Leonardo da Vinci

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Krull, Kathleen. 2005. Leonardo da Vinci. Ill. Kulikov, Boris. New York: Viking. ISBN: 067005920.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Many people think of Leonardo da Vinci and immediately think of the famous painting, Mona Lisa, (which da Vinci did not name, by the way). Although painting was his livelihood, observing the world around him and trying to understand it was his passion. He devoted the second half of his life to observation, reading, writing, and experimenting, trying to answer burning questions the world did not yet know or that he was curious about.

Krull begins her book, LEONARDO da VINCI, by giving background into what the world was like during the Middle Ages. She then brings the artist and scientist into the drama and explains a little about his upbringing and events that shaped his character and inquisitiveness. He had book knowledge of the world, but was constantly questioning how and why things worked the way they did. He had his own ideas different from any others. For example, he studied birds to determine how to paint wings on angels. He was one of the first scientists to dissect cadavers to understand the inner workings of the human body.

Da Vinci recorded his drawings, theories, findings, thoughts, and reflections in what are now the famous da Vinci Notebooks, worth millions of dollars. From these writings the world understands more about the man behind the artist. Krull explains he was actually more scientist than artist, thinking beyond his time.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kathleen Krull, in her conversion style of writing, brings out the humanness in this genius from the past. Anyone who has ever studied the Mona Lisa must have wondered about the man behind the painting. Although this book does describe da Vinci’s brilliance as an artist, she focuses on the scientist behind this creative man. Krull, through her description of da Vinci, causes the reader to wonder about life during the Renaissance and what it must have felt like to make discoveries and study theories that were then taken as fact (for example that the Earth was the center of the universe and not even a planet)!

Krull also speaks of da Vinci’s notebooks as works of art themselves. In these books are hidden the secrets of this genius from the past. It makes sense to the reader that his thoughts and actions would live through the centuries. Krull gives a heart to this serious artist and scientist.

Boris Kulikov’s occasional pen and paper illustrations add to the understanding of Krull’s text. For example, Kulikov depicts da Vinci writing in his notebook scrawled with mirror image letters that Krull describes. Behind this page peeks out famous drawings for which da Vinci is noted. A table of contents, beginning chapter quotes, extensive descriptions of da Vinci’s remaining notebook pages, a postscript about delving into the man as an artist, a bibliography, websites to visit for further information, and an index are included to aid the reader.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

School Library Journal starred review - With a totally captivating opening and a writing style, Krull offers a vivid description of life in the Middle Ages. Readers will come away from this accessible volume with an understanding of who Leonardo was and a desire to know more about this fascinating, brilliant man.


Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books - At Krull’s hands, biography blitzes by at the speed of a well-paced novel…If this volume is a reliable indicator, readers can expect [the series] to combine the depth of a standard-length children’s biography with the gossipy details that make her “Lives of” books so popular…. This fairly begs to be booktalked, and it just might lure some fresh readers over to the biography shelves.”

Horn Book - This lively biography, the initial offering in the Giants of Science series, sets a high standard for the five books to follow…. [Krull’s] narrative voice is filled with energy and wonder.

Publisher's Weekly - starred review - With an inviting, conversational narrative and Boris Kulikov's occasional atmospheric -and-inks, this series launches with an impressive start.

Kirkus Reviews, starred review - Krull manages, in some 100-plus text pages, to present Leonardo's scientific accomplishments while at the same time conveying a sense of the man himself… is no mean feat and bodes well for the succeeding volumes in the series.

CBC/NSTA - Outstanding Science Book of the Year
A Booklinks “Lasting Connection”
A Publishers Weekly - Best Book
A Kirkus - Best Book of the Year

5. CONNECTIONS

Related websites to visit are http://www.kathleenkrull.com/ and http://www.thinkquest.org/3044/

Krull explains to her young readers that she was fired from her first job in a library for reading too much! She also has an interesting BlogSpot at http://www.kathleenkrull.com/. Have the students visit these sites to learn more about the Leonardo da Vinci, Kathleen Krull and her work. Her site also includes a link for teachers.

A video of Kathleen Krull can be found on the Reading Rockets website at: http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/krull. It is interesting for the students to see the actual author speaking about her ideas and books.

Give students opportunities to read other books by this child-friendly author in her Giants of Science series. These books include ISAAC NEWTON, SIGMUND FREUD, MARIE CURIE, and ALBET EINSTEIN.

Students may wish to find out more about Leonardo da Vinci by reading the following books:
LEONARDO AND THE DEATH MACHINE, by Robert J. Harris (ages 12 and up)
LEONARDO BEAUTIFUL DREAMER, by Robert Byrd (ages 8 and up)
LEONARDO AND THE FLYING BOY: A STORY ABOUT LEONARDO da VINCI (AGES 4-7)
KATIE AND THE MONA LISA, by James Mayhew (ages 4-7)
LEONARDO da VINCI: THE GENIUS WHO DEFINED THE RENAISSANCE, by john Phillips
THE GENIUS OF LEONARDO, by Guido Visconti
WHAT IN THE WORLD: THE MONA LISA, by Jill Kalz (ages 8-12)
LEONARDO da VINCI: YOUNG ARTIST, WRITER, AND INVENTOR, by George Stanley (ages 8-12) LEONARDO’S SHADOW OR, MY ASTONISHING LIFE AS LEONARDO da VINCI’S SERVANT, by Christopher Grey (Historical Fiction)

Designate a bulletin board for the students to place new facts they learn about the author and scientist through further reading.

Have the students keep a journal similar to da Vinci to record their thoughts, questions, and observations.