Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)    "Genius" is a word that is bandied about but Galileo Galilei truly deserved the appellation. His natural intellect was stimulated with formal education and his own close observations of the natural world. After studying Aristotle's theories, he began his own experiments and made observations on motion and gravity which led to the publication of On Motion (De Motu). His studies also resulted in the development of a pendulum clock. While Galileo developed many inventions, he is probably best celebrated for producing the most complex telescope of the time - capable of magnifying objects twenty time their original size (other contemporary telescopes could only magnify three times).    The celestial discoveries made possible by his telescope led Galileo to postulate on "The Copernican system" that states that the earth revolves around the sun - not vice versa as was the assumption in that era. Despite assurances by Pope Urban VIII that he could write about Copernican theory if he dealt with it as a mathematical proposition; when Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems was published he had to face the Inquisition for a second time. Pronounced guilty of heresy by the Church, he spent the rest of his life under house arrest.    By the time of his death in 1642 he was totally blind but he had been (and would continue to be) instrumental in "opening the eyes" of the general population and in proving/developing a variety of scientific theories. We have selected a variety of books to help commemorate the anniversary of Galileo's birthday on February, 15, 1564. Explore the interesting site developed for "The Galileo Project" at Rice University: http://galileo.rice.edu. Contributer: Sheilah Egan Reviews Astronomy: Looking at the Stars Susan and Steven Wills    Astronomy may be the oldest science, and this volume describes seven of its most famous practitioners. Readers meet Claudius Ptolemy, who was the first astronomer to go beyond philosophy and into the realm of science, and William Herschel, who gazed beyond our solar system to the vastness of deep space. They meet all of the great ones who came between, visionaries such as Nicolas Copernicus and Galileo. Each chapter is devoted to a noted astronomer, and describes his life and the important work he did to further our knowledge of our universe. The reader truly gets to know the man behind the science. Also included in each chapter are sidebars with additional interesting facts and vocabulary defined. Some of the astronomers' original sketches and notes are reproduced. It is an important reference for middle-grade students seeking knowledge about astronomy and astronomers. The book is part of the "Innovators" series. 2001, Oliver Press, $21.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Joanne Draper (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1881508765 Astronomers Neil Morris    Ten pioneers in the development of the science of astronomy are profiled here: Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Edmund Halley, Willian Herschel and his sister Caroline Herschel, Edwin Hubble, Georges Lemaitre, and Bernard Lovell. The text discusses their inventions and advances against, in the case of the earliest astronomers, resistance from the Church and an unbelieving public. Text pauses for interesting asides, such as Brahe's artificial wax nose, necessary because his own was shot off in a duel, or Newton's university career that was interrupted by the plague in 1665. Well-selected pictures, some from primary sources, and some in full color, plus sidebar information, create visual interest and make the book interesting to browsers. Report writers are assisted by a glossary and index, as well. As an adjunct to science studies in middle school, this book would be perfect supplemental reading for a book report, a resource for a quick overview of the accomplishments of each astronomer as well as the field itself, and a book of general interest for the science-minded. The book is part of the "History Maker" series. 2003, Chrysalis Education/Smart Apple Media, $28.50. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-93233-378-9 Astronomy in Ancient Times Isaac Asimov With revisions and updating by Richard Hantula    Published beginning in 1988, "Isaac Asimov's 21st Century Library of the Universe," an introduction to space for primary and middle readers, has now been updated for today's budding space enthusiasts. Information on topics is brief (each title comprises 30 pages of text), but well and clearly told, full of revelatory facts, and lavishly accompanied by photographs, drawings, and paintings. This title is a good place to start, pointing out to readers that humans have always been fascinated by stars and planets, beginning with prehistoric peoples who drew pictures of the heavens in caves. The discussions go on to explore the relationship of various peoples to the skies: Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Mayans, Persians, Chinese, and Europeans, right through the discoveries of Galileo. Naturally, not everything can be told in the limited space available, but young astronomers will find plenty to capture their attention and lead them to more research. The pictures are, in this context, drawings or paintings--mostly vivid and appealing like a huge and intricate Tower of Babel (could it have been an observatory?) and a miniature of white-turbaned astronomers in 16th-century Istanbul. Look to the sidebars for more facts, such as the Arabic origins of star names, "almanac," "zenith, and "azimuth." Each book contains a "Fact File" (this one is a picture chart of historic observatories), a bibliography including websites and places to visit, a glossary and an index. The thirty available titles make a winning investment in a useful and attractive space library. 2006 (orig. 1988), Gareth Stevens, $24.67. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-8368-3978-1 A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations, and How You Can Find Them in the Sky Michael Driscoll Illustrated by Meredith Hamilton    The sky poses many questions that have captivated humans since ancient times. Most of the objects we see in the sky are stars. Stars are born and die, just like humans. Like our sun, stars burn the gasses that are inside them. Eventually they burn up. Astronomers are the people who study stars and other objects in the sky. As long as five thousand years ago people in Europe had build structures to track the movement of celestial bodies. People in Central America, China and Egypt were also actively studying the skies. For about a thousand years the Greeks took the lead in the study of astronomy. A great leap in knowledge of the stars came in the 1600's when Galileo perfected the telescope. Many of the telescopes astronomer use today are based on the same model and techniques used by Galileo. This book includes information, photos and illustrations about the stars, planet and other flying objects. It is a delightful collection of humorous illustrations, photographs and a variety of clever ways to present sophisticated concepts to young readers. 