Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - General    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Herpetologists    8. Irwin, Steve    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Science & Nature - Zoology    12. Television personalities    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / General   

Reviews (11)

great illustrations but munged math
My nine year old can see that in order for the sun to shine straight down every hole on earth, the earth would have to curve around the outside of the sun. Ms. Lasky "simplifies" the math to the point that it is unintelligible. It might take a page or two more, but if you're going to attempt to explain the mathematics behind the measurement, do it right or not at all.

We Need More Books Like This!
I'd just like to repeat what the other middle school reviewers are saying about this book--namely that it works with kids.Beautifully illustrated, concise, great for a multi-disciplinary lesson.It covers history in an engaging way and makes students think.I wish publishers would get more books to us history teachers like this one.Teachers who liked this might want to check out Joy Hakim's new science "textbook" which covers early science and math.Every time I look at it I like it more.

Great job combining math, history, science & geography!
This is a picture book format biography of Eratosthenes, who lived in Ancient Greece, focusing on how he calculated the size of the Earth using a mathematical formula and measurements taken by measuring shadows and length of footsteps from one location to another. Eratostehenes had many roles and talents, one being that he was a mathematician and author of books on several topics. He wrote the first geography book, which included the first map of the world and the first documentation of the size of the Earth. Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy, Greek    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    4. Children's 4-8 - Biography / Autobiography    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Earth    8. Eratosthenes    9. Figure    10. Geographers    11. Geography, Ancient    12. Greece    13. Historical - Ancient Civilizations    14. Juvenile Fiction    15. Juvenile literature    16. Measurement    17. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Ancient Civilizations   

Editorial Review

Most children are captivated by snow, but how many go on to make it theirlifework? This beautiful biography, winner of the 1999 Caldecott Medal, tells the true story of a Vermont farm boy who was mesmerized by snowflakes. Wilson Bentley was fascinated by the six-sided frozen phenomena, and once he acquired a microscope with a camera, his childhood preoccupation took on a more scientific leaning. Bentley spent his life taking countless exquisite photographs (many that are still used in nature photography today), examining the tiny crystals and their delicate, mathematical structures. Jacqueline Briggs Martin tells this tale with simple, graceful prose that will engage children's imaginations. Edifying and snowflake-scattered sidebars offer more information about Bentley's methods and snowflake science. The artwork of Mary Azarian, whose 19th-century hand-press illustrations decorate the charming Read more

Reviews (32)

An Inspiring Story
Snowflake Bentley tells the delightful story of Wilson Bentley, a man who spent his entire life photographing snowflakes. He lived in Vermont his whole life, a place where snow is as common as dirt, but yet, he was still able to see its marvelous beauty. Children will love reading this book about a topic everyone finds pleasure in, plus they will be inspired by the life of Snowflake Bentley.
Bill Bentley and his somewhat odd profession
This book elegantly portrays the life of a rather eccentric man who spent his entire life studying and photographing snowflakes.The artwork is very complementary to his life's story, which is purposefully written with children in mind as the readers. There is enough information available about his life that an entire unit of study can be developed around the themes of winter and snow.Cross-curricular activities can be expanded to other content areas such as Social Studies and Science.I am a teacher and I use this book in conjunction with William Bentley's book of his actual snowflake photos entitled "Snow Crystals".The students learn a lot about snow and about the man.

What a unique and wonderful story
I love finding a children's book with a true story. Kids are bombarded with fiction and silliness all day long (which is wonderful in its own right), but it's such a treat to share a true story with children. Bentley's passion for something so child-friendly as snow inspires great feeling in children and adults alike. The book's detailed woodcut illustrations are beautiful in their own right. Buy this and then go out and buy Bentley's book of Snow Crystals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Wilson Alwyn),    2. 1865-1931    3. Bentley, W. A    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    6. Children's 4-8 - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    8. Children: Grades 1-2    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Meteorologists    12. Nature photography    13. Photography    14. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences    15. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Weather    16. Science & Technology - Earth Sciences    17. Snowflakes    18. United States    19. Fiction    20. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology    21. Picture books   

