Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for the Future of Vaccines
What’s inside...
Meet Hungarian American biochemist Katalin 'Kati' Kariko. She became fascinated by science as a child and grew up determined to find a way to use messenger RNA to help fight illness. Despite facing frequent criticism and skepticism from other scientists, Kariko never gave up on her research. Her perseverance paid off when she played a critical role in developing the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, the fastest-developed vaccine in history. This picture book biography celebrates Dr. Katalin Karikó, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-10
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What challenges did Dr. Kati Karikó face and how did she overcome them?
Why do you think perseverance is important in achieving goals?
How do vaccines help protect us and why are they important?
What qualities do you admire in Dr. Kati Karikó and why?
Can you think of a time when you didn't give up? What was the outcome?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the times they faced a challenge and how they felt when they overcame it.
Discuss the significance of resilience and perseverance in everyday life and relate them to Dr. Kati Karikó’s story.
Explore the concept of vaccines together, perhaps with simple experiments or by looking up additional resources that explain how vaccines work in a child-friendly way.
Highlight the impact of dedication and hard work by discussing real-life examples from the family or community.
Give examples of other inventors and scientists who, like Dr. Kati Karikó, have made significant contributions to society.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance pays off
Explanation: The book chronicles Dr. Kati Karikó's relentless pursuit of vaccine research, despite facing numerous setbacks.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to keep trying in their endeavors, be it learning a new skill or overcoming personal challenges, demonstrating that persistence leads to success.
Example Lesson: Importance of science and research
Explanation: Dr. Karikó's story emphasizes the significance of scientific research and its impact on global health.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to develop an interest in science and explore how research can solve real-world problems.
Example Lesson: Collaboration and teamwork
Explanation: The development of a vaccine in the story highlights the importance of teamwork among scientists.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of working together and how collective effort can achieve greater results than working alone.
Example Lesson: Overcoming adversity
Explanation: Dr. Karikó faces many challenges in her career but uses them as stepping stones rather than obstacles.
Real-World Application: This teaches children resilience and the ability to use setbacks as learning opportunities to grow stronger and more determined.
Example Lesson: Empowerment through education
Explanation: Dr. Karikó's journey underscores how education can empower individuals to make significant contributions.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to pursue education passionately, understanding that knowledge can open doors to making a difference in the world.