The Eclipse of 1919: How Einstein's Theory of General Relativity Changed Our World

by Emily Arnold McCully

Overview

From his earliest days as a child, Albert Einstein was fascinated with the relationship between light and gravity. He couldn’t stop thinking about the laws of the universe, and was determined to describe how motion and time, and energy and mass, all worked together. Einstein imagined gravity as what happens when objects bend the space and time around them. But this theory couldn’t be perceived in the everyday world. To test his hypothesis, Einstein needed to see if the sun’s gravity bent the light from a nearby star. And the only way to do that was to photograph a total solar eclipse. This is the story of how scientist Arthur Eddington validated Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, permanently altering the world’s understanding of the universe and beyond. It’s a testament to the relationship between nature, science, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316475525
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/29/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 12.45(h) x 0.38(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Emily Arnold McCully has illustrated many award-winning books for children, including Mirette on the High Wire, which received the Caldecott Medal; Dreaming in Code: Ada Byron Lovelace, Computer Pioneer, which received starred reviews from School Library Journal and The Bulletin; and Caroline’s Comets. Emily divides her time between New York City and Austerlitz, New York, where she was able to experience the 2024 total eclipse in her backyard. She invites you to visit her online at emilyarnoldmccully.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Eclipse of 1919
A Junior Library Guild Selection

★ “McCully brings her signature delicate illustrations in a combination of pen-and-ink and watercolors to convey Albert Einstein’s path to proving his theory of relativity…Blending rigorous research, scientific explanation, and the backdrop ofwar, this tale is unique in its attention to her subject’s missteps and experimental failures along the journey to worldwide acclaim…the art dances with movement and life, capturing Einstein’s energy and his quirkiness while adding a lighthearted counterpart to the detailed text....VERDICT A rigorously researched addition to the body of biographies about Einstein, and ideal for upper elementary students.”—School Library Journal, starred review

"The concise text introduces biographical and scientific information, while McCully’s distinctive ink-and-watercolor pictures beautifully illustrate the people, their actions, and the period settings."—Booklist

“This picture book serves as a good introduction to the concepts of scientific theory, methodology, and history involved in the role of a 1919 eclipse in proving Einstein’s theory of general relativity….McCully conveys the endeavor’s considerable drama… [with] recognizable watercolor, pen, and ink illustrations in a variety of shapes and sizes from spot illustrations to sweeping double-page spreads.”—Horn Book

From the Publisher