Subjects:  1. 1879-1955    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - General    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Einstein, Albert,    8. Juvenile Easy Readers    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Physicists    12. Science & Nature - Physics    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (3)

The Life Of Thomas A. Edison
Thomas A. Edison is about a boy who likes to ask questions. He came into his gooses nest and sat on her egg. Isn't that weird. He wanted the egg process to go faster. Tom is a good boy. You would like this book if you read it. It is funny and it is exciting. While you are reading it, you won't even know that you are learning. I was supposed to read it as a book report and I am glad I chose to read it. Tom was dedicated to make what he is working on come true. He messed up a couple of times like the time he told his friend to drink these two chemicals mix together so his friend could fly like a bird. Instead, hisd friendf got sick. I laughed. I give this book 5 points!

"The Wizard of Menlo Park"
Have you ever tried to sit on an egg and hatch it? Thomas Alva Edison did! He was a young who was curious about the world around him. He was born in a city near New York City. His family did not have much money, but they made a great effort to send young Thomas to school. At his first school that he attended, he was expelled for asking too much questions to her teacher. At his other 2 schools that he went too, he was also expelled for asking too many questions. At a young age Thomas would sell newspapers at a railroad. At the young age of 23, Thomas invented the phonograph, which is the grandfather of the Compact Disk. Then a couple of years later Thomas after 7 attempts invented the Light bulb. Years after inventing the light bulb, New York City was entirely lighted by light bulbs thanks to Thomas. He was even called "The wizard of Menlo Park". Thomas A. Edison
This book is wonderful for ages 8 - 12 who want to read about Thomas Edison's childhood and important things about his adult life.Each chapter has exciting stories that happened to this inquisitive boy.He was a very curious boy who would always ask questions. His parents, mother in particular, are very supportive of his curiosity. There are interesting events that happen like when Thomas gets his first ice skates and when he rides on a steam engine train. If you are interested in the world around you and maybe interested in science, then this is the book for you.It's fascinating to read about Thomas Edison as a young boy and as he grows into an adult because the only info I had before was a listing of his inventions.By the way, it would be very fast reading for an adult, and it might be nice if your child is reading this that you read it, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Thomas Alva),    2. 1847-1931    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Edison, Thomas A    8. Inventors    9. Juvenile literature    10. United States    11. Juvenile Fiction / Biographical / United States   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - General    3. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Clouds    7. England    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Meteorologists    11. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Weather   

Reviews (7)

Daughter Loves this Book
My 2.5 year old daughter loves this book. I read it to her a few times a week. It is just the right lenght for her to fall asleep.

Amazing and Inspiring
One of the greatest joys of this parenthood has been watching my four-year-old daughter come to understand that this is a true story, that men actually traveled to the moon and walked on its surface. Even though the moon landings were something I grew up with, the story grows more powerful with each retelling.It is one of her favorites and one of mine as well.

Sometimes you are remembered for being second
Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr. was the second man to walk on the moon when he followed Neil Armstrong on July 16, 1969, while Michael Collins circled the moon in the Apollo 11 spacecraft.In "Reaching for the Moon," Aldrin tells the story of his life that led up to walking on the moon, taking key episodes from his life and presenting them as life lessons to his young readers, such as sinking in a lake because he would not let go of a bucket of rocks he had collected ("I knew that if something was important to you, you had to hold on").Aldrin also shows how various things in his life foreshadowed what he would do on the moon (e.g., his mother's maiden name was Moon and his first airplane flight was in a small plane painted to look like an eagle).
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Subjects:  1. Aldrin, Buzz    2. Astronauts    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - General    5. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    6. Children's 9-12    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    8. Children: Grades 2-3    9. History - Exploration & Discovery    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Science & Technology - Aeronautics, Astronautics & Space Sci    13. Space flight to the moon    14. Technology - Aeronautics, Astronautics & Space Science    15. United States    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (6)

