What do you think?
Rate this book
SOBRE UN RAYO DE LUZ
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2013)A boy rides a bicycle down a dusty road. But in his mind, he envisions himself traveling at a speed beyond imagining, on a beam of light. This brilliant mind will one day offer up some of the most revolutionary ideas ever conceived. From a boy endlessly fascinated by the wonders around him, Albert Einstein ultimately grows into a man of genius recognized the world over for profoundly illuminating our understanding of the universe. Jennifer Berne and Vladimir Radunsky invite the reader to travel along with Einstein on a journey full of curiosity, laughter, and scientific discovery. Parents and children alike will appreciate this moving story of the powerful difference imagination can make in any life.
Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
98 people are currently reading
4406 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews
October 9, 2023
I seem to be having different opinions from most lately. Well, it just happened again. People have been singing their praises over this book. I don't know if it is the last page that gets them so excited with the author addressing the kid reader pointing out the kid might be the one to solve some of the questions Einstein left posterity or what. While I don't really have much that is negative about this book, I don't see a lot that is positive either. I like the analogy of a beam of light. But I am not at all sure it would make sense to a kid. Also, from a librarian point of view, this book is rather useless for a kid doing a report on Einstein. I agree, not all books can or should be report type books. However, it is a piece of info to consider when purchasing for the library. I suppose a lot of what bugged me was the emphasis on his little oddities in behavior such as refusing to wear socks. Sure, kids can relate to that but how important is that to an understanding for what made Einstein tick? I think if I were a kid I'd finish the book thinking so why is this guy so famous? It is just too general,even for the age it is written for. The illustrations are much the same. I think they are pleasant enough but there is nothing about them that makes me go WOW! I guess part of what I'm thinking is that we have so many books for kids on Einstein that a new one really should cover some new way of looking at a genius and I don't think this book does that successfully. Besides......it is going to be murder to shelve, a complaint only library people will relate to! 10/2023: On rereading this review, I'm lowering it to 2 stars. There is just too much competition for the subject of this book to give this a higher rating.
March 21, 2013
Richie's Picks: ON A BEAM OF LIGHT: A STORY OF ALBERT EINSTEIN by Jennifer Berne and Vladimir Radunsky, Chronicle, April 2013, 56p., ISBN: 978-0-8118-7235-5
"When I was young it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily
oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me.
But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, oh responsible, practical"
-- Roger Hodgson, "The Logical Song"
"Albert started asking questions. Questions at home. Questions at school. So many questions that some of his teachers told him he was a disruption in his class. They said he would never amount to anything unless he learned to behave like all the other students.
"But Albert didn't want to be like the other students."
I got to the point as a teenager that I either needed to embrace my growing nonconformity or else end up feeling bad all the time about not being like everyone else seemed to be. Luckily for me, my self-acceptance of being different took place during the late sixties when I could take great comfort in the fact that there were others out there who were similarly not fitting in and who, nevertheless, seemed to be making the most of it, and having a pretty good time of it.
Luckily for the world, back in a day when nonconformity was not particularly in vogue, Albert Einstein didn't worry about conforming either.
After providing a look at his childhood and early adulthood, author Jennifer Berne does a great job of describing Albert Einstein's groundbreaking work in physics on a simple enough level that fourth and fifth graders will be able to get a little taste of what it was all about. This makes ON A BEAM OF LIGHT a trade book of value in supplementing the science curriculum.
But the aspect I love most about this exceptionally well-illustrated picture book is the manner in which it provides a real taste of how one of the most brilliant people to ever live spent his time as an adult embracing life:
We read how he let his mind wander as the wind blew him across the water in his little sailboat. About his putting aside a difficult science problem and picking up his violin.
About his wandering around deep in thought, eating an ice cream cone. And then, in the back matter, we read about how Einstein loved jokes and tricks, how his eyes sparkled, how he laughed, and how he loved children. That he was a person who could enjoy life in ways that I find so meaningful while also being one of history's greatest thinkers makes for a lot of admiration and inspiration on my part.
And I love the notion that some young reader who feels really different, and has maybe taken some grief for not conforming, will check out this biography and take comfort in knowing that someone truly amazing like Albert Einstein dealt with just the same sort of thing.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"When I was young it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily
oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me.
