An accessibly written, engaging introduction to a remarkable giant of science.
This informative overview of the life and work of Marie Curie, one of the world’s most famous scientists, recounts her remarkable life, from growing up in her native Poland under repressive Russian rule to her several decades of groundbreaking research in radioactivity.
O’Quinn’s portrait of Curie is that of an insatiably curious, intensely driven scientist with a tireless work ethic who defied societal norms by working in full partnership with her husband, Pierre, while also teaching and raising her two daughters. She was not only the first woman to chair a position at the Sorbonne and win a Nobel Prize, but the first person to win the Nobel in two fields—chemistry and physics. O’Quinn is honest about the unpleasant aspects of Curie’s life, such as her frequent bouts of depression and her prejudices. The 21 activities are intended to offer readers additional insight into Curie’s life and work. A pierogi recipe and instructions for Polish paper cutting seem superfluous compared to experiments exploring concepts like the Kelvin scale and temperature conversion. All of the activities and experiments are clearly explained, and a few of the more challenging ones recommend adult supervision.
An accessibly written, engaging introduction to a remarkable giant of science. (photos, further research, glossary, bibliography) (Biography. 9-12)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-61373-320-2
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
Thousands of years ago, the Komodo dragon may have inspired dragon legends in China and beyond. In more recent times, researchers from all over the world have traveled to the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia to study the Komodo dragon. This lively if somewhat haphazardly organized account focuses on the efforts of contemporary researchers, presents some of their cooler findings (female dragons can reproduce through parthenogenesis; their saliva is laced with deadly bacteria) and profiles a few captive specimens. Mostly color photographs from a variety of sources adorn almost every page, and captions add to the information. Learning about the Komodo dragon is not for the faint of heart, and the photos show the wild beasts in all their gory glory. The extensive backmatter includes brief facts about Indonesia, more information on the Komodo dragon life cycle and its use of smell and conservation information. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Komodo Survival Program. (bibliography, further reading, glossary, websites, index, author’s note) (Nonfiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59078-757-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
Most children know what an astronaut is, but an aquanaut? Not so common. Focusing on a one-week expedition in the underwater science station Aquarius, Mallory and marine photographer Skerry literally immerse themselves in this adventure. The science station is an 80-ton cylindrical steel chamber that's like “a mobile home someone has driven into the ocean.” The team's project is to electronically tag fish and observe their daily habits. The narrative chronicles the safety training needed before the expedition, the implantation of tags or pingers inside the fish and the day-to-day experience of living 60 feet below the ocean’s surface. What do aquanauts eat? Can you make telephone calls and send e-mails? And most importantly—is it possible for a toilet to explode from too much pressure? (Answer: yes.) Full-page interludes on topics such as sea-habitat history and the importance of decompression are disruptive at times but ultimately add to the understanding of this undersea adventure. A rather dry design aside, this book intrigues. (introduction, further reading, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59078-607-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
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