Book Review: Astonishing Ancient World Scientists by A. Graham

5/5 stars. As part of the Great Scientists and Famous Inventors series, Astonishing Ancient World Scientists: Eight Great Brains by Amy Graham presents the lives of Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Aristotle, Galen, Ptolemy, Zhang Heng, Al-Khwarizmi, and Archimedes. The early scientists featured in this collective biography studied mathematics, medicine, philosophy, astronomy, geography, seismology, and more.

Each chapter is dedicated to an individual early scientist and includes biographical information and major discoveries. Also, Lifelines are provided to highlight each scientist’s accomplishments. The text is easy to read and understand, while the book is beautifully illustrated with full color photographs. The book features a glossary, chapter notes, and an index. Additionally, Report Links are included for students interested in doing further research.

The Bottom Line: Astonishing Ancient World Scientists: Eight Great Brains by Amy Graham fills a niche by providing biographical information for subjects that might not receive a full treatment. The book’s reinforced binding will hold up nicely in both school and public libraries. This collective biography is highly recommended for kids in middle school and early high school.

Details: Astonishing Ancient World Scientists: Eight Great Brains by Amy Graham. Published by Enslow Publishers, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-59845-079-8

Other titles in the Great Scientists and Famous Inventors series include: Brilliant African-American Scientists: Nine Exceptional Lives by Jeff C. Young, Daring American Heroes of Flight: Nine Brave Fliers by Jennifer Reed, and Inspiring African-American Inventors: Nine Extraordinary Lives by Jeff C. Young.

Note: Enslow Publishers, Inc. provided a complimentary copy of Astonishing Ancient World Scientists: Eight Great Brains to Mini Book Bytes for review purposes.