Robert Goddard and the Liquid Rocket Engine

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-These texts provide concise, yet complete overviews of each scientist's life and work. The easy-to-read layout includes average-quality, captioned, black-and-white photographs. Bankston does a fine job of explaining the often-complicated scientific principles while telling of Goddard's lifetime efforts to build a rocket capable of leaving the earth's atmosphere. Goddard is depicted as a brilliant scientist who was torn between constantly seeking funding for his efforts and hating to have to share the results of his valuable research. Tracy's readable text recounts the life of the geneticist who spent much of her lifetime studying maize in obscurity before becoming one of the few women to be awarded the Nobel Prize. Both volumes contain enough anecdotal information to keep students reading. Those who require more information may want to refer to Edith Fine's Barbara McClintock: Nobel Prize Geneticist (Enslow, 1998).-Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, WA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.