Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson

Before weather satellites and advanced forecasting, one determined scientist changed the way the world understands clouds and storms.

"An energetic, compassionate examination of a determined researcher who left her mark." ―Publishers Weekly

This inspiring picture book biography introduces young readers to a trailblazing scientist whose perseverance helped open doors for generations of women in STEM. Perfect for readers interested in science, weather, aviation, women’s history, and stories of courage and discovery

As a child, Joanne Simpson loved looking up at the sky. As a pilot, she flew among the clouds she longed to understand. But when she decided to become a meteorologist, she faced a world that believed women did not belong in science. Her professors told her that no woman had ever earned a doctorate in meteorology—and no woman ever would.

Joanne refused to give up. Through determination, curiosity, and years of hard work, she became the first woman in the world to earn a PhD in meteorology and went on to make groundbreaking discoveries about how clouds and weather systems work. Her research transformed the scientific understanding of storms and weather forecasting.