Albert Einstein

Starred review from October 1, 2009
Gr 5-8-Krull once again demonstrates her ability to balance a description of the personality of a genius with the significance of his contribution to science. In 13 chapters, she addresses the myths of Einstein as a poorly performing student who "bugged his teachers" and an unlikely genius known for his "bedhead." The author employs colloquial terms and concrete examples to make her work both engaging and accessible to young audiences. While delivering Einstein's theories is a task few biographers could accomplish, Krull's use of imagery, like Einstein's own thought pictures, will give readers a reasonable idea of his theorems. Einstein is depicted as a rebel student, absentminded scientist, and distracted parent who made mistakes and had his regrets, but who also retained his curiosity and continued to work on answering the questions he imagined. The final chapter explains why he was important, and how modern experiments continue to prove his theories. Kulikov's pen-and-ink illustrations offer lighthearted interpretations of the text. A useful list of quality resources indicates which titles are appropriate for young readers."Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
Grades 6-9 Slow to develop, Einstein retained a childs curiosity and determination to understand the world throughout a lifetime of scientific thinking. The breezy tone of this newest biography of the man whose name has become a synonym for genius is evident from its opening sentence: Albert Einstein had major bedhead. Starting with his childhood, she provides the main points of his public and private lives, including his efforts first in favor of and then in opposition to nuclear weapons. She doesnt gloss over his difficulties getting along with others, but sets those problems in the context of his breathtaking contributions: the quantum theory of light, proof of the existence of atoms, and special and general relativity. While Einsteins accomplishments may tower over those of the other scientists profiled in Krulls Giants of Science series, she explains them in a fashion appropriate for her middle school audience. Kulikovs drawings add to the humor, and a bibliography highlights additional reading. For independent readers and report writers, this is a very appealing addition to a long bookshelf.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
In this engrossing and remarkably accessible biography, Krull lingers just enough over Einstein's childhood to give readers time to connect with him; she also does an admirable job of explaining his theories. The text steers clear of hero worship, matter-of-factly describing Einstein's personal relationships. Kulikov's occasional pen-and-ink illustrations reflect the man's curiosity and imagination--and his unforgettable finger-in-a-light-socket hairstyle. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2009
With her very first sentence -- "Albert Einstein had major bedhead" -- Krull immediately draws readers into her engrossing and remarkably accessible biography of the high-school dropout turned Nobel-winning physicist whose "ideas make your head spin, in a down-the-rabbit-hole, Alice in Wonderland sort of way." To her credit, Krull does an admirable job of explaining Einstein's revolutionary theories (special relativity, E=mc2, general relativity, etc.), four of which he churned out in 1905, his "miracle year." Krull lingers just enough over his childhood and schooling to give readers time to connect with young Einstein, the kid nicknamed "the dopey one" and the "big bore" who would ultimately "give science a whole new way of looking at reality, at the relationship between matter, motion, time, space, and energy." As in the other books in the series, Krull steers clear of hero worship, matter-of-factly describing Einstein's relationships with his children and the women in his life, who could never compete with science for his attention. Popping up every few chapters, Kulikov's pen-and-ink illustrations capture Einstein's curiosity and imagination -- and his unforgettable finger-in-a-light-socket hairstyle. Sources and index (unseen) are appended.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)