Module 12 - Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

Bibliography:

Brown, Don. (2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0618492984

Summary:

Albert Einstein was born in Germany in the year1879. Upon his arrival in the world, his family thinks he is too fat and a huge head. Although his head stays misshaped, he otherwise appears to be normal until his parents start to worry about when Albert will start speaking. When he finally does start to speak, his words and sentences are clever and sharp. When Albert is three, his parents have another child, a girl named Maja. He is shown being mean to his sister as well to his tutors, having a wicked temper. He had very few friends. While the other boys at school liked to play sports, Albert did not. He did not give much effort to things he did not like or have an interest in, even at school. But things he was interested in, he devoted all of his attention. He excelled in math and puzzles. But still, people and teachers wondered if he was dull witted. Albert later makes a friend named Max Talmud, who introduces Albert to geometry, and from there, Albert's love of math expands. Although Albert eventually graduates college, attains a job, and marries and becomes a father, Albert is still engaged in the wonder of mathematics in the world around him. He creates a view of space and time and energy that changed the world, changing the world for everyone. Because of his contributions, Albert Einstein is not the odd boy out anymore, but a revolutionary and great thinker.

Impressions:

I thought this book was a great view into who Albert Einstein was as a person, as a boy growing up. It was nice to see that Albert had problems and issues just like "normal" children growing up, and that he struggled as well. But in a way, it is important to see the differences in how he struggled because he was so brilliant. The illustrations help illustrate this with illustrations that are sometimes funny, such as a teacher running from Albert's cruelty, but more importantly, the illustrations show how lonely Albert must have been, such as Albert sitting by himself while other boys played. This book makes Albert Einstein a person as well as one of the most brilliant and magnificent thinkers of all times. I also enjoyed how on the last page of the book, it illustrates what he has done for us, not only in his magical creation of E=mc^2, which younger readers might not be able to understand and appreciate yet, but he also illustrates Albert's contribution in a way young readers can appreciate, such as automatic doors and television.

Reviews:
"Young readers won't come away from Brown's newest picture-book biography understanding the theory of relativity, but they will be heartened by the parallels between their own experiences and those of an iconic science guy. "

Mattson, Jennifer. (September 01, 2004). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Through eloquent narrative and illustration, Brown offers a thoughtful introduction to an enigmatic man. This book will pique the interest of readers with little or no knowledge of Einstein."

 Taniguchi, Marilyn. (October 01, 2004). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be great to use in a set of books about inventors who have influenced our life today. Reading this book and then talking about the effects that Albert's works on light, energy, space and time have made on our daily lives would be a great introduction into such a topic. It is important for children to understand why we have the things we do, and that these were real people, with real problems who created these solutions. Not only that, but this book could also be tied into a science class when introductions to the E=mc^2 equation are being taught. It would give a nice background to the lesson.