The Amazing Discoveries of Ibn Sina

February 16, 2015
Narrating in first-person, 10th-century Persian scholar Ibn Sina shares the story of his life. While readers will learn much about his contributions to the fields of philosophy, education, and medicine, the account is more longwinded than personable: “I was a very studious person who accepted challenges and explored subjects deeply. For example, after a discussion with a prominent linguist, I discovered that my knowledge of linguistics was incomplete.” Ali’s handsome colored pencil artwork fills the pages with ornate textiles and intricate borders, but despite the lush visuals, readers may struggle to maintain interest in Ibn Sima’s fairly monotonous recounting. Ages 7–11.

April 1, 2015

Gr 2-4-This picture book tells the story of Ibn Sina, who compiled The Canon of Medicine, an encyclopedia of medicine that was used in the Islamic world and Europe up until the 18th century. An influential thinker, Ibn Sina came up with many ideas taken for granted today, such as that learning begins at birth and that contaminated water can spread disease. He was born in Persia in 980, and this story starts with his childhood, emphasizing his passion for literature and medicine. Even before turning 18, Ibn Sina succeeded where the best doctors failed, curing Sultan Nuh ibn Mansour al-Samani. As a reward, he was invited to stay at the sultan's palace and given access to the library. As the political landscape changed, Ibn Sina traveled often, helping many sick people and learning from the experiences. Enchanting illustrations convey the man's experiences. Educators may enjoy having the opportunity to introduce a lesser-known historical figure to kids. However, the text is less than stellar. Told in the first person from Ibn Sina's point of view, the narrative is on the wordy side and tends toward the didactic, covering somewhat complex concepts with which few students are likely to be familiar. VERDICT Because of the dearth of titles on this historical figure, this is a suitable addition for collections looking to diversify their biography collections, but it likely won't resonate with readers.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

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