Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought)

by Kathleen Krull, Kathryn Hewitt (Illustrator)

Overview

Scientists have a reputation for being focused on their work—and maybe even dull. But take another look. Did you know that it’s believed Galileo was scolded by the Roman Inquisition for sassing his mom? That Isaac Newton loved to examine soap bubbles? That Albert Einstein loved to collect joke books, and that geneticist Barbara McClintock wore a Groucho Marx disguise in public? With juicy tidbits about everything from favorite foods to first loves, the subjects of Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt’s Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought) are revealed as creative, bold, sometimes eccentric—and anything but dull.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152059095
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/09/2013
Series:	Lives of . . .
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	NC1120L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kathleen Krull is well known for her innovative, award-winning nonfiction for young people, including Lives of the Explorers, Lives of the Musicians, and all other books in this popular series illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. She is also the author of Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, as well as The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny) and Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country), both co-written with Paul Brewer and illustrated by Stacy Innerst. She lives in San Diego, California. Visit her online at kathleenkrull.com. 

Kathryn Hewitt's caricatures of famous figures led kids to dub the Lives of . . . series the "Big Head" books. She has illustrated many books for young readers, some of which she also wrote. She lives in Santa Monica, California. Visit her website at www.kathrynhewitt.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Mightily entertaining."
—Kirkus

"This collective biography is perfectly suited to thematic research as well as to reading for pleasure."
—Booklist

"Another wonderful addition to the series, detailing common knowledge and little-known facts about historical figures."
—School Library Journal

"Yes! Krull and Hewitt are back with another of those books, the eighth entry in their delightful Lives of . . . series."
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Eight short, lively chapters introduce twenty influential scientists of the modern era. Krull emphasizes memorable, and often humorously indiosyncratic, character traits."
—The Horn Book Magazine —

From the Publisher

Gr 5–8—Another wonderful addition to the series, detailing common knowledge and little-known facts about historical figures. Krull asks the question, "What were these men and women like as human beings-in the laboratory and out of it?" She answers it well, giving a multifaceted picture of 20 scientists' personal lives and professional accomplishments, though more information about some of the lesser-known individuals might have provided a better idea of their work. Readers learn about great discovery and great quirkiness. James D. Watson and Francis Crick figured out the structure of DNA, but apparently Watson was in it just to meet girls. Albert Einstein developed the theory of relativity but described his good friend Marie Curie as "not attractive enough to represent a danger to anyone" when she became enamored of a married man. Edwin Hubble had a passion for the stars but had the obnoxious habit of trying to sound smarter than his guests by wowing them with obscure information he looked up in an encyclopedia before parties. A strong point of this volume is the inclusion of some important women (Barbara McClintock and Grace Murray Hopper, for example) who aren't often mentioned in biographies of this type. The oil paint illustrations are whimsical and fun and break up the text, making the amount of information more manageable. This estimable introduction to a variety of scientists will also appeal to fans of irreverent history who aren't quite ready for Georgia Bragg's macabre How They Croaked (Walker, 2011).—Trina Bolfing, Westbank Libraries, Austin, TX

School Library Journal

Krull profiles 20 scientists--warning away at the outset anyone interested in the actual details of their discoveries because here, she's all about dishing on their lives and egos instead. Though in other works she focuses on scientific achievements, here Krull caters to readers less interested in Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect than that he had an affair with his cousin or in Newton's laws of physics than his practice, as warden of the Royal Mint, of attending the hangings of convicted counterfeiters. The author presents a series of quick biographical sketches, most capped with "Extra Credit" comments about each subject's enduring legacy--or, in the case of Einstein's brain and Galileo's fingers, errant body parts. Though all but two are dead (and the exceptions, Jane Goodall and James D. Watson, are no spring chickens), her choices for inclusion are reasonably diverse. Ibn Sina, George Washington Carver, and one ancient and one modern scientist of Asian descent expand the Eurocentric roster of usual suspects. Also, six women claim unique or shared entries, and several influential others, such as astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt, earn mentions. Hewitt adds typically funny, bigheaded but recognizable caricature portraits and iconic interior vignettes to lighten the informational load further. Mightily entertaining and if unlikely to broaden a young reader's knowledge of the history of science, certain to humanize it. (reading list, no source notes or index) (Collective biography. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews

Narrator Charlie Thurston’s slight sibilance and heavy consonants are a pleasure to listen to. Thurston’s relaxed pacing allows time to digest the information given in this nonfiction work and imagine the people and places described. However, the transitions from one topic to the next aren’t always clear. Thurston does move smoothly from a straightforward delivery to a more intimate inflection when recounting aspects of the scientists’ lives, some of which include such details as what these famous people ate, drank, and wore. Extramarital affairs and children out of wedlock are also noted. A.M.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2014 - AudioFile