A juvenile history of Da Vinci with 21 related activites
I have been going through some of the books by Janis Herbert and others than combine history with 21 activities, and as interesting as I have found those volumes to be I have to say I like the ones that deal with artists even more."Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas" combines a detailed juvenile biography of the life of the great inventor, military engineer, scientist, botanist, and mathematician who found time to be a great painter and sculptor as well.This was the man who painted the "Mona Lisa" and invented the armored tank, diving suit, bicycle and airplane centuries before they were built.He is also an important figure in what has been the novel that has been at the top of the bestseller list for like the past year. Interesting, pretty pictures
Knowing little about art, I found this book easy to understand, enjoyable and informative.However, it is too advanced ("boring") for my almost 8 year old daughter.My opinion is that this book would be great for 10 and up.

I learned as much from this book as much as my students did!
I was surprised to see even one negative review of this wonderful book.I think it can be enjoyed equally by both parent/teacher and child/student.The text is beautifully written and presents all of the facets of this fascinating man. It also places his activities firmly within the context of the politics and society of the Renaissance.The book includes explanations, in language a middle-school child can understand, how flight is possible and how canals and locks work. A wide variety of activities, as well as line drawings, are included to illustrate other key concepts in painting, mechanics, etc.I cannot agree with the reviewer who felt that too few of Leonardo's works were included; I felt it included his most important works, as well as an interesting array of his mechanical, nature and anatomical drawings.As a teacher, I suggest using this book in combination with E.L. Konigsberg's "The Second Mrs. Gioconda"; my students really enjoyed seeing how novelists can use facts as the basis for fiction.I finished this book awed by the range of Leonardo's gifts and both my own daughters (one a reader, one an artist) loved this book for different reasons.But they both came away knowing about and loving Leonardo and that's the important thing!I only wish that this author would do a book on "Michaelangelo for Kids." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1452-1519    2. Activity Books - General    3. Art - History    4. Artists    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Art    7. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    8. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    9. Children: Grades 4-6    10. Creative activities and seat work    11. Italy    12. Juvenile Fine Arts    13. Juvenile Nonfiction    14. Juvenile literature    15. Leonardo,    16. da Vinci,    17. Artists, designers, photographers    18. Interactive & activity books & packs    19. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Art    20. Leonardo   

Reviews (6)

I may be biased...but...
I'm not sure if it is entirely fair for me to give a review of this book, since I was one of the illustrators who worked on it BUT my contribution is quite small and I can at least give you an honest assessment of the rest of the project. I have rarely been prouder to be a part of a graphic novel project. I have read all of Ottaviani's GN's about the lives of scientists (including the ones I did not work on) and I find them riveting. I do not agree with the earlier reviewer that there is any offensive material in this book. She makes the volume sound like an adaptaion of "Caligula". The "offensive" shot is a teeny, tiny panel that shows a lady floating through a man's imagination. She is clad in a gauzy garment. The shot is a direct and necessary shot to explain how the scientist came up with a mathematical formula. It is in no way gratuitous. Lord forbid that anyone who thinks this is offensive actually stroll through the ancient Greco-Roman art section of a museum. Their head will explode. I do not recall seeing any strong language at all. I also found the book to be quite amusing. The contributions of the other artists display solid cartooning. The clever stories, especially those about the life of the mischievous Feynmann, are de facto amusing. The guy was a born prankster. Scientists aren't carved out of marble, they make mistakes, get grouchy, think of pretty girls, and play practical jokes. This book is a great way to encourage young people to pursue science as it shows the humanity of them as well as their playful ways of viewing the world. Science isn't all dry study. It's about real people living real lives, and that is why I recommend this book, even if I drew a page of it, so I suppose there's a conflict of interest there. Oh well.

