Ask Albert Einstein [Hardcover]

Lynne Barasch (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

An introduction to the very human side of Albert Einstein

April’s older sister, Annabel, is in danger of failing math, so April enlists the help of a famous scientist, sending a math problem to Albert Einstein at his home in Princeton, New Jersey. While April waits for an answer, she pictures all the things Einstein might be doing instead: working on his own math problems, playing his violin, riding his bicycle, gardening, sailing, helping other children with their homework – all things that he is known to have enjoyed. But time is running out for Annabel, who doesn’t know that help is on the way. And when it comes, it takes April to show that Einstein has given Annabel a clue so that she can solve the problem herself.

Energetic watercolor-and-ink pictures illustrate this sprightly little-sister-to-the-rescue story based on an actual event. The math problem and solution are included.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–A delightful story based on an article in the New York Times in 1952. Seven-year-old April idolizes her 15-year-old sister, Annabel, who can do almost anything but has trouble with math. The teen's teacher has given her one last chance to earn a decent grade by solving a particularly difficult problem. When Annabel cries, Who does she think I am, Albert Einstein? April's curiosity and compassion for her sister result in a surprising solution to the whole dilemma, as well as to the math problem. After doing a little research about the famous scientist's life, she decides to write him a letter describing her sister's situation. He responds in an unusual, but ultimately helpful way. According to an author's note, Einstein really did find the time to go over equations with children who asked for assistance. Barasch provides a refreshing mix of genres and subjects that will appeal to many readers. The nostalgic cartoon illustrations and numerous quotes from the international figure add charm to this enchanting tale.–Holly T. Sneeringer, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. In 1952, while Einstein worked at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, he occasionally helped kids with their arithmetic homework. Barasch bases this story on a newspaper article, though she adds a 7-year-old narrator, April--and therein lies the problem. April's beloved 15-year-old sister, Annabel, struggles with math, and her only chance at a passing grade is to solve a difficult problem. Annabel protests that she's no Albert Einstein, which gives April an idea. She copies the problem and sends it to Einstein. He answers with a clue that allows Annabel to figure it out. There's a lot to like here: sprightly pen-and-ink art, a clever presentation of Einstein's famous sayings, easily understood biographical material. But it defies belief that a second-grader would send off a letter about external tangents, or that other 7-year-olds will care. In a note, Barasch offers the diagram and formula Einstein provided, which will probably be unintelligible to many grown-ups let alone young children. Older kids will get the gist--and perhaps that's enough to intrigue them--but they may eschew the picture-book format. Best introduced by an adult who can fill in some background. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374304351
• ISBN-13: 978-0374304355
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,017,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For as long as I can remember, drawing was what I did best. I hoped that art school would help me eventually find a way to use this. On the other hand, writing is something I never planned to do. Although I was an enthusiastic and indiscriminate reader from the time I was very young I never thought of writing as an occupation until my five year old daughter had an adventure. On her second day of For kindergarten she got on the wrong bus and went to the wrong school. After she was safe and sound again at home, I thought this would make a great story. And so, THE BUS FUSS was born. It was never published, but I was hooked.
Over the next several years many books followed. My ideas flooded in and came from people I knew. Everything I saw seemed to suggest another story.
RADIO RESCUE is the story of my father's ham radio days in 1920s New York City. My endless interviews with him gave me a window into his life that otherwise would not have been open.
HIROMI'S HANDS is the story of my daughter's childhood Japanese American friend whose father trained her to be a Sushi chef. I met Hiromi as an adorable, shy five year old child and came to know her well over the next eighteen years.
KNOCKIN' ON WOOD is the story of Peg Leg Bates. the one legged dancer. I first saw him on television on the Ed Sullivan show and wrote his story many years later after hearing my daughter's tap teacher talk about the great tappers he knew.
A COUNTRY SCHOOLHOUSE tells the story of my husband's school days in a three room schoolhouse in Dutchess country in the 1940s. I had listened to his amusing anecdotes about this for years and finally wrote them down.
Not all my stories are nonfiction. OLD FRIENDS is the story of an old lady who recognizes her childhood friend in the form of a dog. Sometime after writing this story, much to my surprise, I realized that the old lady was a perfect description of my own grandmother!
Telling stories and making pictures gives me great joy. When words and pictures work well together they form something new, something greater than the sum of its parts. I look forward to bringing many more stories to life in this way.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone can ask, June 22, 2007

By 

Ann Jordan (Oregon coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ask Albert Einstein (Hardcover)

Fifteen-year-old Annabel's despair over her math homework inspires her little sister to repay her kindness in teaching her things by getting help from someone else. In 1952 when the story takes place, Albert Einstein was alive and quite famous. The girl writes to Einstein, and he replies, "Do not worry about your problems with mathematics. I assure you, mine are much greater," (which is a real quote of his). Then he gives her a drawing of how to solve the problem. The story is based on Einstein's actual practice of answering school kids' homework questions. Annabel's problem and his solution are included. The endpapers are wonderful, filled with drawings of Einstein along with his most famous quotes. This story not only introduces a geometry problem (so that young students can see a little of what higher math can do), but it encourages students to not be intimidated and to ask people for help. The reading level isn't the most basic, but it also isn't too tough for younger primary students. This might make a good prize for someone who's just mastered their addition or multiplication facts, or a read-aloud to a math class, as well as just a recreational read.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, simple introduction to Albert Einstein, August 5, 2011

By 

Joseph Dewey (Orem, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ask Albert Einstein (Audible Audio Edition)

There really isn't much simple stuff about Albert Einstein, since Einstein had a bunch of really complicated theories. So, this book fills a gap in which I don't think there are any other books.

It's the true story of a little girl back in 1952 who has a hard math problem for school, and so she writes a letter to Albert Einstein, and asks her to solve her problem. He writes back, and gives her a cryptic hint on the back of his letter, instead of solving her problem for her. The book gives a great characterization of the girl, her family, and a pretty good characterization of Einstein.

I liked it.

Pros:
+Beautiful artwork
+Teaches kids that they can solve their own math problems
+I listened to the audible version also, and the reader was great in this book
+Peppered with cool quotations from Einstein

Cons:
-Short, but I guess it is a kid's book, so that's okay

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for my little inventor-to-be, April 21, 2011

By 

A. E. Long "Mom of 2" (MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ask Albert Einstein (Hardcover)

I got this book to help my 7 year old son celebrate Albert Einstein's (his hero) birthday this year. He liked the fact that a little girl was involved in the story and that Einstein took the time to help her. The story engaged him and he could relate to the sibling relationship and the older sister's issues with math, as his big sister has a math learning disability. Making it better for him was the extra information at the end specifically about Einstein. If you're looking for a detailed book about Einstein's life, this probably isn't for you. But for the younger crowd, I think this one makes Einstein more real, perhaps; more accessible. We really enjoy it and I find him reading it on his own, which is a victory in and of itself. :)