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From: steven engelfried <stevene>
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2000 09:03:02 -0800
Jill's question about biographies of lesser known people is a good one. The just-published "The Longitude Prize" by Joan Dash is an excellent biography of John Harrison, the English clockmaker who discovered how to track longitude at sea. He's a fascinating character, and she integrates historical background in smoothly, offers varied perspectives, notes her sources (and when she's speculating because there are none)...all that good high quality biography stuff. Plus she has clear enthusiasm for the person and the times. But I know I will have a hard time getting kids to pick this book up. I hope I'll remember it when inventor biographies are assigned, and I think it will be worth a try for the person who just has to read a biography and is willing to accept an unknown figure based on the librarian's recommendation. But I would love to hear how others find creative ways to encourage kids to read biographies about the more obscure figures from history...
- Steven Engelfried, Young Adult Librarian
Deschutes Public Library System
545 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97701
ph: 541a7p72 fax: 54189)82
e-mail: stevene at dpls.lib.or.us
Received on Thu 02 Nov 2000 11:03:02 AM CST
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2000 09:03:02 -0800
Jill's question about biographies of lesser known people is a good one. The just-published "The Longitude Prize" by Joan Dash is an excellent biography of John Harrison, the English clockmaker who discovered how to track longitude at sea. He's a fascinating character, and she integrates historical background in smoothly, offers varied perspectives, notes her sources (and when she's speculating because there are none)...all that good high quality biography stuff. Plus she has clear enthusiasm for the person and the times. But I know I will have a hard time getting kids to pick this book up. I hope I'll remember it when inventor biographies are assigned, and I think it will be worth a try for the person who just has to read a biography and is willing to accept an unknown figure based on the librarian's recommendation. But I would love to hear how others find creative ways to encourage kids to read biographies about the more obscure figures from history...
- Steven Engelfried, Young Adult Librarian
Deschutes Public Library System
545 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97701
ph: 541a7p72 fax: 54189)82
e-mail: stevene at dpls.lib.or.us
Received on Thu 02 Nov 2000 11:03:02 AM CST
