World History Biographies: Leonardo da Vinci: The Genius Who Defined the Renaissance

World History Biographies

by John Phillips

The original "Renaissance Man" was a scientist, a painter, a sculptor, an architect, a military engineer, an inventor, and a musician. Although he died in 1519, he left a rich legacy of learning in scores of notebooks. These included the first detailed drawings of the human anatomy, pioneering notes on the structure and growth of plants, and even detailed diagrams of machinery from which modern-day engineers have constructed prototypes. His 15th century imagination envisaged tanks and helicopters, and he even used mirror (or backward) writing to protect his ideas. The genius of Leonardo da Vinci continues to inspire and to intrigue each new generation of students throughout the world. National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Genres: Biography, History, Art, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Dr. John Phillips was born in Britain. He served in the British Army in Palestine where he saw many of the events which led to the birth of the State of Israel. After the War he joined the Bank of Montreal and went to Canada. In the Canadian north-west he founded and pastored a small church in a bi-vocational capacity. He served as assistant director of the Moody Bible Institute's Correspondence School and became well known as a Bible teacher in the Moody Evening School and over the Moody Radio Network. For four years he directed the Emmaus Correspondence School, one of the largest in the world at that time with courses available in over 100 languages. Returning to Moody Bible Institute he traveled widely as an itinerant Bible teacher for the Institute's Extension Ministry. He is best known for his EXPLORING and INTRODUCING books. He has written on all the New Testament books and on numerous Old Testament books including EXPLORING GENESIS, EXPLORING PSALMS (2 vols), EXPLORING PROVERBS (2 vols) and EXPLORING THE MINOR PROPHETS. Dr. Phillips' resources have been the companions of pastors, teachers and Bible students everywhere who have turned to them for instruction, illumination, and illustration.

Reviews

[Fernanda Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro es una pequeña introducción a lo que fue la vida de Leonardo (si estoy consciente que es un libro para niños) pero si les soy honesta no me importa.
No solamente me dio más curiosidad sobre lo que Leonardo Da Vinci ha aportado a nuestro día a día, sino que me dejo con Sed de conocer más.
Sin duda es un buen libro para niños que busquen adentrarse al mundo de la lectura.
Ps: Ademad fue un regalo, lo tenia que leer :).
3/5.

[Jason Golomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Targeted at grade-schoolers, this book from National Geographic provides a beautifully illustrated overview of the life and works of the famous Renaissance Man. The book includes numerous photos and reprints of Da Vinci's most famous works, and well as reproductions of some of his designs.

While he's most famous for The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, Da Vinci, in fact, only completed a few paintings during his lifetime, magnificent though they may be. Da Vinci painted, sculpted, created sets for plays, and designed numerous machines for war.

The book is well-written, and is designed and laid out beautifully. The amazing imagery used in the book makes for a great way to introduce Leonardo and the Renaissance.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview for kids.

[T R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice brief overview. Nothing special

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief overview of da Vinci's life. This is a great start to learning about da Vinci.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief but insightful.

[Andrea]

The legacy of Leonardo da Vinci is phenomenally recounted in superb detail. da Vinci's interest and genius for art, watercraft, aircraft, anatomy, music and military is conveyed in this account of his life. We come to discover the trials, tribulations and successes da Vinci meets throughout his life. We come to realize that Leonardo was a true Renaissance man ahead of his times, who left a blueprint for the benefit of future generations. Readers also learn about the societal beliefs of Italy during the time of the Renaissance. Each page spread is bordered at the bottom with a timeline to explain the events happening during the time discussed. In addition, there is an aside featured on every right page to expand on a thought mentioned in the text. Vivid visuals of authentic materials are included on every page and at the end of each section. Readers can gaze their eyes upon Leonardo's masterpiece paintings, sketches and notes. This text can launch into a student-centered research project in which students can form study groups based on the interests of da Vinci that they would like to further explore. For further study of this artist, this text could be paired with Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? by Roberta Edwards & True Kelley and Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd.

[Andrea M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short biography with lots of photos! I like the visual format which allows me to learn about a famous person quickly. He was an artist who could not sit there long enough to paint very many pictures. The Mona Lisa is one of the few finished paintings he did. He was a brilliant inventor which didn't pay a whole lot back then. And his grandfather recorded his birth in the family bible. What a find for the family historian! I liked that the book had a picture of the entry of his birth in the family bible. I'm totally into historical artifacts like that!

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

It bears being reminded that Leonardo was the original "Renaissance Man." His accomplishments were mind-blowing and his original ideas that came to fruition much later were numerous. This guy was a man ahead of his time without question.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, simple bio w excellent pictures from the period. The timeline that runs along the bottom of the pages helps to establish chronology. Descriptions of politics and contemporary artists gives context to da vinci's life. Excellent resource for upper elementary students.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

G. Very informative and an easy read. I found out a lot more about Da Vinci than I knew before or learned from "The Da Vinci Code."

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable overview for middle grade students and librarians reviewing for info to relate to E.L. Konigsburg's The Second Mrs. Gioconda.

[WSL Library]

x2

[Angeles Sandoval]

it's good and helpfull

[Trae Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breezy biography that reads like a term paper. Good source material for someone who is actually writing one.