On a Beam of Light

"Albert began to read and study.
He read about light and sound. About heat and magnetism. And about gravity, the invisible force that pulls us down toward our planet, and keeps the moon from floating away into outer space.

And he read about numbers. Albert loved numbers.
They were like a secret language for figuring things out. But all that reading still didn't answer all of Albert's questions. So he kept on reading. Wondering. And learning. ...

Albert watched a lump of sugar dissolve and disappear into his hot tea. How could this happen? He watched the smoke from his pipe swirl and disappear into the air.  How could one thing disappear into another?"

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Jennifer Berne

Berne had a diverse career in art and advertising before beginning to write children's books. She has written about Jacques Cousteau in Manfish, Neil deGrasse Tyson in Look Up With Me, and Emily Dickenson in On Wings of Words. Her books have been translated into nearly 20 languages earning numerous awards and citations -- On A Beam Of Light received 38 citations and awards alone! Berne also contributes regularly to Nick Jr. Magazine for children.

Vladimir Radunsky

On A Beam Of Light would not be the book it is without Radunsky's pen and ink illustrations. The whimsical presentation of Einstein's penchant for thinking, playing his violin, wandering while eating ice cream and wearing shoes without socks is a brilliant visualization of Berne's narrative. In addition to authoring and illustrating numerous children's books, Radunsky's art has been exhibited in Milan and Rome, and he designed the sets and costumes for the 2017 Teatro dell'Opera's Production of Don Quixote.

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Wonder

At Stories Matter, only books I enjoy and know will have a positive influence in shaping a child's mind and spirit are reviewed and recommended. Even then, some of the books are better than others -- perhaps this is quite subjective on my part.

But On A Beam Of Light is the best of the best in this month's books. And that's saying something since I know every book on the list is exceptional! It is inspiring and makes the idea of Einstein's genius accessible to children. It also gives the reader or listener belief in his or her own sense of wonder.

A perfect ending for this Season of Wonder book list!

Synopsis

An introductory biography about a boy, Albert Einstein, endlessly distracted by the wonder of the world who grew into a man who would embody genius, and would shine a profound light on our understanding of the universe.

The book includes a 2-page author's note which talks about Einstein's thought experiments, his playfulness and laughter, E = mc² and his pacifism in light of the atomic bomb.

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Early chapter book readers, biography, 50 pages. An introductory biography about a boy, Albert Einstein, endlessly distracted by the wonder of the world who grew into a man who would embody genius, and would shine a profound light on our understanding of the universe.