Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine

PreS-Gr 2–Ada Byron Lovelace is considered to be an early pioneer in concepts that led to computer programming. As the child of unconventional parents, Lovelace had a broader education than many 19th-century girls. Due to the audience demographic, many biographical details are simplified or glossed over. Lovelace and her father are both described as wild, romantic, bad-tempered, and moody; that he was mostly absent from Lovelace’s life is not mentioned. No resources are listed, which, along with a generally lighthearted tone, make the book more historical fiction than an actual biography. The narrative is vague, even about the time period, saying “in those days” rather than giving a date. An author’s note provides helpful additional information. Cartoon illustrations include humorous fantasy elements, such as zebras pulling a carriage, Lovelace perched on top of Charles Babbage’s early computer, and Lovelace reaching down out of a portrait to connect with a modern girl. The characters’ features are more doll-like than human in appearance, with large eyes and circles of color on their cheeks.