From the time he was a small boy, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for othe...
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Mar 22, 2010
Lisa
rated it: 
I really enjoyed this picture book biography for school aged chidren.
I was so reminded of how I was fascinated with snow and snowflakes when I was a kid.
This is a biography of a man who was obsessed with snow from a young age and developed a technique of microphotography so he could capture pictures of individual snowflakes. His interest didn’t lag, even when he was scorned or dismissed for it.
I was emotionally touched by this story. I loved how his parents su More...
I was so reminded of how I was fascinated with snow and snowflakes when I was a kid.
This is a biography of a man who was obsessed with snow from a young age and developed a technique of microphotography so he could capture pictures of individual snowflakes. His interest didn’t lag, even when he was scorned or dismissed for it.
I was emotionally touched by this story. I loved how his parents su More...
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Aug 31, 2011
Chandra
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Snowflake Bentley is the real life story of Wilson 'Willie' Bentley who grew up on a farm rural Vermont and developed a passion for snow. Thank goodness since his little town received approximately 120 inches per year! In particular Willie became fascinated with snowflakes. He eventually figured out a way to capture their images (through micro-photography) and the results really are amazing:
Personally, I found the story pretty interesting, but wasn't wowed by the art - More...
Personally, I found the story pretty interesting, but wasn't wowed by the art - More...
19 comments
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Jan 13, 2009
JoDean
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 15, 2008
Mahrya
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Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley, Houghton Mifflin Company, unnumbered pages. Non-fiction, Biography, Caldecott Medal Winner.
Description: This book tells the story of Wilson Bentley, a Vermont man who devoted his life to studying and photographing snow. The book focuses on his techniques and specific interests in snow.
Review: Snowflake Bentley does a great job of making a somewhat mundane topic seem interesting. The rough, woodcut illustrations paired with a More...
Description: This book tells the story of Wilson Bentley, a Vermont man who devoted his life to studying and photographing snow. The book focuses on his techniques and specific interests in snow.
Review: Snowflake Bentley does a great job of making a somewhat mundane topic seem interesting. The rough, woodcut illustrations paired with a More...
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Oct 28, 2011
Megan
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Snowflake Bentley is a work of nonfiction intended for primary readers. It won The Caldecott Medal and is based on a real person, Wilson Bentley. The story is about a boy who loves the snow. His parents buy him a very expensive camera that can take special pictures of the snowflakes. At first people didn't appreciate his pictures, but they grew to love them and now there is a monument for Wilson Bentley.
I gave this book four stars because it had fascinating facts about Wilson Bentley a More...
I gave this book four stars because it had fascinating facts about Wilson Bentley a More...
Aug 03, 2011
Matthew
rated it: 
Has there been a more boring picture book made in recent memory?
Jacqueline Briggs Martin gives us a snapshot look at Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley's life in her Caldecott Award winner. For those who couldn't guess it by now, Bentley's life achievement was being the first to photograph snowflakes and show that each flake is unique.
The art within this book is quite good and very interesting to look at, and it was done in wood block form, which makes this a nice piece of artwork. Unfortuna More...
Jacqueline Briggs Martin gives us a snapshot look at Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley's life in her Caldecott Award winner. For those who couldn't guess it by now, Bentley's life achievement was being the first to photograph snowflakes and show that each flake is unique.
The art within this book is quite good and very interesting to look at, and it was done in wood block form, which makes this a nice piece of artwork. Unfortuna More...
Apr 09, 2010
Josiah
rated it:
Throughout this colorful, perceptive picture book biography, the point stressed the most is that Wilson Bentley, photographer of the subtle, unique beauty of snowflakes, saw something special where no one else cared to look, saw something in the "average" snowflake that stirred a deep passion within himself, and that caused him to devote the heavy majority of his life to showing other people why snowflakes are so special.
"Snowflake" Bentley's enthusiasm for the More...
"Snowflake" Bentley's enthusiasm for the More...
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Mar 08, 2010
Ch_beverlyatwood
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Videocassette story verstion: Narrated by Sean Astin, with music by David Reading. co-produced by Sarah Kerruish, Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly for Spellbound Productions and Wewston Woods Studios, a division of Scholastic Inc., total running time: 16:12 minutes.,
This videocassette version of the story was delightful. It included actual photos and short film clips of Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley. Most interesting is that his picture book is still used today when studying s More...
This videocassette version of the story was delightful. It included actual photos and short film clips of Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley. Most interesting is that his picture book is still used today when studying s More...
Jan 27, 2009
Barbara
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It's a beautiful book! The side panels supplement the story with additional facts about Bentley's life, while the story itself is like poetry. Wilson Bentley loved snow and when he was finally able to see snowflakes under a microscope, he was determined to find a way to photograph them so he could share their beauty with everyone. His parents used their savings to buy him a camera/ microscope when he was seventeen. His early attempts were failures, and it was the second winter after getting the
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Nov 16, 2011
Ashley
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This biography of Wilson Bentley and his photographs and passion for snow and snowflakes is unique and different from most biographies, providing intrigue for readers. Bentley’s fascination with nature and the outside world is relatable, as well as interesting.
