I had never heard of Ernest Everett Just before reading this book which, considering his contributions to our understanding of cells, should be shameful. His story is riveting and Luisa Uribe’s illustrations brings it to life in a stunningly colorful way. There is so much to take away from this book, but one of the most important and saddest is how such a pioneering scientist can be forgotten.

Most of us get only a limited view of black history in school. Even during Black History Month we get stories of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr, and maybe George Washington Carver. We get abolition and the Civil Rights Movement, ignoring contributions in literally every other field. Mathematics. Business. Music. Art. Science. THat's where books like this one come in. If the public school system fails us then people like Mangal will take up the task. I'd never heart of Just. He achieved amazing discoveries with a microscope that was barely better than a hand lens. And Mangal doesn't hesitate to tell the reader the way that American society dismissed this amazing scientist doe to his race. Better to acknowledge the prejudice so that we can learn from it.

This bio on biologist Ernest Everett Just is just what your picture book biography section needs. He came of age in the Jim Crow South, paying his way through Dartmouth College while supporting his siblings after his mother's passing. He "unlocked the mysteries of how the different parts of the cell worked together as new life developed", and found success as a Howard University professor, embryologist, and cytologist, working in both Europe and the States. The Vast Wonder of the World tells his story, introducing him to a new generation of budding scientists who will be inspired by his determination and success in the face of racism and adversity. The muted pencil and digital artwork, in shades of blue, creates a sense of wonder and beauty, giving readers a real appreciation for Just and his place in science history. An author's note, a timeline, and source notes complete this solid addition to science biography sections. Display and booktalk - PLEASE - with Gwendolyn Hudson Hooks and Colin Bootman's Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas, and - if you can find it (can we please get this book back in print?) - May Chinn: The Best Medicine, by Ellen Butts and Joyce R. Schwartz, illustrated by Janet Hamlin.

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has a good feature story on Dr. Just, with references to further reading, by W. Malcolm Byrnes.

The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just is a picturebook biography written by Melina Mangal, and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. It is currently Scheduled for release on November 1 2018. Ernest was not like other scientists. He saw the whole, where others saw only parts. And he noticed details others failed to see. Through stunning illustrations and lyrical prose, this picture book presents the life and accomplishments of Ernest Everett Just, an African American biologist who made important discoveries about the cell in the 1930s. Through his careful observations and hard work, Ernest opened up the wonder of the universe to all of us, through a tiny egg cell.

The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just is a wonderful picturebook biography about a man that struggled against prejudice and never let anything get in the way of his search to understand the word around him. I like that he is described as an observer, because too many of our budding scientists today are observers as well, and often get hurried along rather than given the time they want to study the details of the world. Just's work and struggles are covered well here in the limits of the picturebook format, and the artwork does a wonderful job of complimenting the text, and the spirit of Just's work.
I wish I had known more about this scientist and his work before now, and hope that this book will not only inspire young people to study the world around them, but for all readers to take some time and explore his life and work. I know I will be exploring the sources cited and information offered at the end of the book to better understand him, but to take it a step further and look into other scientists that do not get the respect and honor that they deserve.

Ernest Everett Just is a scientist who battled segregation and overcame countless obstacles to become an infamous name in the world of biology and cell research. His story and research should be shared in all upper level science classes. Just's story is also an important one to show students/readers that with hard work, you can overcome even the toughest of obstacles. At the end of the book there is more useful information on Ernest Everett Just including; a photo of Ernest, glossary, timeline of his life, author's/illustrator's note, and resources for further information.

This handsome biography of biologist Ernest Everett Just successfully places him in his historical context (1883-1943) in the segregated south, the north, and in Europe. Both a scientist and a poet, Just was fascinated by how life begins. For his scientific efforts he was the first to win the NAACP Spingarn Medal. This well written and well-documented biography clearly describes Just’s career. Illustrations support the text and are appealing to look at. Back matter includes an author’s note and an illustrator’s note. A fine biography to share as a read aloud or to have in a classroom library.

I reviewed this book for Millbrook Press. It’s a picture book biography on the life of black scientist, Ernest Everett. He displayed such grit and accomplished so many incredible things in his life. I love the idea of exposing children to the biographies of real people and especially try to add some diversity in their lives.

Ernest Everett Just was an African American pioneer in the field of microbiology. The book highlights how Ernest's childhood fascination with marine life inspired him to go to school, make new discoveries, and overcome obstacles. Ernest was fascinated with cells in marine life and how the different parts of a cell work together. The book also includes additional information about his life and a timeline at the back of the book. It is a great picture book to use with an upper elementary or middle school science class.

While I loved that I was being introduced to an entirely new historical figure in this picture book biography, I have to say that it felt like a scattered reading experience. I feel as though the author had learned about her subject so well that she had difficulty deciding on a path to carry us through his life. It makes sense. The guy was seemingly all over the map when it came to accomplishments. He seemed to excel at whatever he needed to in order to advance his cause, and would even overcome adversity by picking up new skills that would aid his cause. Still, the narrative thread was sometimes difficult to follow. Beginning with a flash forward to his adult life and going back to his childhood can work in many books. In this, it felt a little off-putting. Still, the endnotes are extensive and illuminate a forgotten scientific groundbreaker. The illustrations are dazzling. I would add this to my school's collection despite the odd and overstuffed main narrative.

This was an interesting look at a scientist most students can not readily name. Ernest Everett is the reason we know so much about cellular development. This book looks more at his life, and gives the reader just the basics of his scientific study. I like this, because the author didn’t shy away from the hard stuff. They cover the death of Ernest’s father, his failing a class, his move to France because of his treatment as a person of color in the US. This was very well done, and every reader will find something new they didn’t know.

Truly gorgeous artwork by Luisa Uribe illustrates this inspiring life story of biologist Ernest Everett Just. All biographies should be this lovely. I envy the students using this book to inform their reports and open the world of possibilities to them!

The Vast World of Wonder was an incredible story of a less well-known scientist. This man's story needs to spread far and wide. I loved the story of his journey and felt it needed to be shared immediately. I can't wait to have this book in my classroom and the science classrooms in our building.