Sometimes referred to as America?s first African American man of science,

Author: Andrea Davis Pinkney

Illustrator: Brian Pinkney

Format: Paperback

Published: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1994

Sometimes referred to as America?s first African American man of science, Banneker farmed tobacco during the day and taught himself astronomy while his family slept. After struggling to publish his Almanac (the first published by an African American), Banneker sent a copy to then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson with a letter criticizing him for keeping slaves. Jefferson's reply began an unusual correspondence. Pinkney's scratchboard artwork beautifully illustrates the story.