2004, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, $19.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Kristin Harris (Children's Literature). Awards, Honors, Prizes: Parent's Choice Award Approved 2004 Doing & Learning Books United States ISBN: 157912366X Galileo: Astronomer and Physicist Robin S. Doak    This excellent biography in the "Signature Lives" series traces the life of the great Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, the man who revolutionized science with his defense of Copernican theory and his own persistent assertions that the earth revolved around the sun. Born in 1564 and educated as a philosopher and mathematician, Galileo went on to become a teacher, scientist, and inventor who invented a device to measure air temperature, a compass to solve math problems, and--most significantly--a telescope which he used to observe celestial bodies. Galileo published his scientific observations and theories in works entitled The Starry Messenger and Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. With his publications he quickly attracted the punitive attention of the Roman Catholic Church which summoned Galileo to Rome to face the Inquisition in 1632. Galileo was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment as a heretic in 1633. However, his imprisonment was soon commuted to permanent house arrest and he died while still confined to his home in 1642. Doak's richly-detailed biography clearly describes and analyzes both the astronomer's life and his scientific discoveries; moreover, the author provides plenty of interesting insights into the lifestyles and culture of the Italian Renaissance. Throughout the 112-page book, there are dozens of beautiful illustrations that supplement and further clarify the well-written text. 2005, Compass Point Books, $22.95. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Tim Davis (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7565-0813-4 Galileo: Renaissance Scientist and Astronomer Tim McNeese    This book is part of the "Makers of the Middle Ages and Renaissance" series. The text presents the facts but also draws the reader in and captures the enthusiasm and inquisitive mind of Galileo. His life was often difficult as he challenged accepted theories and his professorial career suffered, but his imagination and intellect kept him pushing ahead with his experiments and inventions. He often wrote in simple terms and angered the intelligentsia by writing in Italian, the common language among the people, rather than Latin. Galileo's development and improvement of the telescope enabled him to demonstrate his controversial theory that the Earth was not at the center of the solar system. The reaction of the Catholic Church is covered, including the later move to acknowledge that the Church had been in error when they reacted to his publications. Each chapter is followed by questions, and the book includes a chronology and timetable, as well as a listing of books and Web sites for further research. 2006, Chelsea House Publishers/Haights Cross Communications, $30.00. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0791086283 Galileo: The Genius Who Faced the Inquisition Philip Steele    Galileo Galilei's family believed he was destined for greatness. His father dreamed Galileo would become a wealthy doctor, like the ancestor for which he was named. His mother believed Galileo would become a successful businessman, like some of her forebears. Galileo did achieve greatness but not in the way his parents envisioned. In following his own path, Galileo became the father of modern science. The highlights of Galileo's long and fruitful life are well told in this new biography. Each of the four chapters concerns different segments of his life: his childhood, his years as a student and teacher, the Inquisition, and Galileo's final years. Within each chapter, the author provides a context for the events happening in Galileo's life, including a blue ribbon at the bottom of each page with a timeline. Readers are immersed in 16th-century Italy with photos and sketches of portraits, cities, buildings, and maps. Each chapter conveys information in an interesting and accessible way. Children will especially enjoy learning about Galileo as a child who goes to school and has music lessons with his musician father. The section on "Everyday Life" at the time of Galileo's childhood discusses the clothes he might have worn and the food he ate, including ice cream! A 2-page spread detailing Italy in Galileo's time is a valuable visual aid in the first chapter, as is the 2-page spread entitled "What We Know Now" in the last chapter. The author does not shy away from some uncomfortable facts in Galileo's life, such as his trial and guilty verdict before the Inquisition and the three children he fathered with Marina Gamba. Nevertheless, these subjects are presented in a basic, age-appropriate way. This solid, third person account will spark interest in the man and his science, which changed the way people saw their world and laid the foundation for how we understand the world today. A glossary, index, and a bibliography are found at the back of the book, which is one in the publisher's "World History Biographies" series. 2005, National Geographic Society, $17.95 and $27.90. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D. (Children's Literature). Best Books: Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog 2006 Supplement to the Ninth Edition, 2006; H.W Wilson Company; United States Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, 2006; National Science Teachers Association; United States ISBN: 0792236564 ISBN: 0792236572 Galileo Galilei and the Science of Motion William J. Boerst    Galileo was one of history's most influential and controversial figures. A brilliant mind--"he refused to accept any theory that had not been subjected to rigorous verification"--combined with a general lack of subtlety when dealing with the hierarchy within the Catholic Church, Galileo's influence is still felt today because of his development of the scientific method as well as the findings derived from his experiments in motion, mathematics, and astronomy. This book works because Boerst has done an excellent job researching and presenting man and his personal life and aspirations with the various experiments that charted his intellectual brilliance. Additional information placed in colorful boxes throughout the text about historical figures of the time as well as the accepted ideas of the day that Galileo would refute through his experimentation helps younger readers contextualize Galileo's amazing life. This is further aided through well-chosen illustrations and photographs positioned throughout the book. I highly recommend this book and as one from which students will learn a great deal in a highly enjoyable manner. 