Jaqueline Brigg’s Martin presented Wilson, “Willie”, realistically; someone most readers can relate to. He was a young boy who loved snow. But unlike others that adore the cold winter months and are also fond of snow, Bentley tak More...
Jaqueline Brigg’s Martin presented Wilson, “Willie”, realistically; someone most readers can relate to. He was a young boy who loved snow. But unlike others that adore the cold winter months and are also fond of snow, Bentley tak More...
Dec 08, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
A very lovely read that seeks to satisfy the curiosities of children and their love for the natural world. The illustrations are really attractive because of how they're deeply outlined and saturated with natural colors, depicting a world in the depths of winter. I loved how Martin shares the details of Bentley's young life as he finds interest and fascination in observing snowflakes , and how he yearns to share the beauty of snowflakes with others. I like how the story introduces microphotograp
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Dec 03, 2011
Amy
rated it:
1. Contemporary or Historical
2. William Bentley always loved nature and found the most beauty in snowflakes. He would spend hours trying to draw individual snowflakes but they always seem to melt. Snowflake Bentley is a story of how one man helped change the course of history through patience and a camera.
3. a: One of the greatest aspects of this novel is its ability to tell the story of a young man through the use of facts and beautiful pictures.
b: The pictures help to expl More...
2. William Bentley always loved nature and found the most beauty in snowflakes. He would spend hours trying to draw individual snowflakes but they always seem to melt. Snowflake Bentley is a story of how one man helped change the course of history through patience and a camera.
3. a: One of the greatest aspects of this novel is its ability to tell the story of a young man through the use of facts and beautiful pictures.
b: The pictures help to expl More...
Oct 06, 2010
N_katiebernard
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The story of Snowflake Bentley centers around a boy named Wilson Bentley. Throughout his childhood, Wilson enjoyed studying the snowflakes. With the microscope given to him by his mom, Wilson would observe a snowflake and draw its design. As he grew older, he continued his love for snowflakes and his parents spent their savings buying him a camera to photograph snowflakes. Wilson continues his observation and study of snowflakes through his adult life. He loved the uniqueness of each snowflake d
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Sep 18, 2011
Joseph
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Snowflake Bentley was a story about William Bentley who lived in vermont, and some would say that its no wonder why he loves snow so much.When William turned 15 he was gven a microscope by his mother and soon began looking at the snowflakes close up, this is when he developed a great fascination with snowflakes. Bentley wanted to show others the beauty of snowflakes but in no means did he know how. he would ask his father and neighbors but they all thought it was a pitty that someone would try
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Feb 10, 2010
Celestia
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Every winter, when it starts to drag on (feeling like it's "always winter, never Christmas"), I suddenly remember this book and go get it from the library. It makes the season more endurable and opens my mind to the beauty of winter. It's a true story about a boy, Wilson Bentley, who absolutely loved snowflakes. He loved to examine them and not only discover each snowflake's beauty but preserve the beauty. He begged his parents for a fancy machine to take pictures of them, quite a feat
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Nov 15, 2009
Alicia
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This junior non-fiction biography tells the story of Wilson Bentley who was born in Vermont in 1865. Throughout his life Wilson is obsessed with and studies snowflakes. When Wilson is seventeen his parents buy him a camera with a microscope so that he can take pictures of snowflakes. For the rest of his life Wilson continued to study snowflakes, and to perfect his technique of microphotography. Azarian uses full color woodcut prints to illustrate this biography and to lend to the books late 1800
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Nov 19, 2009
Annette
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I was captivated by this story of trying to capture something as ephemeral as a snowflake. Wilson Bentley loved nature,and of all the natural wonders he was most fascinated by snow. He started looking at snowflakes with a microscope and made many discoveries through his observations, including that each snowflake had a unique, symmetrical design. He drew and later photographed with a camera with a microscope (which his supportive parents spent their savings on) hundreds of snowflakes. He had
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Jul 06, 2011
The Caldecott award-winning Snowflake Bentley, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, is a biography of Wilson A. Bentley, a scientist that photographed over 5,000 individual snowflakes in his lifetime. Famed for catching snowflakes on a black velvet background and photographing them before they melted, Bentleys work was known for combining art and science. I love how he described them so poetically, as "tiny miracles of beauty".
After reading the book, I viewed the website wh More...
After reading the book, I viewed the website wh More...
Mar 09, 2009
Amy
rated it:
Summary: This brightly illustrated picture gives the biography of "Snowflake Bentley". Wilson Bentley's passion for snowflakes and their research is told in narrative form and complimented with side text of additional facts of relevance about his discoveries and life. His photograph and a paragraph about his pursuits are included, also. The illustrations compliment the text.
Audience: K-3
Uses: Read aloud for early elementary. Guided reading or shared for early re More...
Audience: K-3
Uses: Read aloud for early elementary. Guided reading or shared for early re More...
