Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

While classmates doodled and daydreamed, young Jonas Salk took notes, prepar- ing for the day when he would become a scientist and follow the Judaic religious precept tikkun olam, to heal the world. He directed his efforts toward vaccinations, and from 1947 through the mid 1950s his research in polio prevention progressed from discovering a promising vaccine, to conducting limited trials on primary-grade children, to securing scientific consensus on the efficacy of the vaccine, which steadily eliminated the dreaded paralytic disease from most of the world. Robbins' biography is particularly timely within the context of the coronavirus epidemic, and his direct, streamlined account connects well with early primary listeners, who may take some comfort in knowing that science has managed to get other epidem- ics under control. Dutton's artwork offers a stylish take on mid-twentieth century anxiety, with obviously healthy, big-eyed kids casting sidelong glances at disabled sufferers who pass them on the street and the first gen Polio Pioneers (recipients of the experimental vaccine) cheering with relief and confidence that they've escaped the disease. An author's note adds nuance on such issues as concurrent scientific efforts to conquering polio, and Salk's decision not to patent his discover. An inset with outdated information about "How a Vaccine Fights Virus" will be updated for future editions. Also appended are a list of resources and a vaccine timeline that concludes in 2020, before the deployment of the coronavirus vaccine.