2004, Morgan Reynolds Publishing Inc, $23.95. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-931798-00-1 Galileo's Journal, 1609-1610 Jeanne K. Pettenati Illustrated by Paolo Rui    Galileo Galilei was an intellectual pioneer of his times, whose observations of the night sky changed how people saw Earth's place in the solar system. The author carefully weaves fact with fiction to create an intriguing peek at the man's process and discoveries during a momentous year. Through this imagined journal, Galileo emerges as a resourceful, enthusiastic fellow, training his spyglass (telescope) on the heavens and recording and publishing his thoughts about Jupiter's four moons. Informative notes at the end provide biographical details beyond this year. Pettenati's accessible prose and her creation of a pet dog for Galileo will engage young readers from the first diary entry as will Italian artist Rui's paintings of a curious young man, eager pup and stars and planets. 2006, Charlesbridge, $16.95 and $6.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).    Galileo is known today for his studies of the stars and the solar system, but his use of scientific methods to conduct his studies and experiments was as revolutionary as his discoveries. Jeanne Pettenati has created a journal that Galileo might have written during one brief year when he used trial and error to create a telescope--or spyglass as he called it--and then asked questions about what he saw when he looked at Jupiter with his spyglass. He was always ready to try new experiments and observations to find the answers to his questions. What are the bright stars next to Jupiter? What if the stars and Jupiter are all moving? His conclusions made his real book The Starry Messenger a bestseller of his day, but it also infuriated the religious authorities, who prevented him from traveling or teaching anymore. The book makes an important but ancient man a little more human. The illustrations are adequate with the best rendering of Galileo on the cover, where the glint in his eye draws the reader in to share the quest. Pettenati's notes include a brief biography, as well as an explanation of precisely where she took liberties in creating Galileo's journal. 2006, Charlesbridge, $16.95 and $6.95. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-57091-879-1 ISBN: 1-57091-880-5 Starry Messenger: A Book Depicting the Life of a Famous Scientist, Mathematician, Astronomer, Philosopher, Physicist, Galileo Galilei    This is an exceptional book that documents the life of a great scientist who children usually don't meet until they are older. Galileo's story is told in a simple direct narrative, appropriate for very young children. Additional text gives greater detail, as well as excerpts of his writing, keeping the book informative for older children. Galileo suspected that the ideas of his time about the universe were wrong, but only made public his theories after he had devised a telescope and could prove them. His theories threatened the Catholic Church, and Galileo was ordered to stop believing what he had seen with his own eyes. A beautifully illustrated and designed book--an essential addition to any child's library. 1996, Frances Foster/FS&G, $16.00. Ages 3 to 12. Reviewer: Kristin Harris (Children's Literature). Best Books: Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States American Booksellers Pick of the Lists, Fall, 1996; American Booksellers Association; United States Booklist Book Review Stars, October 15, 1996; United States Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States The Children's Literature Choice List, 1997; Children's Literature; United States Kirkus Book Review Stars, 1996; United States Lasting Connections, 1996; American Library Association; United States Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 1996; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States Notable Books for Children, 1996; American Library Association-ALSC; United States Notable Books for Children, 1997; American Library Association-ALSC; United States Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 1997; National Council of Teachers of English; United States Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of the Social Studies, 1996; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 1996; Cahners; United States Publishers Weekly, The Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 1996; Cahners; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 1996; Cahners; United States School Library Journal: Best Books, 1996; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 1997 Biography United States Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Title 1997 United States Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book 1997 United States State and Provincial Reading Lists: Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 2000; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Michigan ISBN: 0-374-37191-1 Telescopes Jonathan Bocknek    Approximately three thousand stars are visible with the naked eye. Astronomers know that there are millions of stars. Telescopes allow them to study stars, many of which are very far away. The first telescope was made in 1608. Galileo was the first to point it toward the sky in 1609. There are two types of telescopes. A refracting telescope uses two lenses; one to collect the light of an object and the second lens magnifies the image. A reflecting telescope collects light with a mirror and bounces it off of the mirror onto a lens. Telescopes were used to discover the planets of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Amateur astronomers also use telescopes and make discoveries. The Hubble Space Telescope is both a spacecraft as well as a telescope. This telescope allows astronomers to see space more clearly, without the interference of the Earth's atmosphere. The Hubble Space Telescope is about the size of a bus and orbits about 375 miles above the Earth. This book is one of the "Science Matters" series for young elementary school students. A standardized format features a fact sheet for the volume topic, biographies of scientists, a map of the solar system and a quiz to review information presented in the book. There are also web links and a glossary. These books are well illustrated, primarily with photographs. The information is well organized for this age group. 2003, Weigl Publishers, $23.93. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Kristin Harris (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-590-36084-2 To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here. For additional information related to this feature, please click here. Udpated 1/31/2007