Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Albert Einstein: Genius of the Twentieth Century
Illustrator: Alan Daniel , Lea Daniel
Nonfiction
For ages 6 to 8
Simon and Schuster, 2005 ISBN: 978-0689870347
From the very beginning Albert was different. As a small boy he chose not to speak until he could do so in complete sentences. When his father gave him a compass Albert became fascinated with the object asking question after question and seeking the riddle behind the north pointing needle. This was a pattern that Albert would follow for the rest of his life ? looking for the answers to puzzling questions and mysteries.
Because he was different Albert found that he frequently had to defend his right to do things his own way. He didn?t want to learn things by rote as the other school boys did, nor did he really want to study the subjects that did not interest him. Albert supplemented his education by learning a great deal on his own and this too was something he did for the rest of his life.
Perhaps the hardest thing of all for Albert was finding his place in the world. What was a genius to do to make a living?
This early reader biography very successfully tells the story of Albert Einstein. The author emphasizes the fact that Albert was not only brilliant, but he was also atypical and this made it hard for him to ?fit in? with others. The reader comes to see that this man was a strong-willed maverick who loved to learn and who wasn?t afraid to be different. A lively text and interesting facts will capture the interest of even the most determined biobliophobe
