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Title: The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kevin Hawkes, Kathryn Lasky ISBN: 0-316-51526-4 Publisher: Little Brown & Company Pub. Date: 01 September, 1994 Format: School & Library Binding Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.67 (9 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Great job combining math, history, science & geography!
Comment: This is a picture book format biography of Eratosthenes, who lived in Ancient Greece, focusing on how he calculated the size of the Earth using a mathematical formula and measurements taken by measuring shadows and length of footsteps from one location to another. Eratostehenes had many roles and talents, one being that he was a mathematician and author of books on several topics. He wrote the first geography book, which included the first map of the world and the first documentation of the size of the Earth.
The publisher says this is for ages 4-8 however the math concept of the formula he used to determine the size of the Earth was too complex for my 6 year old to grasp. The text is long-ish compared to a typical picture book as well, so I think this can extend a little beyond 8 yrs. if it is acting as a brief biography. I am not sure how many chapter book format biographies are out there for kids 9 and up on Eratosthenes, so this may be better than nothing for older kids!
The colorful pictures are nice and really compliment the text, especially when showing how he thought about measuring the Earth and comparing it to a grapefruit. It also addresses the idea of asking questions, curiosity, and making guesses at answers about things in the world that they did not yet know about.
This is a combination of history, math, and geography with a little scientific thought thrown in. It laid out his first questions and theories and how he came up with different ideas to come up with a way to measure a part of the land. We learn about what worked and what failed, leading up to how he finally came to a method that he thought was accurate, and why he thought this formula would work. His computation was about 200 miles off of the distance we measured in this century!
Within the story we learn about what schools were like for boys in Ancient Greece, that books were in scroll format, what libraries were like (and that they were rare) and other tidbits.
There is a bibliography included that can be used for further reading resources as well. This book is also a great example of how one book can cross over several subject areas: math, history, science and geography.
Rating: 4
Summary: Fun book to read on Eratosthenes
Comment: I read this book in order to write up a reading/math lesson related to circumference. I thought that the book was very informative, had terrific pictures, and was a fairly easy read. I think that the children (6th graders) would enjoy reading it in class, if given the chance. I would have liked if the book went over, in more detail, how he determined the equation. (The children tend to ask how he got it!) It would have been useful to know the equation he used, but it does not matter because one's lesson can be modified to use the information provided in the book. I tied in the reading to a circumference lesson and had the children find the circumference of the earth.
Overall, this is a terrific book. I thought that it was a fun read, and is a great teaser when going into a circumference lesson.
Rating: 5
Summary: Everything you could want in a children's book
Comment: This wonderfully illustrated story of the Greek Mathematician/Astronomer/Scientist Eratosthenes is one of my children's favorites. The colorful pictures give them a glimpse into 'another world' (Ancient Greece) while the engaging text provides excellent historical and scientific information.
Highly recommended for kids and their parents too!
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Title: Archimedes and the Door to Science (Living History Library) by Jeanne Bendick, Laura M. Berquist ISBN: 1883937124 Publisher: Bethlehem Books Pub. Date: April, 1997 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Black Ships Before Troy by ROSEMARY SUTCLIFF ISBN: 0385310692 Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers Pub. Date: 01 September, 1993 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: How Big Is a Foot? by Rolf Myller ISBN: 0440404959 Publisher: Yearling Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 1991 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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Title: Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander, Wayne Geehan ISBN: 1570911525 Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing Pub. Date: January, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander, Wayne Geehan ISBN: 157091169X Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing Pub. Date: January, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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