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Galileo: Astronomer and Physicist
Profiles the life of Galileo Galilei, focusing on his defense of the Copernican theory and his struggles with the Catholic Church.
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1997
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December 5, 2015Title: “Galileo: Astronomer and Physicist”:
Author: Paul Hightower
Illustrator:
Genre: Biography (Grades 3-5)
Theme(s): Astronomers, biography, scientists, Galileo, physicists
Opening line/sentence: “On January, 8, 1610, Galileo turned his telescope to the night sky.”
Brief Book Summary: Galileo noticed that the Earth was not the center of the universe with all stars and planets revolving around the it, but this conclusion contradicted beliefs of the Catholic Church at the time. His life work, which was based on his careful and detailed observations and analysis and interpretation of results, is the foundation for the scientific method. In this 128-page book the author explains just how challenging it was for a person to live in a country where only ideas from thousands of years ago were accepted. Galileo however, continued throughout his lifetime to explore the universe, record his observations, and share his findings with scientists in other countries. This book goes into further detail on Galileo’s work, and how it is still used in large part today.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature)
Author Hightower has written a detailed biography of the scientist Galileo. He was born in 1564 in Pisa, Italy, the oldest of seven children. Galileo took after his father who was a musician and skilled mathematician. His father liked to experiment and examine different ways of doing things, and Galileo was exposed early to investigative attitudes. At the age of ten, Galileo was sent to a monastery school. He studied logic, Latin, Greek, and religion, as well as how to play several musical instruments. He did well in his studies and went on to the University of Pisa to study medicine. He soon tired of medicine and began a study of mathematics. At the age of nineteen, he began to experiment with pendulums. He used his studies of the pendulum to develop a tool used by doctors to measure a patient s pulse. In 1853, Galileo left college for lack of interest, poor grades, and lack of funds. Although Galileo knew there was not any money to be made in mathematics, he nevertheless continued his studies on his own. Eventually, with the help of a friend, he found employment at the University of Pisa as a mathematics professor. Galileo then built his first telescope and began to observe the night sky. Galileo liked to test certain theories and began to explore Aristotle s scientific theories, which were based on reason and logic. Everyone did not agree with Galileo s ideas and his examination of Aristotle s work, but he eventually found work as chief mathematician and philosopher to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. A few years later, he published Letters on Sunspots in defense of Copernicanism. The Inquisition thought these writings of an Earth in motion about the sun were heretical and wrong. Galileo was convicted of heresy and placed under house arrest. In 1642, Galileo died while still under house arrest. It was not until 1992 that the Catholic Church admitted their mistakes. Color and black and white illustrations are included. Back material includes science activities, chronology, chapter notes, glossary, further reading, and internet addresses.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Anne Hoffman (Catholic Library World, June 2009 (Vol. 79, No. 4))
Galileo is revised from the 1997 edition and is part of the Great Minds of Science set. The book covers Galileo s life from birth to death and then details further developments years after his death. He was born in 1564 and died in 1642. In 1616, the Inquisition found him guilty of writing heretical and erroneous scientific theories, especially teaching Copernicus belief that the Earth is in motion around the sun. He died while still under house arrest. On October 31, 1992, under the direction of Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church admitted its mistake and Galileo was exonerated. This book has full-color, captioned illustrations, with the illustration credits in the front of the book. The back of the book contains activities which duplicate some of Galileo s discoveries, a chronology, chapter notes, a glossary, further reading with books and internet addresses, and an index. This would be an excellent book for research into Galileo and/or the Inquisition.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I think that both reviewers really told the important pieces that come from this book. It was very interesting, and the activities would be something kids would enjoy. It may be a little boring for kids to sit and read this entire book, but can still be used in the classroom.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book contains many photographs showing planets, Galileo’s study room, and pictures explaining some of his theories. The font is not large, but not small either. It covers much of each page, but contains very interesting and pertinent information. The book also contains a glossary and an index.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This would be a book that I would have in my classroom if I was a 4th or 5th grade teacher. I think it would be very valuable in teaching information about Galileo and different scientific theories. Also, it would be a great book for kids to use for a research project.
Author: Paul Hightower
Illustrator:
Genre: Biography (Grades 3-5)
Theme(s): Astronomers, biography, scientists, Galileo, physicists
Opening line/sentence: “On January, 8, 1610, Galileo turned his telescope to the night sky.”
Brief Book Summary: Galileo noticed that the Earth was not the center of the universe with all stars and planets revolving around the it, but this conclusion contradicted beliefs of the Catholic Church at the time. His life work, which was based on his careful and detailed observations and analysis and interpretation of results, is the foundation for the scientific method. In this 128-page book the author explains just how challenging it was for a person to live in a country where only ideas from thousands of years ago were accepted. Galileo however, continued throughout his lifetime to explore the universe, record his observations, and share his findings with scientists in other countries. This book goes into further detail on Galileo’s work, and how it is still used in large part today.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature)
Author Hightower has written a detailed biography of the scientist Galileo. He was born in 1564 in Pisa, Italy, the oldest of seven children. Galileo took after his father who was a musician and skilled mathematician. His father liked to experiment and examine different ways of doing things, and Galileo was exposed early to investigative attitudes. At the age of ten, Galileo was sent to a monastery school. He studied logic, Latin, Greek, and religion, as well as how to play several musical instruments. He did well in his studies and went on to the University of Pisa to study medicine. He soon tired of medicine and began a study of mathematics. At the age of nineteen, he began to experiment with pendulums. He used his studies of the pendulum to develop a tool used by doctors to measure a patient s pulse. In 1853, Galileo left college for lack of interest, poor grades, and lack of funds. Although Galileo knew there was not any money to be made in mathematics, he nevertheless continued his studies on his own. Eventually, with the help of a friend, he found employment at the University of Pisa as a mathematics professor. Galileo then built his first telescope and began to observe the night sky. Galileo liked to test certain theories and began to explore Aristotle s scientific theories, which were based on reason and logic. Everyone did not agree with Galileo s ideas and his examination of Aristotle s work, but he eventually found work as chief mathematician and philosopher to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. A few years later, he published Letters on Sunspots in defense of Copernicanism. The Inquisition thought these writings of an Earth in motion about the sun were heretical and wrong. Galileo was convicted of heresy and placed under house arrest. In 1642, Galileo died while still under house arrest. It was not until 1992 that the Catholic Church admitted their mistakes. Color and black and white illustrations are included. Back material includes science activities, chronology, chapter notes, glossary, further reading, and internet addresses.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Anne Hoffman (Catholic Library World, June 2009 (Vol. 79, No. 4))
Galileo is revised from the 1997 edition and is part of the Great Minds of Science set. The book covers Galileo s life from birth to death and then details further developments years after his death. He was born in 1564 and died in 1642. In 1616, the Inquisition found him guilty of writing heretical and erroneous scientific theories, especially teaching Copernicus belief that the Earth is in motion around the sun. He died while still under house arrest. On October 31, 1992, under the direction of Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church admitted its mistake and Galileo was exonerated. This book has full-color, captioned illustrations, with the illustration credits in the front of the book. The back of the book contains activities which duplicate some of Galileo s discoveries, a chronology, chapter notes, a glossary, further reading with books and internet addresses, and an index. This would be an excellent book for research into Galileo and/or the Inquisition.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I think that both reviewers really told the important pieces that come from this book. It was very interesting, and the activities would be something kids would enjoy. It may be a little boring for kids to sit and read this entire book, but can still be used in the classroom.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book contains many photographs showing planets, Galileo’s study room, and pictures explaining some of his theories. The font is not large, but not small either. It covers much of each page, but contains very interesting and pertinent information. The book also contains a glossary and an index.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This would be a book that I would have in my classroom if I was a 4th or 5th grade teacher. I think it would be very valuable in teaching information about Galileo and different scientific theories. Also, it would be a great book for kids to use for a research project.
December 11, 2008
Recommended for gr. 5-9. This is a useful and easy to read biography of Galileo. It begins with his early life, discusses his many discoveries and theories including his conflict with the Catholic Church, and ends with Pope John Paul II clearing his name in 1992. Two additional chapters are included, one on experimental science and the scientific method and another on moons and planets which discusses the demotion of Pluto to dwarf planet status. There are several scientific activities for the reader to perform, a chronology of Galileo’s life, source notes, glossary, further reading, an index and table of contents.
January 20, 2016
I thought this was an easy straightforward book that doesn't use very advanced vocabulary and is easy enough to understand Galileo's journey and the difficulties he faced trying to show people a better understanding of space. The book focuses on the key points in his life as well as show what kind of character he was and summarizes and explains some of his experiments.
May 3, 2017
Read this for my Child's history day report. The best part of the book is the ending which tells how to do some activities based on Galileo's discoveries. It also has a good timeline near the end of the book. It's fairly unbiased and very easy to read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews