Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids by Jerome Pohlen

Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities and Thought Experiments

By Jerome Pohlen

ISBN: 978-61374-028-6

Borrowed from the library

One of the nominated titles in the Nonfiction for Middle Grades and Teen category for the Cyblis awards this year, Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids is an interesting combination of a biography with science experiments.

Covering Einstein’s life, the book skims over his childhood and years at college. Most of the book focuses on when Einstein was an adult, beginning with his time he sought employment and worked at the Patent Office in Bern, Switzerland to his final days in the United States. The information could get heavy to readers not keen on science, especially in the sections where Einstein’s famous miracle year—the year he produced four scientific papers that had the potential to change the world forever—could get particularly heavy as Pohlen tries to bring these concepts to middle grade readers.

While parts of it seemed rushed to me or random information was thrown in just for the sake of it, I do feel this book is interesting. It would make an intriguing choice for students having to do the dreaded biography assignment and also help those students needing to research a scientist during science class. Of added interest are the experiments included in the title as well as the breakout boxes that provide brief synopsis of additional information of people, concepts and places that are apart of Einstein’s life. Includes an index and resource listing which includes books, websites and places to explore.