Gee, I found this book particularly appropriate and helpful
In response to a previous review ("Inappropriate and unhelpful"):
Inappropriate and unhelpful
Written in cartoon format, I thought this book would be a lighter approach to a straight, dry, biography of scientists.However, it is written more like a series of political cartoons than cartoons for kids.The cartoons are barely understandable if the biography of the scientist is not already known, so using it as an initial reading is impossible.Further, some content is offensive.On the second page of cartoons, a scientist is walking along a bridge, thinking, when someone mistakenly believes he is getting ready to jump, saying, "No woman is worth committing suicide over."The pictures show a scantily-clad woman (with bare bottom in one frame) that he is now picturing in his mind.Irrelevant and inappropriate!Plus, I didn't have to go far to find swear words in the captions.Yikes!My kids will never see this book!It is not even appropriate for high-school age kids.(In fact, it isn't even funny to adults!) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    2. Children's 9-12 - Science    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Science    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Humor - Cartoons & Comics    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Science & Technology - History    8. Technology - History    9. Children's 12-Up    10. Comics & Graphic Novels / General   

Reviews (1)

Excellent
My 7 year old son could not put this book down!He read the entire book in one afternoon, and then was able to complete his biography project for school without any additional research.The book brought Amelia Earhart to life; it was comprehensive and interesting, with so many insights that I had never known before.There were also numerous sketches and maps which would keep a youngster engaged throughout the book.This book gets a resounding "WOW!" from us. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1897-1937    2. Air pilots    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Earhart, Amelia,    8. Girls & Women    9. Juvenile Easy Readers    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. United States    13. Women air pilots    14. Earhart, Amelia    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (4)

Great Book!!!
A hugely captivating book, Dash conveys the wonderfully interesting and historically important tale with magnitude but truly gets the point across. For all you people that don't normally read non-fiction books, and to the people that do, I strongly suggest you read this book!

A wonderful children's book about navigation
"The Longitude Prize," by Joan Dash, is a wonderful book for children, 9 to 12 years old, about the 18th century race for an accurate method of determining a ship's longitude.The author makes history come alive and explains how Britain's Parliament offered a prize of 20,000 pounds (equal to $12 million today) to anyone who found an accurate method of determining longitude at sea.As Mrs. Dash explains, the prize went unclaimed for fifty years.During that time, two competing systems arose for finding longitude; one was supported by scientists and astronomers, based on the movement of the moon.The other method was created by a village carpenter, John Harrison, using a seagoing clock.John Harrison was self-educated and had no formal credentials, so the Board of Longitude fought him "tooth and nail," when he offered his chronometer and claimed the prize.Mrs. Dash makes the race for the prize an exciting one.She shows the historical framework of shipwrecks, politics, voyages of exploration, and John Harrison's persistence against great odds, and (quoting the book jacket) "his lifelong struggle for recognition of a brilliant invention."My 10-year-old son loved this book!

The Longitude Prize is a Prize
I am informing you that your listing is incorrest: the book cannot be out of stock, because it is not yet printed: it is expected to be out in September 2000. This is not a review. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Chronometers    6. Clock and watch makers    7. Great Britain    8. History    9. Juvenile literature    10. Longitude    11. Measurement    12. Technology - Inventions & Discoveries    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 1-2    7. Dinosaurs    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile Paleontology    10. Juvenile literature    11. Paleontologists    12. United States    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology   

Reviews (8)

Excellent autobiography for young people as well as adults.
My 8 year old was assigned to do her monthly book report on a biography. She wanted to read about Abraham Lincoln... until she found out she had to dress up as the book's subject! Regrouping with a week to go and a driving vacation looming, I rushed to ...to find a children's biography available in audio download... and stumbled upon this gem. We all listened to the (abridged) audio version on the trip, and I do think that hearing it read by the author added a great deal. My daughter read the unabridged book with fascination when we got home, though I suspect she might have had more difficulty relating to the book had she not heard Jane Goodall speak her own words first. At any rate, the report (outfitted with khakis, a notebook, and a velcro-handed stuffed chimp) was a great success, and my daughter has met a role model of determination, compassion, and wisdom.

