Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas

Summary of Book

Vivien Thomas's greatest dream was to attend college to study medicine. But after the stock market crashed in 1929, Vivien lost all his savings. Then he heard about a job opening at the Vanderbilt University medical school under the supervision of Dr. Alfred Blalock. Vivien knew that the all-white school would never admit him as a student, but he hoped working there meant he was getting closer to his dream.

As Dr. Blalock s research assistant, Vivien learned surgical techniques. In 1943, Vivien was asked to help Dr. Helen Taussig find a cure for children with a specific heart defect. After months of experimenting, Vivien developed a procedure that was used for the first successful open-heart surgery on a child. Afterward, Dr. Blalock and Dr. Taussig announced their innovative new surgical technique, the Blalock-Taussig shunt. Vivien s name did not appear in the report.

Overcoming racism and resistance from his colleagues, Vivien ushered in a new era of medicine children s heart surgery. Tiny Stitches is the compelling story of this incredible pioneer in medicine."

Author Biography

Gwendolyn Hooks was born in Savannah, Georgia. Thanks to her Air Force dad, she also lived in Texas, Washington, and Italy. After teaching middle school math, Gwendolyn decided to follow her passion, writing for children. In her vocabulary, fun means travel. She's visited England, Belgium, Canada, and Mexico. Her favorite travel spot? The state parks of Oklahoma. Gwendolyn loves visiting schools and libraries, sharing her writing life with students, teachers, librarians, and parents. If she ever needs inspiration, Gwendolyn remembers the wacky antics of her three children growing up.

Illustrator Biography

Colin Bootman was born in Trinidad where he spent the first seven years of his life. During this time, he was inspired by the island s rich and diverse culture. Soon after moving to the United States, Mr. Bootman embraced art as a measure of escape from the pressures of adjusting to a new environment at an early age. Mr. Bootman cites finding his first comic book as the life-changing experience that marked the beginning of his career as an artist.
Mr. Bootman began formal training at LaGuardia High School of the Arts, which served to deepen his appreciation for other disciplines, and solidified his own passion for the visual arts. In college, Mr. Bootman studied photography, writing, and illustration, honing his skills under the tutelage of professional artists. Mr. Bootman was encouraged to pursue children s book art, as it allowed him the freedom to express himself through various media. Ultimately, the instructors at the School of Visual Arts prepared Mr. Bootman for the challenges of working as a professional illustrator.

Mr. Bootman s first book, "Young Frederick Douglass", was published in 1994 and received starred reviews. He has since illustrated many children s books, textbooks, periodicals, and book covers. Mr. Bootman has worked with several publishers including Random House ("Follow the Leader"), Harper Collins ("In My Momma s Kitchen"), Scholastic ("Oh, No, Toto!"), and Holiday House ("Papa s Mark"). Mr. Bootman is the recipient of the Coretta Scott King Honor 2004, the Schneider Family Book Award 2006, the Ashley Bryan Lifetime Achievement Honor 2006, and several others. His books have won such awards as The Teachers Choice Award, The Comstock Award, The Storytelling World Award, The Golden Kite Honor, and many others. Mr. Bootman s first written and Illustrated book ("Fish For The Grand Lady"), debuted in the fall of 2006. In addition to illustrating Mr. Bootman enjoys teaching and presenting to students throughout the country.

Mr. Bootman credits the lively rhythms and vibrant palette of Trinidad with leaving an indelible mark on his creative expression. He continues to grow as an artist as he welcomes the challenges that each new project invites. As Mr. Bootman s work serves to inspire both early readers and future artists alike, he hopes to encourage young minds to embrace and follow their passions.