The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine
Why we picked it
Sydney Taylor Notable honoree, this picture book biography follows Salk from the child of immigrants to the scientist whose determined, methodical work produced a vaccine that permanently transformed 20th-century medicine.
Our review
The child of immigrants who never learned English, Jonas Salk was struck by the suffering he witnessed and determined to do something about it. This Sydney Taylor Notable picture book biography traces his development of the polio vaccine, the discovery that changed 20th-century medicine and gave physical therapists, for the first time, a disease they could hope to see prevented rather than only treated.
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Career pages on ImagineMyFuture that list this resource.
About this book
From the product listing
A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK Learn about the importance of vaccines and the scientific process through the fascinating life of world-renowned scientist Jonas Salk, whose pioneering discoveries changed the world forever.Dr. Jonas Salk is one of the most celebrated doctors and medical researchers of the 20th century. The child of immigrants who never learned to speak English, Jonas was struck by the devastation he saw when the soldiers returned from battle after WWII. Determined to help, he worked to become a doctor and eventually joined the team that created the influenza vaccine. But Jonas wanted to do more. As polio ravaged the United States--even the president was not immune!--Jonas decided to lead the fight against this terrible disease. In 1952, Dr. Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine, which nearly eliminated polio from this country. For the rest of his life, Dr. Salk continued to do groundbreaking medical research at the Salk Institute, leaving behind a legacy that continues to make the world a better place every day.
Resource details
- Resource type
- Book
- Age ranges
- Elementary
- Careers
- Physical Therapist
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