A Heart-warming Adventure
An excellent book!Reading about the extraordinary life Jane Goodall has led is fascinating in itself.Add to it the personalities of the chimps you get to know as you read the book and the adventures Jane Goodall has experienced, and you have a fascinating read.Other reviews recommend this book to children, I recommend it for adults as well.I am thirty-something years young and cried when I read parts of this.Dr. Goodall's love for these animals really comes through.

Boring!
This book was so broing I couldn't even get through the whole thing.She was putting me to sleep! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - General    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Chimpanzees    9. England    10. Gombe Stream National Park    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Nature - Environmental Conservation & Protection    14. Primatologists    15. Science & Nature - Environmental Conservation & Protection    16. Tanzania    17. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

Reviews (3)

Great for 7-9 years old
My 7 year old really liked this, and more generally this whole Landmark series is very good for young readers.Vocabulary and sentence structure are age appropriate.Content is good solid history.As opposed to much of the stuff for this age which is "silly" reading, this series lets them learn something while improving their reading skills.

Great informative and inspirational book
This book was easy to read and helped me gain an understanding of the Wright brothers and the influence their mother had on their lives as well as their accomplishments and what drove them to invent, and invent, and invent! Not only did it provide a good review of their acccomplishments, but it also provided inspiration to my 11 year old daughter. These men had a can do attitude and never gave up. I recommend this book for anyone who wants knowlege of the Wright brothers, and inspiration to always keep trying.

True Discription
A book that truly describes what happened to the Wright Brothers.It tells of how they went from almost nothing to building arplanes.It tells how they worked to build the airplane, and always wanted to build one. Recomended for anyone who wants to know more about Orville Wright andWilbur, and wants to read a good book ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1867-1912    2. 1871-1948    3. Aeronautics    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - General    6. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    7. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    8. Boys & Men    9. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    10. Children: Grades 4-6    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. United States    14. Wright, Orville,    15. Wright, Wilbur,    16. Aircraft    17. Inventors, engineers & medical figures    18. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology   

Reviews (11)

An interesting and wonderful book about courage
I thought this book was a thrilling book and I learned a lot about what is was like for women back in 1840 and about how Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman doctor in the United States. The book starts off when Elizabeth was younger. It talks about how she was a hardworking person. It said that in school she tried to make all of her letters as neat as the writing in the text book. Also that she wanted to do her stuff by herself like tying her shoe laces. Finally, when she was sick she even tried to cure herself. The rest of the book talks about how she tried to get into college and learn how to become a doctor. At this time there are no women doctors and no college would accept her becouse she was a woman. Most of the doctors told her to give up and treated her badly. Some time later, she got accepted into Geneva Medical School in upstate New York. She was happy when she got in but found out that it must have been a joke when she got there because everyone else was a man and she was not being treated fairly. At one point she felt like quitting but she stayed put and became the first woman doctor. When she became the first woman doctor, her example inspired other women to become doctors too. This girl followed her dream. I think this book is also a good book to learn about what it was like for women back than because it showed how just becouse she was a girl she could not do all the things she wanted to and was supposed to do all the things her mother expected her to do. For exsample, she was supposed to sew and clean. This book also was a book for learning. I would recommend this book to anyone how wants to learn about doctors and what it was like a woman in the 1840s.

