Monday, March 31, 2008

When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer

Author: Walt Whitman

First line: When I heard the learn'd astronomer...

Why you should read this book: Following the theme suggested by this small bit of poetry, Illustrator Loren Long uses pictures to tell the story of a small boy dragged to an adult lecture on astrophysics. Although he is inspired by the topic, he is bored by the speeches, and eventually, as Whitman's poem suggests, forsakes the auditorium to experience firsthand the thrill of communing with the night sky. A beautiful perspective on both poem and a young child's view of the world.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You like charts, diagrams, addition, division, measurements, and lectures.

No comments: