National Geographic Readers: Ibn al-Haytham: The Man Who Discovered How We See

by Libby Romero

Overview

Celebrated in a film featuring Omar Sharif in his final role, meet the scientist known as the "Father of Optics," Ibn al-Haytham!

During the golden age of science, knowledge, and invention in Muslim civilization -- also known as the "Dark Ages" in Western Europe -- this incredible scholar discovered how we see and set the stage for the methods we now know as the scientific process. Packed with beautiful and engaging photos, kids will learn all about this fascinating scientist.

The level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for independent readers. This book is a companion to the international educational campaign, "1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn al-Haytham," that includes interactive exhibits, workshops, live shows, and a 12-minute film starring Omar Sharif in his final film role before his death.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426325038
Publisher:	Disney Press
Publication date:	07/12/2016
Series:	National Geographic Readers Bios Series
Sold by:	DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE -EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	60 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Libby Romero was a journalist and a teacher before becoming an author. She has written teacher's guides, interactive whiteboards, and a variety of other materials for publishers such as National Geographic's Explorer magazine and the Smithsonian Institution's Tween Tribune. Romero is the author of dozens of books, including the National Geographic Reader biography Ibn al-Haytham: The Man Who Discovered How We See.

Table of Contents

Who Was Ibn al-Haytham? 4

Growing Up in the Golden Age 6

In His Time 10

Trouble in Egypt 12

A Dazzling Discovery 18

The Dark Room 22

Light and Vision 26

6 Cool Facts About Ibn al-Haytham 32

Other New Ideas 34

A Lasting Legacy 40

Quiz Whiz 44

Glossary 46

Index 48

Editorial Reviews

"An illuminating introduction to both a significant era in the history of science and one of its brightest stars." — Kirkus

"This book details the life of one of the most important men of the tenth century, whose name is nevertheless unfamiliar to most young readers... Captions contextualize the colorful images that dot the text; these images include paintings, photographs of artifacts, and maps celebrating the glory of the golden age of Islam. A glossary defines words to know and includes images to explain each term." — Booklist


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From the Publisher

06/01/2016
Gr 2–4—This slim volume acquaints beginning readers with the life and times of Ibn al-Haytham (also known as Alhazen), an Arab scholar who was a key figure in the history and study of optics. Arranged in 10 short chapters, the book introduces readers to the golden age of Muslim civilization and al-Haytham's turbulent life and optical discoveries. Students will learn how he feigned madness to escape a bad-tempered caliph; spent 10 years under house arrest; made discoveries about light; invented an early version of the camera obscura; and developed the first example of the scientific method in The Book of Optics. Colorful images appear on every page: a mix of period paintings and drawings and modern-day photographs. "In His Words" and "That's a Fact" boxes are included throughout to reinforce main ideas. Definitions for new vocabulary words are highlighted in a "Words To Know" box. These same terms are also included in a picture glossary at the end of the narrative. A brief multiple-choice quiz will test readers' knowledge. Because this title is a part of the National Geographic Kids Super Reader program, children are offered the opportunity to go online to a dedicated website to earn rewards, play games, and more. VERDICT An accessible overview of a not often covered scholar; a useful addition for science collections.—Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

School Library Journal

2016-04-13
A glowing tribute to one of Islam's—and the world's—greatest early scientists.Born in Basra in 965 C.E., Ibn al-Haytham (known in Western Europe as "Alhazen") grew into a polymath whose experiments, notably with a camera obscura, demonstrated several properties of light. Among other achievements, he also mapped the eye's main structures, invented a water clock, and outlined the modern scientific method. Though Romero doesn't describe this last, and possibly most significant, contribution in any detail, even newly independent readers will find her simply phrased descriptions of his studies in light, optics, and other fields illuminating. The illustrations mix historical images and color photos of locales as they look today with painted reconstructions created for a recent film and related traveling exhibit. If some of this new art is likely idealized—in one scene a group discussing some scientific notion includes both men and women—views of the handsome, realistically drawn genius experimenting and recording results add immediacy to the narrative. The author doesn't provide much biographical detail, but she does highlight his role as a luminary of Islam's "Golden Age" and, along with a page of "Cool Facts," supplies peeks at his influence on other early researchers.An illuminating introduction to both a significant era in the history of science and one of its brightest stars. (review quiz, index) (Biography. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews