Galileo: Astronomer And Physicist

VOYA

This beautifully presented biography series covers noted figures from the Renaissance era. One particularly nice feature of this series is found in the attractive and high-quality color images in each volume, illustrating the lives and achievements of noted Renaissance explorers, inventors, scientists, and artists. The text of each biography is based upon primary sources and is written in a clear, concise style. Galileo covers the innovative scientist's contributions to modern science, including his role in the development of the scientific method and, of course, his famous championing of Copernicus's theory that the earth and other planets rotate around the sun. This belief led to Galileo's epic struggle with the Catholic Church, which held to the belief that the earth was the center of the solar system and that any other belief was heretical. Each volume in the series contains a time line of important events in the lives of each subject, additional resources, and a short, one-page biographical summary. These slim books are packed with information and would be an excellent resource for upper elementary and middle school teens doing reports on the Renaissance. The "eye appeal" of this series would also guarantee high interest for teens browsing for interesting biographies to read. Other noted Renaissance figures covered in this series are Francisco Pizarro, William Shakespeare, Nicholas Copernicus, and Michelangelo. The books are highly recommended for public and school libraries. (Signature Lives: Renaissance Era). VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7to 9). 2005, Compass Point Books, 112p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Maps. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading. Chronology., PLB . Ages 11 to 15.
—Jan Chapman