Meet Elsie MacGill (Scholastic Canada Biography)

Meet Elsie MacGill — the world's first female aeronautical engineer!

In this amazing addition to the Scholastic Canada Biography series, young Canadians will learn about the trailblazing Elsie MacGill, whose work on the Canadian-made Hawker Hurricane fighter helped the Allied forces to victory in World War II.

Elsie was born in 1905 to a mother who was a feminist pioneer in her own right.Elsie grew up fully expecting to follow her dreams. And she did. Elsie was first woman to graduate from the University of Toronto's electrical engineering program. Elsie went on to earn a master's in aeronautical engineering —but contracted polio the day before her convocation. She battled back, and a storied engineering career followed, including being in charge of the tooling and manufacture of the famous Hawker Hurricane. Later in her life she was a champion of women's rights and her work shaped many of the protections we now enjoy.

Written by award-winning author Elizabeth MacLeod, this portrait of Elsie MacGill is the first ever written for younger readers. The simple text and full-colour, comic-flavoured illustrations by Mike Deas bring this fascinating story to life!

Elizabeth MacLeod has written more than 80 books, including biographies, picture books, cookbooks and other nonfiction titles. Dinosaurs, royal murder, forensic science, horses that changed history—she’s written about them all. Liz is a Member of the Order of Canada and has won the Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction and the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book. She has also won children’s choice awards across the country, including the Hackmatack, Red Cedar, Red Maple and Silver Birch. Liz's most recent books include How to Become an Accidental Activist and Get Out and Vote!. She lives in Toronto.

MIKE DEAS is an author and illustrator of many picture books and graphic novels, including the Bee & Flea series and the Sueno Bay Adventures. He lives with his family on sunny Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

• Hackmatack Children's Choice Award (Atlantic Canada)Short-listed 2020
• Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book CentreCommended 2020
• Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Starred SelectionCommended 2020
• Rocky Mountain Book Award (Alberta Children's Choice)Short-listed 2021
• OLA Best BetsCommended 2019