Perkin’s Perfect Purple
Take Queen Victoria, a rare snail and a boy with a test tube. What do you get? The story of William Henry Perkin, a teenaged boy who invented the first aniline dye and turned the whole world PURPLE!
“Make me a crown of gold and silver and purple velvet,” Queen Victoria commanded. But purple was tricky! Reserved for the rich and powerful, purple was concocted from roots and rocks, bugs and berries. Or the milk of rare snails. Until a boy named William Perkin invented a new purple- using chemistry and the scientific method!
Coming Oct 2020.
Awards and Reviews
KIRKUS Starred Review- Aug. 1, 2020 “The narrative is brisk, alliterative, and full of well-chosen details…The conclusion and extraordinarily rich author’s note and period visuals emphasize the White Englishman’s contributions to the fashion, medical, and scientific communities.Perfect for STEAM-infused reading and for grasping the value of serendipity.”- Horn Book- September/October 2020 “Populist message… thorough history…meticulous science process”
- School Library Journal Sept. 1, 2020 “This pleasant narrative detailing an unexpected discovery could appeal to readers interested in a variety of subjects: history, science, fashion, and uplifting stories of perseverance.”