Stay Curious!

June 1, 2020
A glance at the life of English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking Growing up in a bookish family, Stephen was always asking questions. At 12, he pondered the origin of the universe. At 17, he attended Oxford University, where he began losing control of his body. At 21, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neuromuscular disease, and given two years to live. Though his condition deteriorated, eventually requiring him to use a wheelchair and an augmentative communication device, he defied his grim prognosis by decades. In 1974, his discovery that black holes leaked radiation earned him international acclaim and led him to write the bestselling A Brief History of Time. Active and inquisitive until his death at 76, he researched life on other planets and advocated for disability rights. Kulikov's scratchy illustrations cleverly acknowledge Hawking's research, turning such everyday objects as a spinning LP and spilled tea into eye-catching black holes. However, the authors' lack of specificity blurs Hawking's accomplishments; for instance, his "important university job once held by genius scientist Isaac Newton"--Cambridge University's prestigious Lucasian Professor of Mathematics position--is unnamed. Such down-to-earth details as Hawking's family, humor, and penchant for parties are unfortunately eclipsed by cloying disability clich�s declaring him "a triumphant life force, almost otherworldly," whose brilliant mind was "trapped within his powerless body." Kulikov depicts a seemingly all-white cast. Though well-meaning, this vague profile doesn't quite capture either Hawking's groundbreaking career or his full humanity. (author's note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-8)

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June 1, 2020
Grades K-2 Inquisitive readers will love learning about the life of the brilliant and fascinating Stephen Hawking. This biography highlights Hawking's childhood, his creativity, his curiosity about the world, and his sense of fun and humor. The illustrations match the cheerful tone, often adding to the levity. In one, young Stephen and his parents read at the table, with the boy playfully holding his book above his head and his mother absentmindedly pouring tea on the tablecloth. Stars and planets figure as backgrounds throughout the book, emphasizing Hawking's continuing interest in the universe. Hawking's ALS is treated matter-of-factly, with emphasis less on the progression of the disease itself than on details like mischievously running over people's feet with his wheelchair. The authors provide brief explanations of Hawking's theories about the big bang and Hawking radiation?light that can leak out of black holes as radiation. Although it does not address much more of the actual science that made him famous, readers will enjoy this lively, fun biography.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2020

K-Gr 4-A stargazer from childhood, Stephen Hawking built a rudimentary computer with some friends before he entered Oxford University at age 17. Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 21 and told he had only a few years left, he defied the odds and lived until the age of 76. As he gradually lost physical mobility and the use of his voice, he remained intellectually curious and driven, determined to share his ideas. His surprising best seller, A Brief History of Time, brought him worldwide attention. Krull and Brewer also provide glimpses into Hawking's personal life as well as snapshots of his self-deprecating humor and his love of celebrations and adventures, including experiencing weightlessness at the Kennedy Space Center. Kulikov's illustrations feature recurring motifs of expansive night skies and black holes. In the most poignant spread, Hawking stares at a phonograph record on a turntable as he sinks into depression, having been told he had only two years to live. Most people and scenery appear as tan shapes in contrast to the full-color images of Hawking. Pair this book with Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil DeGrasse Tyson, written by Krull and Brewer and illustrated by Frank Morrison. VERDICT A fine choice for STEM and picture book biography collections.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ. Lib., Mankato

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