Bibliography
Brown, D.(2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Book Summary
The author highlights some of the odd characteristics of Einstein from birth through adulthood and how he became famous. His grandmother thought he was too fat and his mother thought he had fat head. Einstein took longer than normal to start talking. He had a temper and often had “nasty tantrums” and was sometimes cruel to his sister. He often ignored things that didn’t interest him but paid single minded attention to things that interested him such as math which he was brilliant at.
My Impression
The book chronicles the life of Einstein from birth to adulthood. The author includes the odd details that characterized the physicist’s life. These details make Einstein more real. The struggles he experienced at home and at school help the reader get a clear picture of Einstein. The text is simple and children will be able to follow along. The details are not overwhelming so as to confuse young readers. The illustrations highlight the text. They are detailed and they portray Einstein’s life in different stages. They show his fascination with simple things such as a compass and his though process as he ponders about topics that interest him.
This is a good example of a biography suitable for elementary ages 8-12 years.
Reviews:
School Library Journal:
Gr 2-5 –This well-crafted picture-book biography focuses on Einstein's hard-to-classify brilliance, which led to awesome scientific discoveries, but all too often left him a misunderstood outsider. Brown describes his subject's loving, cultured parents who were frequently nonplussed by their son's behavior and temper. He found himself the "odd boy" at school, and as the only Jewish student, was sometimes taunted by other children. He puzzled his instructors as well; though clearly gifted in science, math, and music, he was an indifferent student in most subjects. Brown's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, rendered in a palette of dusky mauve and earthy brown, portray a doubtful, somewhat unhappy-looking child, except for a picture in which he gazes fondly at a compass, a gift that astonishes him as he ponders its mysteries. In many scenes he is marginalized on the sidelines, set apart by color and shading. One dramatic spread features an adult Einstein pushing his child in a carriage, looking small against a backdrop that highlights some of the scientific puzzles that so engaged him. Through eloquent narrative and illustration, Brown offers a thoughtful introduction to an enigmatic man. This book will pique the interest of readers with little or no knowledge of Einstein.–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA --Marilyn Taniguchi (Reviewed October 1, 2004) (School Library Journal, vol 50, issue 10, p138)
Use in a Library Setting:
Use in study lesson on Einstein. Ask children to conduct a research of the life of Einstein and his accomplishments.
References:
Book image from Barnes & Noble at: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Odd-Boy-Out/Don-Brown/e/9780547349954/?itm=1&USRI=odd+boy+out%3a+young+albert+einstein