Get paid to test things

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 14 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Recorded Books
• Audible.com Release Date: December 18, 2013
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00HECSX24

As a boy, Albert Einstein was not like other children. He talked late, but when he started talking, he asked questions and more questions -- so many questions that he was a disruption in class. But the most amazing things about Albert were his thoughts. He read, he learned, he imagined. And imagined. He grew up, and thought and imagined some more, and he wrote down all his new ideas. Soon other scientists were coming to Albert to learn with him!

This is a rather dreamy book, dreamily illustrated with wispy strokes, muted colors, and dashing sketches in pen and ink. Although written in picture book format, this story is unlikely to appeal to preschoolers. Three-fourths of the book is about Einstein as an adult, and his adult ideas and theories. Small children are attracted to things that they can relate to on their own level. This would be of more interest to 3rd or 4th graders, if they could overlook the childish format.

That being said, there are a few young children who do think on a different level than other children and feel out of place with children their own age. This book could speak to them.

By J. Grambo

My precocious five year old read this aloud to herself and her little brother(after some convincing from the that she would actually like it, since it wasnt about princesses) and THOROUGHLY enjoyed it! It was very relatable because it starts out talking about Einstein as a child and gives cute quirky details from his later life (like how he didnt like to wear socks) and progresses on from there. We had recently talked about atoms and how everything was made from them, and it gave some nice examples to illustrate the concept, which is a difficult one for young children to conceptualize. It was also a great lesson about how people eventually use math to make great discoveries (good motivation for persevering and figuring out that stubborn word problem in your homework). It definitely puts all that math homework into perspective.

In general, I would say that this book is appropriate for the third grade and up set in terms of content and readability (there are a few difficult words) but it really is a well-written, beautiful, and simple summary of the life of Albert Einstein. It also has gorgeous illustrations, so it is the whole package. Highly recommend for your budding scientist or mathematician.

By Jenn