All in a Drop: How Antony van Leeuwenhoek Discovered an Invisible World

by Lori Alexander, Vivien Mildenberger (Illustrator)

Overview

Robert F. Sibert Honor Award winner
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A 2020 Outstanding Science Trade Book
A New York Public Library Best of 2019
A 2020 Best STEM Book by NSTA and CBC

For fans of the “Who Was” series, this lively, accessible, and full-color chapter book biography shows how a self-taught scientist was the first to observe the microbial life in and around us. By building his own microscope, Antony van Leeuwenhoek advanced humanity’s understanding of our oft-invisible world around us. 

Microbes are everywhere: in the soil and oceans, in snow, and inside our bodies. But in Antony van Leeuwenhoek’s time, people believed that what they saw with their own eyes was all that existed in the world. How did a simple tradesman—who didn’t go to college or speak English or Latin like all the other scientists—change everyone’s minds?

            Proving that remarkable discoveries can come from the most unexpected people and places, this eye-opening chapter book, illustrated with lively full-color art, celebrates the power of curiosity, ingenuity, and persistence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328884206
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	08/06/2019
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	562,477
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	890L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Lori Alexander is the author of several board books and picture books.  She made her chapter book biography debut with ALL IN A DROP.  She resides in Tucson, Arizona with her family.

www.lorialexanderbooks.com
Twitter: @LoriJAlexander
Instagram: @lorijalex

 

Table of Contents

Introduction 8

Chapter 1 A Golden Age 11

Chapter 2 Big Changes 14

Chapter 3 Seller of Cloth 21

Chapter 4 An Eye-Opening Trip 24

Chapter 5 Spreading the Word 32

Chapter 6 Small Lake, Big Discovery 38

Chapter 7 A Most Important Letter 42

Chapter 8 In the Name of Science 46

Chapter 9 Last Letters 53

Chapter 10 The Father of Microbiology 63

Author's Note 72

Timeline of Events 78

Glossary 84

Source Notes 88

Selected Bibliography 90

Index 92

Editorial Reviews

05/20/2019

In this well-researched biography, immediate present-tense narration by Alexander (Famously Phoebe) allows readers to feel that they’re making discoveries right alongside scientist Antony van Leeuwenhoek in 1670s Netherlands. Though van Leeuwenhoek didn’t invent the microscope, his refinements of the instrument and endless curiosity resulted in the discovery of hidden microbial realms. Ten short chapters describe how the “father of microbiology,” who viewed hundreds of specimens, succeeded despite lacking formal training. Naïf full-color illustrations by Mildenberger (Famous Family Trees) depict a ruddy-cheeked van Leeuwenhoek going about his work, while numerous sidebars contextualize and expand the story. One, for example, shows a diagram of van Leeuwenhoek’s first microscope; others explore topics such as convex versus concave lenses and bubonic plague. A timeline, glossary, bibliography, and index wrap up Alexander’s highly engaging account of how one man’s ingenuity and curiosity led to big discoveries of small worlds. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–10. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

08/01/2019

Gr 2–5—In this current era of the electron microscope, it is difficult to imagine when the microscopic world was not only unknown but unimagined. With no university education or formal training in the sciences, 36-year-old Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) was exposed to English scientist Robert Hooke's investigations during a London vacation. Galvanized by this blossoming curiosity, he taught himself to grind superior lenses in order to closely examine the hidden world of various objects. He then diffidently shared his findings with the Royal Society and despite initial skepticism was ultimately elected a Fellow. Alexander's clear text, accompanied by simple black-and-white illustrations, outlines topics such as bubonic plague, scientific nomenclature, the perils of E. coli and giardia, and the physics of microscope lenses. All is rounded off by an extensive author's note, a time line from van Leeuwenhoek's birth to the development of the electron microscope, a glossary, source notes, and a bibliography. VERDICT This pleasantly readable biography of Antony van Leeuwenhoek illuminates the unexpected journey of a Dutch draper from anonymity to becoming the "Father of Microbiology." Readable, informative, and a celebration of dedicated curiosity.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2019-04-14
In the latter half of the 17th century, Antony van Leeuwenhoek devised his first microscope by cleverly grinding a bit of glass into a near-spherical shape and mounting it into his own custom-made frame.

It would change his world. By grinding his lenses nearly round, he stumbled upon the secret to creating a substantially more powerful microscope than the few then currently in use. With his ability to take a clear look into the microscopic world, he became the first to identify microbes, organisms far too small to be viewed with the naked eye. Although other scientists initially rejected the concept—and he was unwilling to share his microscope design to help them make their own discoveries—an English scientist was later able to replicate his work using his less-sophisticated microscope. Still, Antony's groundbreaking studies seemed to spark little enthusiasm in others for further research. It would be well over 100 years later that Louis Pasteur finally realized that some microbes caused disease. As Alexander describes him, "Antony watches patiently, thinks deeply, and reports carefully." By breaking his work down into simple, understandable steps and incorporating Mildenberger's delicately childlike cartoon illustrations to complement the present-tense narration, this effort makes Antony's life's work accessible to a young audience that is sure to be intrigued and inspired. Excellent backmatter rounds out this fascinating tale.

Methodical young scientists will see themselves in the "Father of Microbiology." (Biography. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews

"Engaging illustrations....An attractive, very readable book on an important figure in the history of science." — Booklist (starred review)

"Readable, informative, and a celebration of dedicated curiosity." — School Library Journal

"[This book] makes Antony's life's work accessible to a young audience that is sure to be intrigued and inspired....Methodical young scientists will see themselves in the 'Father of Microbiology.'" — Kirkus Reviews

"Well researched....highly engaging." — Publishers Weekly

"Alexander’s text is smooth and engaging, packaged into short chapters perfect for reading aloud, and enhanced with brief inserts of technical and scientific background and Mildenberger’s lively yet soft-textured scenes and vignettes." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Alexander’s excellent, accessible overview of Leeuwenhoek’s life gives readers a feel for both the person and the historical context." — Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

Kevin T. Collins’s even pacing makes this scientific history easy to follow. After building his own microscope in 1674, Antony van Leeuwenhoek’s discovery of tiny moving creatures in lake water stunned the scientists of his day and led to the field of microbiology. Collins narrates the story in an accessible, lively way, portraying Antony’s patient, diligent work over 50 years of scientific inquiry. Listeners hear the initial scorn of the Royal Society and the amazed wonder at Antony’s discovery of hidden worlds. Collins’s formal tone provides a droll contrast to Antony’s fascination with the microbes living in people’s skin scrapings, tooth plaque, earwax, and feces. Factual sidebars flow seamlessly throughout the narrative, adding context. Also included are the author’s note, a timeline, and a glossary. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

JULY 2019 - AudioFile