What's the Matter With Albert: A Story of Albert Einstein - Softcover

Wishinsky, Frieda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1894379322 ISBN 13: 9781894379328

Publisher: Maple Tree Pr, 2002

Synopsis

The world knows Albert Einstein as one of the greatest thinkers and scientists of all time. What's the Matter with Albert? introduces young readers to the life and character of this famous figure, telling his story from childhood through to the end of his life.

Seen through the eyes of a young boy sent to interview him for the school paper, Einstein vividly comes to life in these pages. The immediacy and gentle humor of Frieda Wishinsky's writing humanizes the subject. Not only do readers learn of the amazing accomplishments of a Nobel-prize-winning scientist, but they also find out that Albert Einstein was slow to learn to talk, sometimes temperamental, and a poor student. From his childhood and through to his great scientific achievements and work for peace in his adult life, a full portrait emerges.

This magical meeting will resonate with young readers, introducing them to Einstein the person, as well as Einstein the great scientist and teacher. Jacques Lamontagne's richly evocative artwork, based on archival photographs, transports the reader back in time to the periods and places where Einstein lived and grew up.

The introduction, Who Was Albert Einstein? helps give a clear understanding of the incredible impact of Albert Einstein's ideas, which revolutionized the way we see the world. A straightforward chronology at the end of the book rounds out Einstein's story, highlighting the important events in his life and giving a comprehensive summary of his achievements.

About this title

About the Author:

Award-winning writer Frieda Wishinsky has written many other children's books, including A Quest in Time, and is widely in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.. A Governor General's Award nominee, Frieda is a well-known and well-loved author. She currently lives in Toronto.

Jacques Lamontagne was born in Québec City. He has worked as an illustrator since 1985, producing stunning illustrations in a large range of styles and media. His realistic approach is inspired by Norman Rockwell, Frank Frazetta and James Bama.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Introduction and first page of story

Who Was Albert Einstein?

Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists who ever lived. Why is he so famous? He didn't invent anything. He didn't discover a new planet or a star. He didn't produce something faster, bigger, or better.

What Albert Einstein did was see the world in a new way. He asked new questions about light, energy, space, time, mass, and gravity. He formulated new answers. He made scientists rethink their old theories and see new possibilities.

Some scientists have used Einstein's ideas to harness atomic energy. Engineers and inventors have used his ideas to create fluorescent light, television, and lasers. Astronomers have used his ideas to think about how the universe was formed, to estimate its size, and to wonder whether it is shrinking or growing.

Einstein didn't have answers to all his questions. For many years, he worked on finding a unified theory -- a single explanation for how the universe works. In the end, he didn't find it. But Einstein was never discouraged. He believed that he was just one scientist adding one piece to a gigantic puzzle. He believed that we all have to look at the world as children do, with wonder and curiosity, and keep asking basic questions about how and why things happen.

Einstein was one of the most famous people in the world, but he didn't care about fame. He won many awards, but he didn't care about prizes or money. Einstein cared about ideas, and he also cared about making the world a more peaceful place. He spoke and wrote articles about democracy, freedom, and peace. He used his fame to warn the world about the dangers of dictatorships, nuclear weapons, and war.

Albert Einstein was a great scientist and humanitarian, but once he was just a boy.

Here is his story.

--

"Albert Einstein! You want me to interview Albert Einstein?"

"Billy," said our newspaper editor, Jane, "you want to be a reporter, don't you. How are you going to do that if you're scared to talk to people?"

"But... but..." I stammered. "This is different."

"An interview's an interview," said Jane, staring at me with her piercing eyes. Then her gaze softened a bit. "Don't worry. He won't bite."

How could I say no? After all, I was a new reporter for the Princeton Elementary School News. Interviewing people was my job. But this was different. It wasn't like interviewing Jim Black, our local policeman. Or even Dr. Ford, my doctor, who insisted on checking my tonsils while I was in her office. This was Albert Einstein, the smartest man in the world.

What could I say to him? How could I interview him? I was only a B- student in math, and that was after my mom had drilled me for hours on my multiplication tables.

"Go to see him today," said Jane. "We're printing the story on Friday."

"But what if he's busy?" I stammered. "What if he's not home? What if he doesn't want to talk to me?"

"You're a reporter, Billy." Jane stared down at me (she's a foot taller and two grades older). "Get your story!"

About this edition

• Publisher: Maple Tree Pr
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1894379322
• ISBN 13: 9781894379328
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Lamontagne Jacques