Module 12: Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown gives young readers a peek at the childhood of famed mathematical genius Albert Einstein.  The stories told, while humorous, paint a picture of boy out of touch with his peers, his instructors, and the world around him.  The story then fast forwards through adulthood and makes mention of his most famous theories and the modern day inventions that they spawned.            

          

APA Reference of Book:

Brown, D. (2004). Odd boy out: Young Albert Einstein. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Impressions:

The childhood anecdotes in Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein are a fascinating read. I found it very interesting that his teachers thought he might be slow, that he was a holy terror to his little sister, and that he failed his college entrance exams since this is completely contrary to my mental picture of this brilliant scientist.  The second half of the story, though, felt too abbreviated. Though the focus of the book was Einstein’s childhood, the picture book would have benefited from more of the same kinds of familial details when discussing Einstein's adult accomplishments. To ensure that children enjoy this book, some preliminary information about Albert Einstein and his reputation as one of the most intelligent individuals in history should be discussed because many grade school students have no concept of who Einstein was.

Professional Review:

Horn Book Magazine

“Brown maintains a delicate tension between his accessible presentation (a straightforward text and uncluttered illustrations) and his extraordinary subject (the legendary twentieth-century physicist whose complex ideas revolutionized science and daily life). For someone whose name is synonymous with genius, Albert Einstein's early years were far from auspicious. Brown carefully and effectively summarizes events, choosing telling details to paint a portrait of an introspective child who struggles in school and whose frustrated teachers wonder if Albert is "dull-witted." In the somber watercolor and ink illustrations, young Albert's physical separation from other figures emphasizes his psychological disconnection from the goings on around him (as do his almost-always-closed eyes). Brown introduces Einstein's famous theories with a light touch, keeping the focus on the boy/young man. The book's message about different ways of and approaches to learning is clear and will surely be appreciated by the intended audience. An author's note debunks a few myths surrounding the man and his work, and a short bibliography rounds out this inspired picture-book biography.”

Flynn, K. (2004, September/October). [Review of the book Odd boy out: Young Albert Einstein, by D. Brown].  Horn Book Magazine, (80)5, 604-605. Retrieved from http://archive.hbook.com/ magazine/

Library Uses:

Elementary School Library

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein would make the perfect story time read.  After the story, remind students of how Einstein was fascinated by the compass that his father gave him.  Then help students build their own compass out of a cork, magnetized needle, and bowl of water or show students how to work a real compass.  Another fun activity would be to attempt to build a house out of cards.  Einstein built one fourteen stories high; see how many layers students can balance.