Who Was Albert Einstein? (Who Was?)

Gr 3-5-This biography describes Einstein's early struggle to harness and focus his extraordinary abilities; his relationships with his family and first wife; and, lending depth to the story, his most significant scientific discoveries. Brallier does an adequate job of presenting the facts and injects touches of humor into his text. He also discusses Einstein's exile from Germany in the early 1930s and his political views and activities, including the irony that the man who strove for a world without war helped to create the atomic bomb. There are several full-page sidebars, including one on "The Magnetic Earth" and another on "Hitler and the Nazis," and two time lines that contrast world events with those of the scientist's life. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations do little to enhance the text.-Carol Fazioli, formerly at The Brearley School, New York City Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.