But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, oh responsible, practical"
-- Roger Hodgson, "The Logical Song"
"Albert started asking questions. Questions at home. Questions at school. So many questions that some of his teachers told him he was a disruption in his class. They said he would never amount to anything unless he learned to behave like all the other students.
"But Albert didn't want to be like the other students."
I got to the point as a teenager that I either needed to embrace my growing nonconformity or else end up feeling bad all the time about not being like everyone else seemed to be. Luckily for me, my self-acceptance of being different took place during the late sixties when I could take great comfort in the fact that there were others out there who were similarly not fitting in and who, nevertheless, seemed to be making the most of it, and having a pretty good time of it.
Luckily for the world, back in a day when nonconformity was not particularly in vogue, Albert Einstein didn't worry about conforming either.
After providing a look at his childhood and early adulthood, author Jennifer Berne does a great job of describing Albert Einstein's groundbreaking work in physics on a simple enough level that fourth and fifth graders will be able to get a little taste of what it was all about. This makes ON A BEAM OF LIGHT a trade book of value in supplementing the science curriculum.
But the aspect I love most about this exceptionally well-illustrated picture book is the manner in which it provides a real taste of how one of the most brilliant people to ever live spent his time as an adult embracing life:
We read how he let his mind wander as the wind blew him across the water in his little sailboat. About his putting aside a difficult science problem and picking up his violin.
About his wandering around deep in thought, eating an ice cream cone. And then, in the back matter, we read about how Einstein loved jokes and tricks, how his eyes sparkled, how he laughed, and how he loved children. That he was a person who could enjoy life in ways that I find so meaningful while also being one of history's greatest thinkers makes for a lot of admiration and inspiration on my part.
And I love the notion that some young reader who feels really different, and has maybe taken some grief for not conforming, will check out this biography and take comfort in knowing that someone truly amazing like Albert Einstein dealt with just the same sort of thing.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
December 9, 2013
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." Albert Einstein
This was a kindle deal of the day and I've seen it on some finalist lists for end of the year Mock Newbery clubs. That wouldn't be enough to make me jump on it, but seriously: Albert Einstein. I could not pass this up because for the last few years we have told Ellie all about him when she had a hard time paying attention and not fitting into public schools. That the smartest man known in history much preferred daydreaming and questioning and playing out in nature to sitting and copying by rote (worksheet homework). That he liked being himself and figuring things out.
So yes, I bought it right quick. And it was perfect, we read it aloud this morning. The art was wonderful and a little offbeat, just like him. When it described Albert as a child looking at beams of light and imagining riding his bike on those beams - which led him to proving that time slows down when moving the speed of light, Ellie's face was flabbergasted! It was so cute! She loved hearing how he preferred wearing is comfy baggy pants and comfy baggy sweater and refused to wear sock because no socks made his feet happy - Ellie knew she had found a kindred spirit (she wore a tank top and yoga pants under her Christmas church dress today because she doesn't like those other fabrics against her skin - including silky slips, those are no go, too.) I loved the prose, albert's parents knew he was "so different, but so dear."
it ends speaking about all the questions answered and all the questions he left behind for us to answer, that even you may find the answer to. This afternoon out of the blue Ellie just asked, "so I can ask any questions I want, right? I am okay asking all my questions?"
YES YES YES!!!!
This was a kindle deal of the day and I've seen it on some finalist lists for end of the year Mock Newbery clubs. That wouldn't be enough to make me jump on it, but seriously: Albert Einstein. I could not pass this up because for the last few years we have told Ellie all about him when she had a hard time paying attention and not fitting into public schools. That the smartest man known in history much preferred daydreaming and questioning and playing out in nature to sitting and copying by rote (worksheet homework). That he liked being himself and figuring things out.
So yes, I bought it right quick. And it was perfect, we read it aloud this morning. The art was wonderful and a little offbeat, just like him. When it described Albert as a child looking at beams of light and imagining riding his bike on those beams - which led him to proving that time slows down when moving the speed of light, Ellie's face was flabbergasted! It was so cute! She loved hearing how he preferred wearing is comfy baggy pants and comfy baggy sweater and refused to wear sock because no socks made his feet happy - Ellie knew she had found a kindred spirit (she wore a tank top and yoga pants under her Christmas church dress today because she doesn't like those other fabrics against her skin - including silky slips, those are no go, too.) I loved the prose, albert's parents knew he was "so different, but so dear."
it ends speaking about all the questions answered and all the questions he left behind for us to answer, that even you may find the answer to. This afternoon out of the blue Ellie just asked, "so I can ask any questions I want, right? I am okay asking all my questions?"