An interesting and wonderful book about courage
I thought this book was a thrilling book and I learned a lot about what is was like for women back in 1840 and about how Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman doctor in the United States. The book starts off when Elizabeth was younger. It talks about how she was a hardworking person. It said that in school she tried to make all of her letters as neat as the writing in the text book. Also that she wanted to do her stuff by herself like tying her shoe laces. Finally, when she was sick she even tried to cure herself. The rest of the book talks about how she tried to get into college and learn how to become a doctor. At this time there are no women doctors and no college would accept her becouse she was a woman. Most of the doctors told her to give up and treated her badly. Some time later, she got accepted into Geneva Medical School in upstate New York. She was happy when she got in but found out that it must have been a joke when she got there because everyone else was a man and she was not being treated fairly. At one point she felt like quitting but she stayed put and became the first woman doctor. When she became the first woman doctor, her example inspired other women to become doctors too. This girl followed her dream. I think this book is also a good book to learn about what it was like for women back than because it showed how just becouse she was a girl she could not do all the things she wanted to and was supposed to do all the things her mother expected her to do. For exsample, she was supposed to sew and clean. This book also was a book for learning. I would recommend this book to anyone how wants to learn about doctors and what it was like a woman in the 1840s.

School Review
Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman doctor after facing against all odds.When Elizabeth Blackwell was little she always made everything she did perfect. She was always learning more and studied her lessons very hard.As she got older she began to become restless. She felt as if nothing challenged her and that there was something more that she could do. She said that it felt like her life was being wasted.When she was caring for a sick friend, her friend told her that she should become a doctor.Elizabeth took to the idea. She soon went to Philadelphia to take private lessons with Doctor Elder.She stayed there for quite some time and learned a lot, but knew she couldn't go very far with private lessons.She decided to apply to a medical school.Every reply she got back said that they couldn't admit a woman to their school.She finally got a reply from the last school. She was accepted into Geneva College.She graduated from Geneva with a degree full honors.From there she went to work a Blockey Almshouse.She worked there for a while then thought that she would go to Paris to see if she could get a job as an actual doctor.She got a job as a nurse at La Maternite. She worked long hours and the work was very demanding.She had an accident that left her blind in one eye.She then came back to the USA and opened a small dispensary.After a short time the dispensary closed and with the help of her sister and their new friend they opened a hospital where women could work as doctors.The hospital became so successful that with Elizabeth's help a college was opened where women could study to become doctors. She was bored in America so Elizabeth went to England to work more.She did much there and founded the National Health Society which worked on preventing disease instead of just curing it. And finally she died in 1910, at the age of 89.This is a great story of a woman with a good heart and a strong will.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children: Grades 3-4    9. Girls & Women    10. Juvenile literature    11. Physicians    12. Women    13. Women physicians    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

i can't wait to get the whole series
This is one of the best biographies aimed at children that I have ever read.The main narrative is interspersed with sidebars about different historical explanations about relevant topics such as the invention of paper, ranking of workers within the guild system, Copernicus,The illustrations by True Kelley are light-hearted, accessible, and they carry the text.How else do you explain a painting? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artists    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Art    4. Biography & Autobiography - General    5. Biography & Autobiography - Music    6. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    9. Children: Grades 4-6    10. History - Renaissance    11. Inventors    12. Italy    13. Juvenile Easy Readers    14. Juvenile Nonfiction    15. Juvenile literature    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (4)

Packed with anecdotes and much research yet lively in tone and presentation
For over thirty years Leonardo Da Vinci was obsessive about investigating everything in the natural world, from the color of the sky to mountains and water sources. Packed with anecdotes and much research yet lively in tone and presentation, grades 4-7 will find a lovely coverage spiced with Boris Kulikov's drawings in this new 'Giants of Science' addition.
Great book for kids and adults!!!
This book is wonderful!I recently purchased it at the Louisville Science Center for my sixth-grade son interested in science and math.
Disappointing...
I am a big fan of Kathleen Krull. She has written so many wonderful books, but LEONARDO DA VINCI is a book that I do not feel comfortable recommending or sharing.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Art    3. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    4. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. History - Medieval    8. Italy    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Science & Nature - General    12. Science, Renaissance    13. Scientists    14. Juvenile Fiction / Science & Technology   

Reviews (6)

Ben Franklin's Fooling Around
Benjamin Franklin fooled around a lot.It wasn't because he was lazy; he had a strong curiosity to find out things, and he did.But once he knew something, he didn't fool around.He knew he didn't want to work for his brother, so he left.He knew England was wrong to tax the colonies the way they did, so he told them so.He knew how to invent things that others needed, so he did.This was Ben Frankilin.Read of the little and big events in his life.

