The Story of Leonardo da Vinci: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers

by Ciara O'Neal

Discover the life of Leonardo da Vinci—a story about uncovering new things for kids ages 6 to 9

Leonardo da Vinci was a famous artist and thinker. He created well-known paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, and even had ideas for modern-day inventions like cars and contact lenses. Before he amazed the world with his creative mind, he was a bright kid who loved asking questions.

As a teenager, he studied under an expert artist who taught him different ways to create, like painting and sculpting. Explore how Leonardo went from being a thoughtful young boy to an artistic genius whose artwork still hangs in museums all over the world.

The Story of Leonardo da Vinci

How will Leonardo's unstoppable imagination inspire you?

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens

66 pages, Paperback

Published February 2, 2021

Reviews

[Nicole Loos Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of Leonardo Da Vinci was so fun and interesting to read! I’ve always thought of Da Vinci as an artist but this book painted a much more vibrant and complicated life than I’d imagined. The tone was so conversational, making the information-packed chapters a delight to read through. I loved the sidebars of myth vs. fact, the timelines, and the brainstorming prompts (“jump into the think tank”) made for some inspiring conversations with my kids. Whether you’re looking for an entertaining read or a way to incorporate art, science, math or history into your child’s reading experience, this book is so much FUN. I was provided with a free copy of this book to review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Biography Book for New Readers” is a perfect description. Several features make the book accessible and engaging for young readers, including colorful graphics throughout, Jump in the Think Tank questions to extend learning, a knowledge test at the end, and a handy glossary. I also appreciated the Myth Vs. Fact sections. Ciara’s conversational writing style makes some of the more abstract concepts manageable for kids, too. When I taught fourth grade, my students worked on biography projects, and this book would be perfect for this!

Ciara makes Leonardo Da Vinci’s biography come alive with details about his everyday activities throughout his life. I love that Leonardo used to bring a notebook with him wherever he went, and I can relate. The part about the battle between Da Vinci and Michelangelo is fascinating to me as well! I love how inspiring this book is, with lines like this one: “Leonardo was right, after all: Humans can soar.”

Thank you to the publisher for providing my free review copy of The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci!

[Beauty in the Binding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered The Story of Leonardo Da Vinci by Ciara O’Neal to supplement our homeschool reading curriculum. I now know far more about Leonardo da Vinci than I ever have before. This short chapter book packs in lots of information as it covers from his birth through his death. His life story alone is fascinating (to me), but bright illustrations and “think tank” questions add interactive opportunities to the book. I liked that the author wove in a positive outlook on childhood (and adulthood) curiosity and its value and benefits. The short, multiple-choice quiz at the back is perfect for checking comprehension.

We have several books in this series and The Story of Leonardo Da Vinci is one of my favorites. I love learning about all the different people right along with my kiddos. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product via the Amazon Vine program. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This elementary biography series continues to impress me with its format and its thorough coverage of important people throughout history. Each installment incorporates frequent color illustrations, on-going timeline, side bars, bolded words that are defined in the glossary, “Jump into the Think Tank” questions to challenge readers and so, so much more. While the vocabulary of this series is not as difficult as the popular Who Was/What Was, the coverage of the subject matter is done in a way that encourages far more critical thinking on the part of the reader. Target audience for the series is likely grades 4-6. Recommended for home libraries and literature circles in classrooms, but as hardcover versions do not seem to be available at retail stores or from library venders, they are, unfortunately, not the best option for most libraries.

[Sally McClure]

The Story of Leonardo da Vinci is a page-turner! As a person who does not enjoy history books, I found this book impossible to put down! I learned so many things about good ole Leo that I never knew! So many history books are full of facts and dates, but Ciara O'Neal's creative ability to spin a tale, brings da Vinci's story to life! The side bars were so much fun, and I actually took time to ponder the "Jump into the Think Tanks." I was provided with a copy for review, but I was so impressed, I bought a copy to donate to my neighborhood elementary. I highly recommend this book. Sign me up for her next one. This author is one to watch!

[Soumaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely written biography bringing to life a past that is trully entrenched in the substance of the present. Not only does it look deep into art as a craft of the time, but it paints a whole image of the era, in remembrance of origins. Those were the years when man was entitled so only if he brought together different realms. Science, art, autonomy, maths, to mention but a few, are brought together engineering a mind hardly to be found. It is that of Da Vinci. ❤️

[Dedra Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book because I learned so much about Leonardo da Vinci beyond his artwork. Just reading it inspires you to think! The book is perfectly written and is full of fun graphics and bold artwork. The sidebars and graphics take you beyond his story. I plan to read more in this series!

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leonardo da Vinci asked millions of questions just like me.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

I read this book to encourage my daughter to read. It was a total joy.
I'm truly a fan of Leonardo.

[Lauren Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating biography of Leonardo that kids will relish! I enjoyed it as an adult, but kids will love it for all it's fun and interesting facts. Definitely not another stale bio. Highly recommend!