YES YES YES!!!!
December 8, 2013
Genre: Biography
Copyright: 2013
The life of Albert Einstein is abnormal. He began to speak later than most children; he wondered about things that were different from his peers; his imagination usually send him to a wild world. In other people's eyes, he was a weirdo! Yet, this weirdo became a genius one day when others finally realize how knowledgeable this man was. As a matter of fact, Albert Einstein was never a weirdo. He was a man who loved observing, thinking, wondering, figuring, imagining, and reading. His desire to unravel the mysteries of the universe is driven by his curiosity and, of course, his hard work. I like the simple illustrations, especially the one that uses dots to show Einstein's discovery of everything being made of atoms. Some facts about Einstein included in Author's note gives readers extra information about this great physicist with a great mind. This could be an inspiring book that encourages children to keep wondering and exploring the world!
Copyright: 2013
The life of Albert Einstein is abnormal. He began to speak later than most children; he wondered about things that were different from his peers; his imagination usually send him to a wild world. In other people's eyes, he was a weirdo! Yet, this weirdo became a genius one day when others finally realize how knowledgeable this man was. As a matter of fact, Albert Einstein was never a weirdo. He was a man who loved observing, thinking, wondering, figuring, imagining, and reading. His desire to unravel the mysteries of the universe is driven by his curiosity and, of course, his hard work. I like the simple illustrations, especially the one that uses dots to show Einstein's discovery of everything being made of atoms. Some facts about Einstein included in Author's note gives readers extra information about this great physicist with a great mind. This could be an inspiring book that encourages children to keep wondering and exploring the world!
January 8, 2020
Absolutely fabulous biographical picture book of one of my favorite historical figures. This book uses a perfect style of illustration - somewhat childlike and mirroring sketches and doodles like Einstein might have made when hammering out his theories - to depict biographical details from the life of Albert Einstein and packs a deceptively impressive amount of great information - like his comfortable baggy trousers, sweaters, and socklessness for thinking - into the small package of a picture book. Love, love, LOVE IT!
September 8, 2016
E=mc2
Loved this book about scientific discovery!
The illustrations are dreamy in this ode to Albert Einstein. LOVED. And the text does a dazzling job of conveying how Einstein's wide-eyed curiosity was responsible for his discoveries. Most amazing was his ability to visualize experiments in his mind. He was playful, a pacifist, loved children, and had a brilliant mind.
Loved this book about scientific discovery!
The illustrations are dreamy in this ode to Albert Einstein. LOVED. And the text does a dazzling job of conveying how Einstein's wide-eyed curiosity was responsible for his discoveries. Most amazing was his ability to visualize experiments in his mind. He was playful, a pacifist, loved children, and had a brilliant mind.
March 2, 2013
Filled with gouache and pen and ink illustrations and text that somehow bring to mind Albert Einstein, this picture book biography manages to make the famous physicist accessible to a young audience. The book briefly covers his formative years during which he quietly observed the world and his curiosity abouut its mysteries ("hidden and silent, unknown and unseen" (unpaged). That curiosity never faded, and he went on to become fascinated with light, sound, and numbers. That curiosity will lead to theories that will change the way we view the world. Children will enjoy reading about this great man's eccentricities such as wandering around town licking an ice cream cone and his dislike for socks. In the sure hands of this author and illustrator team, Einstein's strangeness is celebrated rather than mocked. Back matter includes author notes about Einstein. I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky title, which encourages young readers to ask and find answers to hard questions that puzzle them.
January 9, 2014
A fabulous look at the quirky life of Albert Einstein and the importance he placed on questioning and creativity as a means to finding answers to unanswerable questions. The whimsical illustrations paired with the varied text add to the fun this book has with itself. Love the blocky red text that can almost be read as a stand-alone to highlight the more important ideas throughout the story. Definitely a book worth sharing with students!
