Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Cynthia Von Buhler (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6–This attractive picture-book biography includes many interesting facts about this fascinating 16th-century scientist. The author sketches Copernicus's childhood, his education in Poland, and his work as a clergyman and physician. However, the focus of the book is on the scholar's passion for astronomy and his rediscovery–after studying the works of the ancient Greeks–of the idea that the Earth is not the center of the universe but a planet orbiting the Sun. The writing of his masterpiece, Concerning the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, is also described. (However, the author's statement that this work "was one of the most important books ever written" is perhaps a little generous.) The text is beautifully supported by dramatic oil-on-gesso artwork. Some of the paintings depict the astronomer's life, but others illustrate the scientific concepts mentioned in the narrative. Von Buhler's style suggests the muted colors and two-dimensional quality of late-medieval illustration. Fradin's depiction of his subject is idealized but he mostly resists the temptation to fictionalize. This is a useful and accessible introduction to Copernicus's life and works, but the facts and details are too scant for reports. For that purpose, Catherine M. Andronik's Copernicus: Founder of Modern Astronomy (Enslow, 2002) offers more information.–Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. This handsome, if brief, biography of Copernicus introduces the man and his work on the heliocentric theory, for which he is best remembered. Fradin does a good job of explaining how Copernicus came to accept the notion that the planets revolve around the Sun and why it was such a revolutionary and dangerous idea to hold. Though this fully illustrated book might appear to be for younger children, middle-grade readers will be better equipped to make sense of the astronomy and the historical context. The oil paintings are handsome and also effective in creating a sense of Copernicus' life in Poland in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. On some pages, however, the art seems to overwhelm the text, particularly when the paint-textured backgrounds make reading a bit difficult. On the best double-page spreads, though, the words stand out clearly, the large pictures on the facing pages illuminate the story and scientific concepts, and smaller, decorative pictures unify the text and art. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Mondo Publishing (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593360061
• ISBN-13: 978-1593360061
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #394,270 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Meaty and Beautifully Illustrated, October 1, 2006

By	Marsha Wood Wirtel (Philly's Western 'Burbs) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My [...] year-old astronomer-in-the-making adores Dennis Fradin's Copernicus, the reading of which has led to a desire to visit Frombork and its Nicolaus Copernicus Museum! That is the power of this beautifully illustrated biography, which touches on the social conditions in Poland at the time of Copernicus, the science of the Copernican system, as well as relating the essential story of the man himself. Parents and homeschooling families will find much to discuss and share in this book, although the text will stand on its own as well without additional enrichment or activities.

Fradin seems to have taken great care with the facts of the story. Unlike some science and biography related boks intended for children, Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth is a Planet is *accurate* and does not lose factual credibility in its effort to make understandable how and why Copernicus arrived at his famous conclusions. Nor does the story shy away from the consequences that arose for scientists of the time who dared to contradict the Church, but rather addresses them in a non-scary, kid-appropriate way.

All in all, a wonderful effort and one I'm glad my family has experienced.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great to read to the kids, March 7, 2009

By	R. Reiserer "ScienceGeyser" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My son enjoyed this book. The history may not be quite right (is it ever?), but it has a nice story line and nice illustrations which makes it a great bed time story for aspiring scientists.