Nov 25, 2011
Anita
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Caldecott Award winning book Snowflake Bentley written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin amd illustrated by Mary Azarian is a biographical book. It is based on the life of Wilson Bentley who was so interested in the way snow flakes looked by their different designs, that he photographed them. He made this his life work and many people now know that he snow flake has a different design, no two are evera alike. There are many colleges and universities who purchased his copies of his photographs. Thi
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Sep 05, 2011
Natalie
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This lovely story captured my attention through the character the author painted this picture of. I enjoyed hearing about this interesting young man who grew into an old man that had been fascinated with capturing nature through pictures, snowflakes, in particular. I loved the main character's drive and determination to continue pursuing his dreams, no matter what others thought. Another true story, where a man does not know how important and worthy he is while he is alive. His true notability
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Nov 03, 2011
Alex
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Willie Bentley lives in Vermont, where snow is nothing new. Willie though decides he wants to show the world how beautiful snow can really be. Through trial and error Willie is able to figure out a way to photograph snowflakes so the world can see the exquisite and intricate flakes that create a "Winter Wonderland". Willie Bentley develops micro-photography and this is his story.
I thought this book was a cute story to read, and there was information on the sides of the pages More...
I thought this book was a cute story to read, and there was information on the sides of the pages More...
Sep 12, 2011
Doreen
rated it:
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs., and Mary Azarian. Snowflake Bentley. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.
This 1999 Caldecott medal winner, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (who is the author of "Grandmother Bryant's Pocket") and illustrated by Mary Azarian (who is the author and illustrator of "A Farmer's Alphabet"), is the biography of Wilson Bentley, a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique format More...
This 1999 Caldecott medal winner, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (who is the author of "Grandmother Bryant's Pocket") and illustrated by Mary Azarian (who is the author and illustrator of "A Farmer's Alphabet"), is the biography of Wilson Bentley, a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique format More...
Jul 20, 2011
Dalene
rated it:
From the time he was a child, Wilson Bentley was fascinated with snow and particularly snowflakes. His mother gave him an old microscope and he would study snowflake formations day after day, always wanting to find a way to share his discoveries with others. He tried drawing the snowflakes he would see under the microscope, but they always melted before he could finish. Because his parents knew how important Wilson’s desire to share was, they bought him a special camera with their savings. Soon,
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Sep 06, 2011
Paige
rated it:
This book is very inspirational for children. Although, I feel like it should definitely be read at an older age because of the descriptions about how to develop photographs. Younger children may get confused. The message of the story was great though. The fact that the boy had such a crazy interest and was able to turn it into a huge and successful dream is great. I thought it very realistic and could relate to kids because a lot of them have once tried to save snowflakes and have failed. I tho
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Nov 14, 2009
Kathy
rated it:
After reading this book, I will never look at a snowflake the same way again! It's the beautiful story of a master of the art and science of the photography of snowflakes. Wilson Bentley's work was considered unimportant and even silly by people at the time, but he persevered. He became an authority on snowflakes and published a collection of his best photographs in a book. Along with the main story, important facts are also given in the sideline margins. Illustrated by colorful woodcuts, t
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Aug 10, 2009
Kathryn
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What a great (true!) story about a boy who loved snowflakes--and grew up to share that love with the world! I love his determination to continue with his hobby of analyzing snowflakes--then the passion to persevere (even though so many folks thought he was odd!) and try to photograph them so he could share the beautiful patterns with others. This would make an inspiring read for home schoolers or anyone determined to self-study the topics that he or she loves best.
The illustratio More...
The illustratio More...
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Nov 26, 2010
Nancy
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Published: 1998, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Age: 5-8
Wilson Bentley LOVES snowflakes. He can't think of anything else even though people don't understand it. He has very loving parents who work hard and eventually spend most of their savings on a camera for Wilson to study snowflakes. He found out 2 things: No two snowflakes are alike and every one is beautiful. The pages are exquisite with woodcut color illustrations and side insets decorated with snowflakes and interesting real More...
Age: 5-8
Wilson Bentley LOVES snowflakes. He can't think of anything else even though people don't understand it. He has very loving parents who work hard and eventually spend most of their savings on a camera for Wilson to study snowflakes. He found out 2 things: No two snowflakes are alike and every one is beautiful. The pages are exquisite with woodcut color illustrations and side insets decorated with snowflakes and interesting real More...
Feb 03, 2010
Stephanie
rated it: 
This 1999 Caldecott Medal Winner, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Mary Azarian, follows the life of a young boy in the 1870s—Wilson Bentley. The author demonstrates Willie’s love for snow throughout the book and uses many scientific terms, such as ‘moisture’ ‘crystals’ and ‘molecules.’ Willie develops a love for nature and chooses to pursue a career in photography when he is an adult.
If you enjoy reading about the scientific aspects of weather, nature, and photography, the More...
If you enjoy reading about the scientific aspects of weather, nature, and photography, the More...
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Jan 24, 2012
Katie
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I love the detailed description the author gives us of the weather, the surroundings, and the beautiful illustrations. I love stories that revolve around kids who spend their time doing things they enjoy, and not following the crowd, seeing as he studies snowflakes instead of playing with the other kids. I think that subconsciously encourages kids to chase their dreams and do what makes them happy. Not only does this book have a cute storyline but it discusses new and interesting topics, and I t
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