May 20, 2019
This is a wonderful picture book about the life and thinking of Albert Einstein. Great example of narrative non-fiction and how it can work. Great way to introduce and discuss the ideas of this genius. Thanks to Rebekah for the recommendation.
July 12, 2015
I absolutely love this book! Thinking I'll use it as a beginning of the school year read aloud to encourage students to always wonder, think, imagine, and be curious.
February 18, 2019
A really good book to introduce Einstein to children. The illustrations are lovely too.
January 11, 2021
Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1291
Albert wasn’t like other children. He didn’t speak; he thought. He didn’t play with others; he was fascinated with everything around him. But it is all of this curiosity that led to his revolutionary ideas.
I love how this book focuses on how Albert’s creativity is one of the keys to what made him the amazing scientist that he is. Also, as a teacher of struggling and gifted students, I love the focus on how he didn’t do well in school. It shows how just because a student is different or a disturbance or thinks differently doesn’t mean that they aren’t intelligent. The book definitely promotes wonderings, thinking, and imagination!
I also loved learning about the fun side of Einstein and how he likes to not wear socks, he liked to eat ice cream cones, and overall he just did what he want to have time to think.
Finally, the Author’s Note puts all of Einstein’s theories together so that the reader also gets this information.
Albert wasn’t like other children. He didn’t speak; he thought. He didn’t play with others; he was fascinated with everything around him. But it is all of this curiosity that led to his revolutionary ideas.
I love how this book focuses on how Albert’s creativity is one of the keys to what made him the amazing scientist that he is. Also, as a teacher of struggling and gifted students, I love the focus on how he didn’t do well in school. It shows how just because a student is different or a disturbance or thinks differently doesn’t mean that they aren’t intelligent. The book definitely promotes wonderings, thinking, and imagination!
I also loved learning about the fun side of Einstein and how he likes to not wear socks, he liked to eat ice cream cones, and overall he just did what he want to have time to think.
Finally, the Author’s Note puts all of Einstein’s theories together so that the reader also gets this information.
September 6, 2018
Every so often, I read picture books on Scribd to see if I would one day like to buy them in physical format for my son. This one has been on my radar for a few years now, particularly because of my interest in physics and, more recently, in non-fiction for all age groups.
Surprisingly, I went into this knowing very little about Albert Einstein. Unfortunately, I didn't finish the book with any more knowledge to be honest. This is more a story of inspiration than, as the subtitle states, 'A Story of Albert Einstein'.
Vladimir Radunsky's illustrations are expressive yet childlike which suits the style of Berne's writing.
Unfortunately this will not be a book that I will be buying a copy of as I feel it had much more potential than was realised.
Surprisingly, I went into this knowing very little about Albert Einstein. Unfortunately, I didn't finish the book with any more knowledge to be honest. This is more a story of inspiration than, as the subtitle states, 'A Story of Albert Einstein'.
Vladimir Radunsky's illustrations are expressive yet childlike which suits the style of Berne's writing.
Unfortunately this will not be a book that I will be buying a copy of as I feel it had much more potential than was realised.
July 20, 2013
Reading this book reminded me of an early Apple computer poster campaign that featured pictures of famous people like Gandhi and John Lennon with the simple caption, "Think Different." Einstein was also featured on a poster. In this delightful picture book biography, Berne's text and Radunsky's illustrations perfectly capture Einstein's intense fascination with and curiosity about world, and his humor and passion for life.
October 24, 2017
"He asked questions never asked before. Found answers never found before. And dreamed up ideas never dreamt before."
This is a wonderful, must-read book for children. It is a well-written story about Albert Einstein, based on a significant research the author did to create this book. I also loved the illustrations.
Well done!
June 14, 2016
This was just too cute! I absolutely loved it <3
May 19, 2019
A lovely retelling of Einstein's life starting from when he was born to when he was the old scientist with the crazy hair that we all recognise today. Putting his story into picture book format is a really great way to help children to access his discoveries and the contributions he made to science that would otherwise be quite complex for them to get their heads around. The illustrations are sweet and the book ends with information that then allow for further research and investigations that children could do on their own or as part of future science lessons in school.
I would definitely recommend this books to children with an interest in science but also those that just like to read as it will expand their knowledge and views even further.
I would definitely recommend this books to children with an interest in science but also those that just like to read as it will expand their knowledge and views even further.
