nerfherder86's review
3.0
Interesting picture book about an incident from Albert Einstein's childhood. "Albie" doesn't talk, although clearly old enough to, so his parents take him various places hoping to inspire him to say something: the opera, a lecture, etc. But what finally works? Seeing the shooting stars at night! Quotes him as an adult, "never stop questioning." Author's note gives more details about his life.
corncobwebs's review
A fictionalized account of how Albert Einstein was late in speaking his first words. It's certainly an interesting story -- you wouldn't think that one of the world's foremost geniuses would lag behind in anything. I wasn't crazy about the illustrations; some characters are painted very realistically, while others (mostly children) look sort of surreal and almost grotesque at times. I did like how the endpapers are reproductions of some of Einstein's pages of calculations. I'll pass on this one for my library, but a word of caution for other libraries -- I would put this one in with the picture books, not biographies. There's a kernel of truth, but the author imagines most of the details and scenarios.
saragrochowski's review
4.0
This gorgeously illustrated story about the young Albert Einstein plays on the little known fact that Einstein was a bit of a late bloomer. Tourville introduces readers to Albie, a normal, inquisitive boy who is very loved and happy, but never speaks. Albie's parents are instructed to take Albie to see marvelous things, like the symphony and to hear a brilliant lecturer, with the hope that Albie will be inspired to speak. In the end, it is Albie's unquenchable curiosity that prompts his first word.
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