Book Cover Image:
Book Summary: This
is the story of scientist Albert Einstein’s life. The story beings with Albert’s birth over 100
years ago and follows him throughout his life.
Notable moments include the fact that Albert did not speak for the first
few years of his life, which worried his parents, however he did wonder about
the world around him. One day, his
father gives him a compass and he began to wonder how the needle of the compass
could always point north. This made Albert
realize he wanted to understand more about the mysteries of the world. As
Albert began his school years he began asking questions, so much so that he was
considered to be disruptive. A
significant turning point came for Albert as he was riding his bike and in his
mind he was racing through space on a beam of light. Einstein began to wonder about light,
gravity, magnetism, sound, and more. He
studied these things and eventually graduated from college, wanting to become a
teacher. No teaching jobs were
available, so Albert began working in a government office. It was during this stage of life that
Einstein discovered that all things are made of atoms. People began to see Einstein as a genius and
invited him to become a scientist and a professor. Albert spent the remainder of his life making
discoveries about the world around him and helped people understand the
universe in ways nobody else had before.
APA Reference of
Book:
Berne, J. (2013). On a
beam of light: a story of Albert
Einstein. San Francisco, CA.
Chronicle Books.
Impressions: This
is a wonderful overview of the life of perhaps one of the most influential men
in our history. Einstein made some of
the most important discoveries of his time that still impacts scientists today. It is enjoyable that Berne included moments
from his childhood, rather than simply focusing on the scientific discoveries
that he made. The fact that Einstein did
not speak for so long is particularly interesting, and demonstrates that all
children learn and develop in different ways.
If one of the most intelligent humans who ever lived did not develop on
a “typical” path, perhaps this shows that everyone grows in their own unique
way.
On a Beam of Light
is a terrific example of an informational book and biography. The story makes sure to follow each stage of
Einstein’s life and shows readers his most significant accomplishments. Any reader searching for a good overview of
his life would be able to use this book.
Also useful, is the fact that Berne includes the impact he had on
society. This is very important for
young readers who are reading these books to find the impact of important
humans like Einstein. Berne also did an
excellent job of making a somewhat complex topic understandable for young
children. I would certainly recommend
this book to young readers who are studying Albert Einstein.
Professional
Review:
School Library Journal
-
Gr K-3—This imaginative rendition of the early life of
Albert
Einstein captures the wonder of a child who thinks about things in
ways adults simply cannot fathom. Albert is an awkward youth who doesn't fit
comfortably into conventional situations. His fascination with mysteries of
physics lead him to imagine that his pedestrian life is linked to profound and
universal forces. Even without the print version's illustrations, the audio
version, narrated by Rich Orlow, manages to convey the magic of the scientist.
There aren't other noteworthy biographies of Einstein for the younger set. This
one is an honorable contribution.
Source: Levin, R. (2014). On a beam of light: a story of Albert
Einstein. [Review of the
book On a beam of light: a story of Albert Einstein by J. Berne]. School
Library Journal.60(6). 62. Retrieved
from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2052/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=256569
Found Through: UNT Library Database – LexisNexis Academic
Library Uses: This
would be an excellent book to use in a library study of biographies. Students can watch the BrainPop video on
biographies to understand the elements that a biography contains. After watching this, at library tables the students
will participate in round table discussions about how On a Beam of Light is an example of a biography. Finally, the students will choose a partner
that they can write a biography about.
The students will be provided with important questions to ask their
partner in order to gather enough facts.
They will then write a short biography about that person. If time permits, they can create a timeline
using a Microsoft Word timeline template to accompany their biography. If creating timelines has not yet been
taught, time would need to be allowed for this.
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