April 30, 2018
Great introduction for young readers to Albert Einstein. I like that it not only talks about his time as a scientist as an adult, but how he always thought and wondered as a child. The illustrations were great and really captured him. Read for Info Books for Youth for Grad School.
February 4, 2021
On a Beam of Light is a picturebook biography about Albert Einstein, one of the brightest minds in history. But Albert Einstein wasn't just smart; he was quirky, loved ice cream and jokes, didn't wear socks, enjoyed talking to children, played violin, sailed his boat, performed "thought experiments," was a pacifist, and always remained playful and curious.
Jennifer Berne's prose is clear, engaging, personal, and poetic. Even the most complex ideas are presented in simple, easy to understand language.
Vladimir Radunsky's simple, whimsical, and peacefully joyful illustrations are a perfect match to both the prose and the subject.
Jennifer Berne's prose is clear, engaging, personal, and poetic. Even the most complex ideas are presented in simple, easy to understand language.
Vladimir Radunsky's simple, whimsical, and peacefully joyful illustrations are a perfect match to both the prose and the subject.
January 12, 2014
“Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein
“On a Beam of Light” is a picture book biography on Albert Einstein. I have read quite a few picture book biographies on Einstein but this is the first and only book that has truly felt engaging and accessible for a younger audience.
How do you explain to young kids about how the mind of a genius physicist works? How do you communicate how a simple beam of light opened a world of wonders for young Einstein? And how do you express the eagerness with which Einstein wanted to learn about the world around him?
“On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein ” does more!
Berne tells the story of Einstein with great reverence and care. She describes his work through the qualities that drove Einstein to make discoveries. For example: she describes how a simple compass excited Einstein to the point that he shuddered, and thought “what other wondrous things remained to be discovered?”
Berne then goes on to describe how Einstein started to think. To really think and ask questions. How he drove everyone crazy with his questions and how his eagerness to learn the answers drove him to study.
One day he was riding his bike. He saw a beam of light.. and he wondered : How would it feel to ride a bike on that beam of light!
His mind filled with questions, Einstein went on to study about light and sound and heat and magnetism. He discovered the secret language of numbers and the world that opened to him through them.
Berne goes on to describe other discoveries that Einstein made through simple examples and straight forward language. She describes Einstein’s habits and quirks and things that made him unique. She describes him as a curious person, a person who loved science and a man who wanted to be left alone to think and let his mind wonder and wander. But Berne also goes on to tell about a man who found comfort in simple things of life.
She ends the book with a note that Einstein left us with many more big questions; questions that scientists are still working on.
This picture book biography is indeed a gem. Yes it is inspiring to read about Einstein, and even better to read about what really drove the man. You will find in this book many lessons for kids to learn from. But it is equally fun to read and learn about the great man himself. The illustrations, quirky and whimsical, are designed to reflect the eccentricities of Einstein himself. They are cleverly drawn to highlight how Einstein saw the world full of numbers and atoms and beams of light.
“On a Beam of Light” is indeed a “DO NOT MISS” read of this year.
“On a Beam of Light” is a picture book biography on Albert Einstein. I have read quite a few picture book biographies on Einstein but this is the first and only book that has truly felt engaging and accessible for a younger audience.
How do you explain to young kids about how the mind of a genius physicist works? How do you communicate how a simple beam of light opened a world of wonders for young Einstein? And how do you express the eagerness with which Einstein wanted to learn about the world around him?
“On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein ” does more!
Berne tells the story of Einstein with great reverence and care. She describes his work through the qualities that drove Einstein to make discoveries. For example: she describes how a simple compass excited Einstein to the point that he shuddered, and thought “what other wondrous things remained to be discovered?”
Berne then goes on to describe how Einstein started to think. To really think and ask questions. How he drove everyone crazy with his questions and how his eagerness to learn the answers drove him to study.
One day he was riding his bike. He saw a beam of light.. and he wondered : How would it feel to ride a bike on that beam of light!
His mind filled with questions, Einstein went on to study about light and sound and heat and magnetism. He discovered the secret language of numbers and the world that opened to him through them.
Berne goes on to describe other discoveries that Einstein made through simple examples and straight forward language. She describes Einstein’s habits and quirks and things that made him unique. She describes him as a curious person, a person who loved science and a man who wanted to be left alone to think and let his mind wonder and wander. But Berne also goes on to tell about a man who found comfort in simple things of life.
