Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet

This book does a great job of simplifying the discovery that the earth orbits the moon by giving analogies that children can readily understand. Additionally, the author does a good job of defining terms that may be a stretch for children reading the book. The background knowledge of Copernicus is given in a clear manner, which makes him seem like a “normal” person. In my opinion, this is important, as it allows children of modest backgrounds to see that others from similar backgrounds have found significant success. Additionally, the development of facing the dilemma of publishing a work that contradicts the church is very well done. The idea that we should pursue ideas that do not go along with the norm is a phenomenal message for show more children. show less

The School Library Journal lists this title for Grades 3-6. The writing style is narrative and easy to understand. However the text itself is is printed against the textured background of the painted illustrations, which make it more difficult to read, especially on the darker pages. The back matter includes an author's note that also lists some of his sources. The illustrations are oil paintings which look like a product of the age and include a few diagrams to further illustrate the scientific ideas mentioned in the text. This is the only picture book biography of Copernicus that I am aware of and it does a good job of introducing his life and ideas.

This is a great picture book biography. It's a little bit odd as illustrations go, and the pages can be a bit text heavy for an intermediate level reader, but the information is presented in kid-friendly language and is extensively detailed enough to leave any reader knowledgeable about the subject. Much better than some of the other texts that I've read by Mr. Fradin which can occasionally get too technical for my readers to stay interested in. I'd recommend this as a solid addition to a school library.