Five Secrets in a Box

by Catherine Brighton

Restless and curious in the long afternoon while her father Galileo sleeps, Virginia explores his study and discovers some of the tools he uses in his scientific experiments.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Astronomy, Biography

28 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 1987

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet. Few words and bright, interesting, attractive pictures for the visually stimulated child. Virginia, shown on the front cover, was Galileo's daughter. She seems to have been at least as curious as her father. She is fascinated by all her father's instruments and everything else in his world, making them intriguing to young readers as well. In her exploring she reminds me of two little girls I used to know. (I know them even better now, but they aren't little anymore.) I am quite sure they must have loved this book, but alas, I don't remember reading it to them.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing introduction to Galileo. Young children can enjoy young Virginia's visit to her father's study. They'll notice the details in the room, and can compare it with the rooms in their own house. They'll come to notice clues in the picture that give insight into the man and his family -- the cross on the wall, the leaning tower visible from the window, the draperies, ... lots of details. Virginia looked thru the curved glass lens that magnified letter on a page; I wish she'd also used it to look at the feather.

Dava Sobel's introduction and the author's closing note provide additional info for the adult reader (or a motivated younger reader).

This is a keeper.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting idea that is frustratingly unfulfilled.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't really about Galileo. It's not about his work, or his discoveries. It's not about the changes he made in our understanding of the world.

It's a book about a small child trying to be part of her daddy's life. You know any kids like that, poking around your desk, playing with your things and trying to understand your grown-up business?

I was taken a little by surprise at how simple the language used is. With its short sentences, this book is more appropriate for 4 year olds than 8 year olds, as I had imagined. Don't expect to use this book to teach your kid science or history, but it's a good book to describe... wonderment, I suppose, which a scientist has to have as much as a child.

[CanadianReader · Rating 1 out of 5]

A missed opportunity, Five Secrets in a Box is a spare picture book from the point of view of Galileo's daughter, Virginia. When her father is asleep during daylight hours, having stayed up studying the night sky, Virginia comes upon his desk where five of his tools lie. Virginia looks through various lenses...and, well, that's about it. Nothing truly valuable about Galileo's life is revealed and characters are as flat as can be. I was unimpressed with the book on all levels. Even the paintings had an amateurish quality. Not recommended.

[Jessica Sacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this to my three children from the copy I was given myself as a child. The text is beautifully spare and lyrical. As others have pointed out, it does not explain Galileo's discoveries - but it conveys through a child's eyes the curiosity and wonder that surely underpin his work, as well as his daughter's play. Quietly we are shown that the child's play and exploration, and the adult's experimentation, are continuous with one another. The daughter is not told off for touching her father's instruments; what for her is a toy is "important for his work." Their lives run parallel, she alone in the day, he alone at night, yet their relationship is sustaining for both.

In the relevant pages of my copy I slipped a thin magnifying lens, the red and blue lenses of a cardboard 3d viewer, and a feather, so that my small children could discover along with Virginia.

In contrast with the understatement of the text, the illustrations are rich in detail, with a warm colour palette and emphasis on the many elaborate textiles making the cold, stone house comfortable.

Ps, my edition carries what I think is the original title: Five Secrets in a Box. To me this is a more inviting name for this book, and I wonder whether the less subtle title may have raised some of the expectations that other reviewers have had disappointed by the lack of scientific detail.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting concept and context to take for a book about Galileo. I wish the author would have focused more on what the tools were used for or provided a bit more context for the kids to understand the true magnitude of Galileo's discoveries.

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great approachable read to introduce Galileo to small children.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale from the Renaissance world, as Virgina explores her scientist father's study, discovers a box containing five items that opens the world to her.

[Libby Hutchison]

This book is about Galileo and his daughter. It is written from his daughter's point of view which gives it an interesting perspective. It talks about how Galileo works all night and then sleeps during the day while his daughter does the opposite. While galileo is sleeping, his daughter looks on his desk in which he works at and finds five things in a box. These different things do crazy things to her perspective of the world and she ends up asking her father about it when she wakes up.

I really enjoyed this book and I believe children would to. The only thing I would say is that too young of children may not understand the deeper meaning of this story. They might not be able to think past the words on the page which are more basic than the actual meaning of the story. Overall it was a good book and children would enjoy it.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Galileo's Treasure Box" is about Galileo's daughter Virginia, and what it might have been like for her to grow up in a house with her famous father. At the end of the book, there is a section that tells a brief history of Galileo, and what all of the items Virginia finds in his box are used for. This section helps to bring the story into our previous knowledge of Galileo. I would read this story to my students after a lesson about Galileo.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful work of historical fiction from the perspective of Virginia Galilei, daughter of Galileo. This is not a book I would recommend if you are only searching for information about the famous astronomer. However, if you already have some knowledge about him it’s interesting to look for references of his work in the lovely illustrations. The afterward provides some facts about Galileo’s life and relationship with his daughter.