She ends the book with a note that Einstein left us with many more big questions; questions that scientists are still working on.
This picture book biography is indeed a gem. Yes it is inspiring to read about Einstein, and even better to read about what really drove the man. You will find in this book many lessons for kids to learn from. But it is equally fun to read and learn about the great man himself. The illustrations, quirky and whimsical, are designed to reflect the eccentricities of Einstein himself. They are cleverly drawn to highlight how Einstein saw the world full of numbers and atoms and beams of light.
“On a Beam of Light” is indeed a “DO NOT MISS” read of this year.
November 28, 2014
It's a tricky business turning history and science into an easily digestible children's story. Simplicity is the order of the day, but when you're trying to simplify the life of the world's greatest physicist it's a slightly trickier proposition.
Yet that's what Jennifer Berne and illustrator Vladmir Radunsky attempt to do in their history of the life and times if Albert Einstein.
The story is as simplified as you might expect, there's plenty about how goofy and inventive Einstein could be, and very little about the specific science he pioneered. After all, what would be the point of tryng to break down the speed of light to kids who are still picking up their times tables?
It's effective in giving the vital information about Einstein's life and times and it does a fine job of having a consistent artistic pallette to draw from. But the upper level vocabulary does most of the heavy lifting, and while Radunsky's art is charming it doesn't do much to tell the story.
Yet that's what Jennifer Berne and illustrator Vladmir Radunsky attempt to do in their history of the life and times if Albert Einstein.
The story is as simplified as you might expect, there's plenty about how goofy and inventive Einstein could be, and very little about the specific science he pioneered. After all, what would be the point of tryng to break down the speed of light to kids who are still picking up their times tables?
It's effective in giving the vital information about Einstein's life and times and it does a fine job of having a consistent artistic pallette to draw from. But the upper level vocabulary does most of the heavy lifting, and while Radunsky's art is charming it doesn't do much to tell the story.
December 14, 2013
The last book I read of ALL the Goodreads best illustrated books of the year. I liked the drawing so much, the quicks sketches that give the impression of Einstein's studied casualness, his wild hair… but the best thing about the drawing is the color, maybe, and all the open space for.. what? I imagination? because that is what the book is about, really, inviting kids to imagine, be curious, especially about science, the universe. The story itself is kinda a straightforward biography for kids…. but told with some passionate flourishes in places...
March 1, 2020
O livro conta um pouco da história de Albert Einstein aos pequenos leitores.
Li com meu filho de 8 anos e acho que o livro falha em explicar um pouco mais sobre quem exatamente ele foi e quais suas principais descobertas. Se até pra um adulto (me incluo nessa) ainda é difícil compreender...
Histórico de leitura
01/03/2020
"Há mais de cem anos, enquanto as estrelas giravam no céu, a Terra rodava em torno do Sol e os ventos de março sopravam em uma cidadezinha à beira de um rio, um menino nascia. Seus pais o chamaram de Albert."
Li com meu filho de 8 anos e acho que o livro falha em explicar um pouco mais sobre quem exatamente ele foi e quais suas principais descobertas. Se até pra um adulto (me incluo nessa) ainda é difícil compreender...
Histórico de leitura
01/03/2020
"Há mais de cem anos, enquanto as estrelas giravam no céu, a Terra rodava em torno do Sol e os ventos de março sopravam em uma cidadezinha à beira de um rio, um menino nascia. Seus pais o chamaram de Albert."
July 5, 2015
I can see why people would like the illustrations, but I don't particularly care for the style. I feel like it was stuck between age groups. Too lengthy and dry for younger children. Not enough details and facts about his life for children a few years older. I wanted it to either be more little kid friendly or have more facts and details. I do think it send a lot of positive messages to children though and encourages them to ask questions and be themselves, which is good.
February 11, 2014
I don't read a lot of nonfiction out loud to my students, but I might give this one a try next week.
April 2, 2014
5/5
A Fabulous book to foster children's interest in science. The true story of Albert Einstein.
Read immediately in your local library's Junior NON-FIC section.
5/5
MH
A Fabulous book to foster children's interest in science. The true story of Albert Einstein.