A Very Brave Man
Ben Frinklin was very smart,brave,and curious.He thought of inventions and did many experiments.He was brave because he did dangerous experiments.He was curious about different inventions, that is why he did all his experiments.

Excellent book to keep interest!
I was so impressed with the descriptive wording of this book. I'm not a normal biography reader, but this worked perfectly for my 3rd graders.It held there interest, made them laugh, and actually taught them something!A great read for all ages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    3. Biography & Autobiography - Political    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 3-4    7. Inventors    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Printers    11. Statesmen    12. United States    13. Historical figures    14. Inventors, engineers & medical figures    15. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / General    16. USA   

Reviews (6)

Book of Interest
This book allowed me to share stories of inventions by women with my students.Girls often feel left out of the "science of invention", this book allows them to relate to accomplishments in a field where girls often don't relate to the material presented.

Empowering and informative
This book goes a long way towards encouraging girls (and women!) to put their creative powers to practical use. It is so gratifying to learn that many everyday items (ice cream cones; Toll House cookies) were invented by women. And the items that are not so 'everyday' (Kevlar; space shields) have such a positive impact on the world around us. The illustrations are wonderfully creative, blending the fascinating details of the text into whimsical collages. Don't forget the sidebars - lots of fun facts there as well.

Loved it. Very inspirational.
I first read the book with my daughter and then shared it with my Girl Scout troop. It was very inspirational and a joy to see some many innovations coming from women. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Girls & Women    6. History    7. History - United States/General    8. Inventions    9. Inventors    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Science & Nature - General    13. Technology - Inventions & Discoveries    14. United States    15. Women inventors    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Girls & Women   

Reviews (6)

Fascinating anecdotes
Guinea Pig Scientists contains nine chapters, each on a different scientist who made a difference by plaicng themself in harm's way to varying degrees.The book is hardly in depth, but it covers the most important aspects of each scientists methods and what was learned from them.This would be a great book to use to get adolescents interested in scientific inquiry.It is an engaging read, and the gross out factor will bring in even reluctant readers.Be warned: not all of the scientists survive their experiments.

Makes you want more!
Kids need to learn that science sometimes proceeds when some daring researcher is willing to test things out on his or herself. In my favorite chapter, Leslie and her co-authors vividly strap your kids into the cockpit of an open sled rocket. (I'm sure if you think about it, you've seen the historical videos on TV of a guy with his mouth agape riding a rocket). Why on Earth did Colonel Stapp do this? Because he was working on making safer ejection systems for our military pilots, and he decided the best way to learn about the issues was to experience them himself. Talk about a rush that will make your kids want to look up more information online or from some book. And when they do so, they will learn, for instance, that Colonel Stapp's work has been applied to automobile safety with contributions to shoulder harness and crumple zone design methods that help you stay safe in a bad crash. They will also learn that Colonel Stapp was General Yeager's coworker--Captain Yeager, at the time, being the guy who first broke through the sound barrier, and one of Americas' great heroes, and off your kids go to explore the space race and mankind's evolving adventure into space. Yeager plays prominently in the book and movie The Right Stuff. So too among the Colonel's friends was Capt. Murphy of Murphy's law. This is the kind of vivid history that will make your kids pine for more science.
A wonderful introduction
Guinea Pig Scientists is a wonderful introduction for putting a face and an exciting story behind a particular science. I expect many children (and adults) to go read further about different topics or the scientists because their appetites have finally been whetted. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    2. Children's 9-12 - Medical    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Science    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Health & Daily Living - Diseases    6. History - Other    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Science & Technology - Medicine    10. Scientists    11. Self-experimentation in medici    12. Self-experimentation in medicine    13. Technology - Medicine    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / Experiments & Projects