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  • Newton's Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist

Newton's Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist

Author
Illustrator
Kevin Hawkes
Publication Date
April 20, 2017
Genre / Grade Band
Non-fiction /  2nd − 3rd
Language
English
Newton's Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist
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Description
This colorful picture book biography of Isaac Newton celebrates his discoveries that gave mankind a new understanding of the natural world and changed science forever.
Publication date
April 20, 2017
Genre
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780374355135
Lexile Measure
1010
Publisher
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
BISAC categories
JNF007090 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Science & Technology
JNF061000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Technology | General
Library of Congress categories
History
Great Britain
Biographies
Scientists
Physics
Physicists
Newton, Isaac

Kirkus

The story of how Isaac Newton, a lackluster student at the bottom of his class, became one of the most influential scientists in history.

“If I have seen further, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants,” Newton said when asked how he could see and understand things that others didn’t. Galileo and Kepler were two of those giants, and a page is devoted to each in the course of this colorful treatment of the young scientist. Newton may have not been a stellar student, but he was interested in the world around him—the bloodsucking leeches and frogs’ livers used by the local apothecary, why apples fall down and not up or sideways, and why planets move. Lasky’s eye for the telling detail and Hawkes’ child-friendly illustrations capture the young Isaac Newton’s school days and his creative work during the bubonic plague and the Great Fire of London. However, the pages are dense with text, and in trying to make Newton’s complex ideas accessible to young readers, Lasky occasionally resorts to textbook-speak: “He was already using the laws of motion, laws that he would later explain and that form the basis of modern physics.” Overall, though, text and art work well together to portray Newton’s curiosity and sense of wonder.

A lively (if unusually lengthy for the format) volume that may inspire readers to share Newton’s interest in the world around them. (bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5--Lasky introduces young readers to Isaac Newton and a few of his well-known breakthroughs. The book follows Newton from childhood through his college years, including some of his most significant discoveries, such as the theory of gravity and the secret of the rainbow. There is a lot of information to be covered, and the text moves quickly. None of Newton's ideas are explored in depth, but the simplified explanations are appropriate for the audience. Lasky makes Newton accessible to contemporary readers. He was a small kid: he was often bullied and didn't do that well in school. Eventually, he stood up to his bully, proved his abilities, and went on to excel at university. The author points out that it took Newton a long time, with many mistakes made along the way, to develop his theories. A number of interesting anecdotes are peppered throughout; for instance, Newton once got off a horse to walk up a large hill but then forgot about the horse and kept walking long past the top of the hill. There is also a description of the bubonic plague and the London Fire of 1666. Both of these events had a great impact on Newton's life. These stories offer context and add tension, making the narrative more exciting. Hawkes's illustrations provide detail and help set the tone for each episode. VERDICT Budding scientists may gain some insight into this creator's life, and those needing to do a report will find some useful material. A good choice for schools and larger collections.--Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, KY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Lasky and Hawkes, collaborators on The Man Who Made Time Travel and other titles, provide a sensitive look at Isaac Newton. From an early age, Newton's deep curiosity set him apart, leading him to question, experiment, and study the work of scientists before him (brief profiles of Galileo and Kepler are included). Throughout, Lasky places Newton's story in historical context, weaving in such events as the bubonic plague and Great Fire of 1666. Of the apocryphal apple incident, she writes: "Here is what's true. There was a garden. There was an apple tree. The apple really did fall. Isaac was not asleep." (An explanation of how the apple incident might have contributed to his law of universal gravitation follows.) Hawkes's soft paintings tenderly capture Newton's discipline and the lifelong drive toward discovery. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Kathryn Lasky

Kathryn Lasky grew up in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Indiana. She attended the University of Michigan, and, after graduating, began working as a writer for a fashion magazine before becoming a teacher. Lasky began writing children's books after returning from her second voyage across the Atlantic Ocean with her husband. She has since written many books for children, including fiction, nonfiction, and picture books, as well as several books for adults. Her books include Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series.

Kevin Hawkes is the acclaimed illustrator of books such as The Man Who Made Time Travel by Kathryn Lasky, an ALA Notable Book, and Weslandia by Paul Fleischman. He lives in Gorham, Maine.