Read immediately in your local library's Junior NON-FIC section.
5/5
MH
October 15, 2015
A must-have for all Einstein fans with children in their lives. A good reminder to us all that some of our greatest minds had unusual beginnings and were far from being "traditional" learners.
October 19, 2015
Nice introduction to Albert Einstein and the significance of being curious and searching for understanding.
June 8, 2016
The drawings in this book are so cute. Loved how the author wrote about Einsteins life. A really good book for children :)
October 2, 2017
"On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein" by Jennifer Berne is an inspiring biography of Albert Einstein's life and accomplishments. This book is uniquely written with a focus on how Einstein thrived on asking and answering questions through each stage of his life. These questions prompted his intense study and experimentation in math and science, ultimately making him one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century.
What I love about this book is that it draws attention to certain difficulties and setbacks Albert Einstein faced. When Einstein was a baby, his parents worried about his frequent sickness and his late development in speaking. Because Einstein was always distracted by his "big" questions, his teachers said he was a disruption to his class and claimed he would never amount to anything unless he learned to behave. After his college graduation, Einstein was unable to find a teaching job and had to seek employment in a quiet government office. In spite of these and many other setbacks, Einstein went on to produce some of the highest quality research in math, science, and physics.
This is a "wow" book for me for many reasons. First of all, this book lends itself to classroom conversations about overcoming obstacles. The author does not paint a picture of Einstein's life as a series of uninterrupted successes, and students can learn a valuable lesson about pursuing their dreams in spite of other's negative opinions and their own past failures. Another reason this is a "wow" book for me is because of the detail and intention given to the illustrations. This would be a great book to do a picture walk-through with students before reading. Also, I am impressed at how the content of this book is very interdisciplinary, including references to science, math, art, and music. Finally, this is a "wow" book to me because of the great resources in the back pages of the book. The last two pages contain more information about Einstein's theories and experiments. This is a great way to incorporate more informational text into the story. These back pages also list more resources, like books and websites, about Einstein's life and works.
I would recommend this book to students in first through third grade, though it could also be used in fourth or fifth grade, as well. This book would be a great resource to introduce students to the genre of biography. There are many great vocabulary words to be studied in this book, such as "mystery," "theory," "experiment," and "motion." I would like to use this in my classroom along with a writing activity about "big" questions students might have of their own. I would end the lesson by rereading the last few lines of this book: "But still, Albert left us with many questions. Questions that scientists are working on today. Questions that someday YOU may answer... by wondering, thinking, and imagining."
What I love about this book is that it draws attention to certain difficulties and setbacks Albert Einstein faced. When Einstein was a baby, his parents worried about his frequent sickness and his late development in speaking. Because Einstein was always distracted by his "big" questions, his teachers said he was a disruption to his class and claimed he would never amount to anything unless he learned to behave. After his college graduation, Einstein was unable to find a teaching job and had to seek employment in a quiet government office. In spite of these and many other setbacks, Einstein went on to produce some of the highest quality research in math, science, and physics.
This is a "wow" book for me for many reasons. First of all, this book lends itself to classroom conversations about overcoming obstacles. The author does not paint a picture of Einstein's life as a series of uninterrupted successes, and students can learn a valuable lesson about pursuing their dreams in spite of other's negative opinions and their own past failures. Another reason this is a "wow" book for me is because of the detail and intention given to the illustrations. This would be a great book to do a picture walk-through with students before reading. Also, I am impressed at how the content of this book is very interdisciplinary, including references to science, math, art, and music. Finally, this is a "wow" book to me because of the great resources in the back pages of the book. The last two pages contain more information about Einstein's theories and experiments. This is a great way to incorporate more informational text into the story. These back pages also list more resources, like books and websites, about Einstein's life and works.
I would recommend this book to students in first through third grade, though it could also be used in fourth or fifth grade, as well. This book would be a great resource to introduce students to the genre of biography. There are many great vocabulary words to be studied in this book, such as "mystery," "theory," "experiment," and "motion." I would like to use this in my classroom along with a writing activity about "big" questions students might have of their own. I would end the lesson by rereading the last few lines of this book: "But still, Albert left us with many questions. Questions that scientists are working on today. Questions that someday YOU may answer... by wondering, thinking, and imagining."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews