great Immigrants and Their Stories

First Generation: 36 Trailblazing Immigrants and Refugees Who Make America Great by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace, illustrated by Agata Nowicka. Copyright 2018 by Little, Brown and Company. Lexile level 1050; ages 8-12.

It is one thing to tell a child that the United States is a country of immigrants. It is another to prove that those immigrants have been and still are active contributors to and participants in all aspects of our shared culture, and that so many conveniences they benefit from and so much entertainment they enjoy would not exist without those whose home is America by choice rather than by birth. First Generation: 36 Trailblazing Immigrants and Refugees Who Make America Great is one piece of that proof. Co-written by a daughter of a refugee (Sandra) and illustrated by a Polish immigrant, this book profiles both historical and modern immigrants and refugees who made significant contributions to their fields.

First Generation’s greatest strength is its variety. The people featured come from many time periods (from Mother Jones born in 1837 to hijabi model Halima Aden born in 1997), from many regions (Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas), and contributed to many fields (science, music and the arts, social activism, business, sports). Some of those included are household names - Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Yo-Yo Ma - but the majority are persons that even most adults wouldn’t recognize.

First Generation also includes tips for readers to support immigrants and refugees in their community and for celebrating multiple cultures, as well as recommended resources for learning more about immigrants/refugees and a bibliography sorted by person.

This book could be incorporated into just about any social studies topic, including educating middle grades children on the “melting pot”/”salad bowl” nature of our country. It could also provide a starting point for a biographical assignment, introducing children to a variety of influential persons who they could then research further - and as different as each featured immigrant is from each other, there’s a great chance one or another will click with a reader, whether because of a shared nationality or because of a shared interest.

Though intended for upper elementary, we could all benefit from a reminder like First Generation - our varied backgrounds and experiences are a strength, and that strength is what truly makes America great.