Magnet: How William Gilbert Discovered That Earth Is a Great Magnet

by Darcy Pattison, Peter Willis (illustrator)

“…inviting…appealing…interesting….” Booklist Online
“Pattison’s clear explication of magnets integrates facts into a story format that children will easily comprehend…An engaging account of scientific observation and experimentation for kids.” Kirkus Reviews

The compass needle always pointed north.
This simple observation sent William Gilbert deep into research about magnets. William's insatiable curiosity led him to collect lodestones from all over the world, conducting fascinating experiments that debunked myths and revealed astonishing facts about magnets.

But he kept coming back to the question of why the compass needle pointed north. He finally concluded that Earth itself is “a great magnet.”

Gilbert’s research led to a book about magnetism and earned him the name, the Father of Magnetism. Come on a journey of curiosity to discover the wonder of magnets and Earth’s magnetic mysteries.

MAGNET joins eight other books in award-winning Moments in Science series that focuses on small moments that changed science.

MOMENTS IN SCIENCE SERIES
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference. The first six books have been translated into Korean. Michael Faraday’s CandleCLANG! Ernst Chladni’s Sound Experiments, 2019 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book Darwin’s 130 Year Prediction, Junior Library Guild selection, Starred Kirkus Review 2020 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book How the 1919 Eclipse Proved Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity How Hugh Bennett saved America’s Soil and Ended the Dust Bowl, 2021 NSSTA Notable Social Studies BookA.I. How Patterns Helped A.I. Defeat World Champion Lee Sedol How Tu Youyou Adapted Traditional Chinese Medicine to Find a Cure for Malaria How Jeannette Power Invented the Aquarium to Study Marine Life How William Gilbert Discovered That Earth Is a Great Magnet

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Stem

34 pages, Hardcover

Published June 11, 2024

About the author

DARCY PATTISON (www.darcypattison.com) is published in ten languages.

Children’s book author Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Her works have received starred PW, Kirkus, and BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, Junior Library Guild selections, and NCTE Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts. She’s the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature.

Reviews

[Graeme Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnet: How William Gilbert Discovered That Earth Is a Great Magnet by Darcy Pattison, illustrated by Peter Willis, is an engaging and accessible introduction to one of the pivotal discoveries in the history of science. Designed for younger readers, the book skillfully transforms a complex scientific concept into a clear and compelling narrative centered on curiosity and experimentation.

Through the story of William Gilbert’s investigations into magnetism, the book highlights how observation and persistence can lead to groundbreaking insights. The narrative approach makes abstract ideas tangible, while the illustrations enhance understanding and maintain reader interest.

As part of the Moments in Science series, this title effectively balances educational value with storytelling appeal. It serves as both an introduction to scientific thinking and an प्रेरation for young minds to explore the world through inquiry and discovery.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clearly written, understandable, and fluent, the author takes the reader on a historical journey through the scientific method for one inventor. Why does the needle on a compass always point north? William Gilbert, from England wanted an answer. It was the Age of Science, but Instead of thinking about it, which most scientists did at the time, William had to experiment. He shattered many myths of the time, and in one amazing experiment, he found out that the Earth is a giant magnet. Excellent STEAM book for both science and history buffs.

[Nora Nickum · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story of scientific discovery through careful observation and experimentation--and woven throughout are fascinating facts about magnets, compasses, and the Earth. The playful illustrations are a perfect accompaniment. I love how the main text is focused on the scientific process and the characteristics of magnets, and also that more biographical information about William Gilbert is available in the back matter.

[Nell Cross Beckerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a great job making the subject accessible and engaging for any reader. It was fun to naturally follow the story of curiosity, and see how the scientific process played itself out. While this could be a dry subject in the wrong hands, both the author and illustrator make it lively and fun while still educational. Backmatter goes deeper into the subjects for further learning. Recommended!

[Becca McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book uses simple terms, engaging/dynamic text displays and illustrations to describe a key moment in the age of science: the discovery of how magnets work. The information is presented in an accessible way for even the youngest learners in Grades 1 and 2 to follow, while still being complex enough for upper elementary grade students as well. As you learn about magnets, the book also reinforces the steps of the scientific method, and models how our understanding of the world evolves.

[Buffy Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why does a compass needle always point north? This engaging and accessible book shows how William Gilbert, known as the Father of Magnetism, used observations, models, and experiments to show that Earth is a giant magnet. Young readers will love learning the facts and myths that Gilbert proved or disproved (my personal favorite among the myths--garlic weakens a magnet!) A wonderful biography for budding young scientists.

[Laurie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging text, inviting design, and vivid, lively illustrations combine in this excellent introduction to the scientific method and magnetism, which tells the story of how William Gilbert discovered how and why a compass needle always points north. Backmatter adds context and additional information. Recommended for curious minds of all ages.

[Jessica Stremer · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book. The author presents the information in a really engaging way that holds your attention throughout the entire book. I absolutely love the art. It pairs perfectly with the text and adds another dimension to the story. This is a must add to any home or school library.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of William Gilbert (the first individual to conduct a scientific study of magnetism) is told in this book. William Gilbert (along with Galileo) is now widely considered to be one of the the founders of experimental science. This book would appeal to young children interest in STEM topics.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great subject! Something to share with kids that's a bit taken for granted, perhaps...gravity! The format is fun to follow, with engaging artwork and just the right amount of info in the narrative and back matter.

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weaving together science, history, and a good old-fashioned mystery, this cheerfully illustrated text has high kid appeal and offers an accessible and engaging introduction to both magnetism and scientific thinking.

[Sarah Albee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this whole series--and the latest is no exception. A great introduction to the discovery of magnetism, enhanced by delightful illustrations.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was impressed. I'll check out the others in the series.

[Mackenzie Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may just be me/my environment, but I personally found the font very difficult to read.