![]() Written by Isabelle Marinov, illustrated by Deborah Marcero No redistribution permitted.The Boy Whose Head Was Filled With Stars A Life of Edwin Hubble Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. VERDICT A quiet, inspirational picture book biography.-Barbara Auerbach, Cairo P.L., NY?(c) Copyright 2011. However, the bulk of technical information is appended in two notes for true enthusiasts. While the text is generally brief and accessible, several diagrams, maps, and more complex explanations are included. They will also marvel at the great size of the telescopes when they see him seated inside. Readers will appreciate Hubble's passion and perseverance. Marcero's illustrations, rendered in acrylic, watercolor, pencil, and ink, use a primary palette of blue, black, and gray. While Hubble did help build the Hale telescope and was the first to use it in 1949, he did not build the Hubble, which bears his name. Drawing on the work of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, he was able to prove that the Nebula was too far away to be part of the Milky Way galaxy. There he studied the Andromeda Nebula to determine if other galaxies existed. He got a job at the Mount Wilson Observatory, home to the world's largest telescope. When his father died in 1914, he was free to pursue his true calling. Hubble studied law at the University of Oxford in England before becoming a teacher and basketball coach. Hubble's father did not want his son to study astronomy. As he gazed into the night, he wondered, "How many stars are in the sky? How did the universe begin? Where did it come from?" These three questions are repeated throughout the book. ![]() Though his father discouraged his fascination, his grandfather built him a telescope for his eighth birthday. ![]() ![]() Gr 2-5-Edwin Hubble, a white American astronomer, loved looking at the stars in the Missouri sky. Appended with author and illustrator notes, additional information about Edwin Hubble and the Hubble-Lemaître Law, and a bibliography. Also repeated are visual motifs, first a grouping of stars, reminiscent of thought balloons, surrounding Hubble’s head when he studies or contemplates astronomy more striking is the vast majesty of the night sky that dominates both Hubble’s interest and the reader’s attention. Repeated throughout the text, the three questions that initiated Hubble’s interest emphasize his lifelong drive and persistence. The book’s explanation of how Hubble proved that the universe is expanding may be beyond the complete understanding of the audience, but referencing the previous work of astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt helps show children that scientists do not act alone, but rather metaphorically stand on the shoulders of others. Taking his first job at the Mount Wilson Observatory (where striking illustrations show him, night after night, at its giant telescope), Hubble discovered that the Milky Way is but one galaxy, merely a small part of a vast universe. After his father’s death, however, Hubble enrolled in the University of Chicago to major in astronomy. As a child, Hubble would gaze up at the heavens, asking: “How many stars are in the sky? How did the universe begin? Where did it come from?” His father had little patience for such diversions and discouraged Hubble’s interest in science. Set against a dramatic background of black, white, and ice-blue watercolors, this picture-book biography of Edwin Hubble (1889–1953) emphasizes the vastness and wonder of the night sky that drove his passion for astronomy. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |