Rescuing Einstein's Compass

by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim

One day, a boy named Theo is called into the living room by his parents to meet “the most famous man alive.” Theo is so nervous, he’s not sure he’ll be able to speak. But he finds the great man—Professor Albert Einstein—to be kind and gentle. Soon they are chatting about all sorts of subjects. When Theo and Professor Einstein go out for a sail on Theo’s small boat, the Professor unexpectedly loses his compass overboard. The compass was a cherished gift from Einstein’s father when he himself was a young boy. Fortunately, Theo manages to save the day—along with the compass! The author’s husband was a personal friend of Albert Einstein’s, and though fictional, this story is based on events in Einstein’s life. The lovely watercolors capture the meeting between a young boy and the wild-haired physicist. Their simple conversations provide insight into the mysteries of physics that inspired Einstein’s lifelong quest to understand and explain the forces of nature.

Genres: Picture Books

Hardcover

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Shulamith Levey Oppenheim is a published author of many Children's Books. Some of her writtings are Lily Cupboard, Hundredth Name, I Love You, Bunny Rabbit & Fish Prince and Other Stories: Mermen Folk Tales among many others.

Reviews

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A confusing book. Einstein was a friend of the author's husband's family and Einstein did receive a compass when he was young. But it is unclear if that compass set Einstein on his path to becoming a famous physicist and the rest of the story is fiction. Does this book add insight into Einstein, the man? Probably. But I'm not sure what is real and what is not.