This is a great book to learn about Galileo, one the greatest discoverers in history. The book is told in first person form, so it almost feels as if there is a connection to the man himself. He was the first person to use a spyglass to view the vastness of space. His interest in the universe got him in trouble by the Catholic Church when he realized that there were other objects in space that did not orbit the Earth. This proved his theory that the Earth was not at the center of the solar system. This book provides many other discoveries, inventions, and experiment of Galileo. I also liked the colorful illustrations. Galileo, inventor of the telescope and observer of the heavens, tells his own story in this children's biography. He explain his childhood in Pisa and academic interests, as well as his struggles to be accepted by his father and community. He describes the telescope that he invented and his observations: the surface of the moon, the phases of Venus, and the moons of Jupiter. These observations led him to conclude, like his predecessor Copernicus, that the sun is the center of the universe. The Catholic Church and the Pope silenced his findings and sentenced him to house arrest for the remainder of his life. While this book probably won't capture the imaginations of most children, its first person perspective and clear explanation of Galileo's ideas make it a worthy text for the elementary school collection. Recommended for grades 3 and 4, it will make a good read aloud for students learning about the early explorations of space. Nonfiction text features include: Afterward, Chronology (important events plus Galileo's life), Galileo's experiments and inventions and discoveries, Glossary, Bibliography, and Websites. The quotes from his father are not specifically attributed to any source.
What do You think about I, Galileo (2012)?
A good picture book biography of Galileo, but I prefer Peter Sis's Starry Messenger.
—Julianne
Very detailed Galileo biography to be read aloud in secondary science classes.
—cherryblossom
