Along Came Galileo [Paperback]

This book was a fun and informative read. The author, Jeanne Bendick, included much about the times and way of life. She clearly explains and illustrates the thoughts of the day about the universe as well as the differences between the thinking of the ancient Greeks and Galileo, who did not blindly accept the ancient teachings.

The middle to upper elementary student will gain insight into science, other famous astronomers/scientists from that era, geography, and history through this book. Each chapter concludes with a quote from Galileo that is perfect for copy work.

Jeanne Bendick has a gift for making science, and scientists, lively. And she uses that gift, in this book, to present Galileo as a curious, interesting, normal person -- an excellent role model for little scientists!

What made Galileo so normal? Well, he had problems at school -- his father wanted him to study things that didn't interest him. He had money troubles trying to support his family, and he had to relocate for jobs. He got stuck in the middle of a power struggle. He had lots of houseguests, and even took in boarders. He liked to show off (a little). Kids can relate to all of that.

What made Galileo extraordinary is the way he never gave up. This book does a fine job demonstrating his pursuit of knowledge, his discoveries, and his inventions.

My biggest concern was how the book would treat the church vs. science conflict -- it is so often framed as "backwards, repressive church squashes free-thinking genius." Instead, that conflict is dealt with fairly and honestly. The church was the political power of the day, there were factions, and Galileo was aligned with a faction. The other faction used him as a flashpoint to pick apart the power of his faction, and he was stuck in the middle.

I think the most fascinating section of the book dealt with Galileo's telescope and how he used it to study the night skies. I liked the helpful warning on page 52: NEVER NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN...

Throughout the book, Ms. Bendick's illustrations are clear and to-the-point. The map on page 6 is very helpful through the whole book. This book brings science to life, and I can't rate it highly enough.

This book was purchased for my 6th grade son. He read it in less than a week. These books are fun and easy to read. They give a background of the actual person and how they came to discover or invent something. We have several of the Jeanne Bendick books and now my 5th grade daughter is reading them. Unlike typical school science books spurting dates and names, we appreciate getting to know these inventors in this lighthearted manner.