Leonardo Da Vinci (Giants of Science) - Hardcover

Kathleen Krull is the 2004 winner of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award for her Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. She lives in California. Boris Kulikov has illustrated Carnival of the Animals by John Lithgow, and Morris the Artist by Lore Groszmann Segal. He currently lives in New York City

Gr. 5-8. Launching her Giants of Science series, Krull writes a lively biography of Leonardo da Vinci that highlights his scientific approach to understanding the physical world. The first half of the book describes Leonardo's apprenticeship and his work as an artist in Milan. The second half relates events in his later life, emphasizing his observation and investigation of the human body and nature. Discussing at length the remarkable notebooks in which Leonardo recorded his explorations, theories, and thoughts on natural phenomena, Krull suggests that had the notebooks been published, they would have changed the history of science. The book's frank discussion of Leonardo's life and times includes references to castration as punishment and a chapter discussing historians' disagreement over Leonardo's sexuality ("most think he was probably a homosexual") and his summons to answer an accusation "of having sex with a male prostitute." Though the handling is matter-of-fact, these passages may raise eyebrows in a book intended for "Ages 10 up" according to the jacket flap. There are no source notes. The book concludes with a bibliography, Web sites, and a detailed section on Leonardo's notebooks. Six excellent ink drawings illustrate this attractive volume. A very readable, vivid portrait set against the backdrop of remarkable times. Carolyn Phelan
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