On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein

Written by Jennifer Berne and V. Radunsky

Narrated by Rich Orlow

A boy rides a bicycle down a dusty road. But in his mind, he envisions himself traveling at a speed beyond imagining, on a beam of light. This brilliant mind will one day offer up some of the most revolutionary ideas ever conceived. From a boy endlessly fascinated by the wonders around him, Albert Einstein ultimately grows into a man of genius recognized the world over for profoundly illuminating our understanding of the universe. Jennifer Berne and Vladimir Radunsky invite the reader to travel along with Einstein on a journey full of curiosity, laughter, and scientific discovery. Parents and children alike will appreciate this moving story of the powerful difference imagination can make in any life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490604046

Jennifer Berne

Jennifer Berne is an acclaimed children's author whose books include On a Beam of Light, Manfish, On Wings of Words (all Chronicle), and Look Up with Me (Katherine Tegen Books). She has been fascinated by the ocean since her childhood, and this book is based on her countless hours of research about evolution and the undersea world. Jennifer lives in the hills of Columbia County, New York, and spends her summers sailing along the coast of Maine. Visit her website at jenniferberne.com.

Reviews for On a Beam of Light

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Much that is inspirational about the man, about the wonders of living as a curious person; little about his ideas. The pictures are not attractive, per se, but they are effective and a good fit. Ok notes.

(Pahrump)

[rbradfute-756080 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein, a young boy starts to ride down a road, but something seems to be on his mind. He starts to envision himself traveling at a speed of light beyond imagining, on a beam of light. This would soon lead to the most brilliant mind and a revolutionary idea that was ever conceived. With this book being offered to the classroom, they can take in the young mind of Albert Einstein. Along with, learning about science and inventions that were created by this mastermind of a man.

[kristennicoson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This picture book biography by Jennifer Berne with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Vladimir Radunsky tells the story of the quirky and brilliant Albert Einstein as he grew up to be arguably the most famous theoretical physicist in history. Appropriate for children from kindergarten and up, this short, simple biography doesn't detail the theories Einstein was famous for, but instead looks at his childhood as a precocious oddball that didn't let adults stifle his curiousity. While this is a biography, it reads like a story from a picture book and will entertain young children and inspire older children to ask their own questions. Make sure you do your homework on Einstein before you teach this book so you can keep the conversation going.

[albertpascal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The drawings are spare sketches in pencil, with muted colors. The background of all the text and artwork is a heavy grade, textured paper. Some key phrase in the text are highlight in red.

I like how the sketches are a little bit haphazard and messy. The sturdy text provides a good balance.

Each drawing depicts a significant event in Einstein's life. We know of the important work that he accomplished, and because this is such challenging stuff, I think it is a good idea that Rudunsky's artwork is light and carefree.

I really enjoyed cozying up in bed with this playful account of Einstein's time on Earth. I think kids in elementary school would like this book because it's fun to see science presented this way.

[davis22-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My classes love to be read this book because Einstein is almost a folktale in himself to them. The illustrations are surreal and fun, while the narrative of Einsteins life is told in such a way that children really begin to sense that they, too, could strive to become scientists if they really wanted to. It also does a good job of beginning to explain relativity in a way that is not completely confounding to young people.

[npetzold-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This inspirational book is a biography of Albert Einstein that is meant to give young readers a brief overview of his life, personality and career accomplishments. It goes into details about the things that really drove Einstein to pursue the knowledge and information that he was curious about and eventually make the discoveries to become the genius that we remember.

[daniellemd-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The artwork and lettering in this book are gorgeous!

[ruthfinnigan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great biography of a famous individual who was once also a young individual who seemed...different. I think this is a great subject for young individuals to find identity and also learn about one of the greats in the field of science. I love the illustrations as well!

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading this book reminded me of an early Apple computer poster campaign that featured pictures of famous people like Gandhi and John Lennon with the simple caption, "Think Different." Einstein was also featured on a poster. In this delightful picture book biography, Berne's text and Radunsky's illustrations perfectly capture Einstein's intense fascination with and curiosity about world, and his humor and passion for life.

[kbartholomew1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

On A Beam of Light follows the life of the genius Albert Einstein. The book follows Einstein from his birth until his death, throughout his life, Albert asks many questions. Albert's asking questions has lead to many findings, a lot of which has changed the world. The pictures by Vladimir Radunsky were fun, whimsical, and made the book more enjoyable. However, I would not share this book with my class. The story was long and at many points, slow. I would have the book in class for students who are interested in science or Einstein, but it is not a book that I would share with the class as a whole.

[crieder95 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

On a Beam of Light follows the ordinary days in the life of genius Albert Einstein. I thinks this was an enjoyable biographical read for young children. It was interesting, funny, and informational all wrapped up in one. The book was from Albert's birth to his death and followed all his questions and findings through life. While following Albert through his life the book shows how just little, everyday things captures his attention. The beams of the sun, the way a compass points north, the smoke from his pipe disappearing, and his lump of sugar dissolving into his tea. This makes students aware of the happenings that go on around them and that there is more to everything than meets the eye. Throughout life Albert asked thoughts of questions that made him curious about science and how things work. Many times students are hushed or dismissed for asking questions. I think Albert's life is an encouragement for students to ask questions, especially about things that interests them to find answers.
To to it off in the back with the author's note is some of Albert's scientific findings and more about him. This is where this book could easily be integrated into a science lesson or introduction. It becomes more than just a fun book about Albert Einstein and becomes a lesson and gives students a greater background on him and his findings.

[moaks1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are three reasons I like this book. First, the illustrations were not very detailed and looked more like sketches, which made me focus on the words. For example, when Albert is day dreaming and thinking about the world there are loosely drawn pictures of various moving objects. Second, some of the writing in the book is in red, large font than most of the black words which catches my eyes and highlights Albert’s interests and ideas. For example, Albert was watching sugar dissolve in tea and watching smoke come out of his pipe, and started to ask himself questions (in red, large font) about how one thing could disappear into another. Third, the plot was well paced and organized. Throughout the book, the reader learned what Albert was like as a child, quiet and different, and what he did, wondered and studied- mathematics, gravity, magnetism, light, sound, and heat, as he grew up to become an adult. The message of this book is to be curious about the world and always ask questions because it may lead you to your dream.

[elisemt-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is beautifully illustrated and tells the life story of Albert Einstein in a way that may resonate well with young children. The illustrations are simple, stunning, and appear to have been draw and painted on rice paper. Curiosity is a major theme throughout, as the narrative focuses on Einstein's curious nature and the remarkable achievements that resulted from it. It also includes descriptions of some of Einstein's quirks, which adds a touch of humor and helps draw young readers into his story.

[azlanshae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved the illustrations in this book and the message it send to children. The illustrator creates whimsical pictures by filling in sketched outlines with bright watercolor. The story is about a young boy who’s wondering, thinking, imagining, and questioning leads to incredible discoveries. Albert was just like any other kid who questioned how things worked, but he took it a step further.

[jdwalker-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

On A Beam of Light tells the story of the life of Albert Einstein. The story starts out when he was first born. His parents even at that time knew there was something different about him. Albert didn't talk for many years and was always very curious about the world around him. As he grew older his curiosity about how the world works grew and grew. Albert began to read and study about light, sound, heat, magnetism, and gravity. This lead to him creating his own scientific theories. I how the focus of the book is on how Albert never stopped asking questions. Even when people looked at him differently or were annoyed with him, he still asked questions. The book also focuses on Einstein's unique qualities such as the way he wore his hair, his dress and how he would wander around the town he lived in deep in thought sometimes eating an ice cream cone. This is a great book for exposing children to the life of Albert Einstein. I'm sure many kids can relate to his curiosities and his need to find out why and how. It also reminds the reader to see everyone talents even when they might be different from the crowd. Very well written and informative book. The illustrations are simple and enhance the story nicely. I would definitely add this to my classroom book shelf.

[breksarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. It would be great to use for both science and history. It introduces the young Albert Einstein and gives insight to his thinking, creativity, and ideas. I think students would be able to relate to his young imagination.

I would use this book for first through fourth grade students.

[jessotto · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have always been intrigued by Albert Einstein. Solely my the depth and significance of his thinking. I am really happy to have found this book. What a great way to introduce him to young students. The illustrations were not what I expected, they brought the story down to a childs perspective. The illustrations were not at all stiff or regimented like I would imagine a biography to be but fun and childish. The text features were fantastic in this as well! Important words were in bold or had different colors. This book made a biography fun and full of wonder, it encouraged children to think and explore, to question and to wonder. Which is exactly what children should be doing, in my opinion. I will be buying this book to add to my collection, without a doubt!

[nbmars · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is so beautifully designed and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky that it is impossible not to be drawn into the story. But the author does an excellent job with the text as well. Einstein is depicted as curious, charmingly eccentric, and always deep in thought, “sometimes eating an ice-cream cone.”

When Einstein was little, he imagined racing through space on a beam of light. What would happen if he did that? He began to read and study. He continued to wonder about everything even as an adult:

"Albert watched a lump of sugar dissolve and disappear into his hot tea. How could this happen? He watched the smoke from his pipe swirl and disappear into the air. How could one thing disappear into another?"

He thought about very big things, like the size of the universe, and very small things, like what goes on inside the tiniest particles.

Some of his ideas about how things worked are presented in a simple way, but mostly there are just indications of the importance of his thinking:

"Albert’s ideas helped build spaceships and satellites that travel to the moon and beyond. His thinking helped us understand our universe as no one ever had before.”

Best of all, the book asserts that “Albert left us many big questions....Questions that someday YOU may answer...by wondering, thinking, and imagining.”

Illustrator Radunsky is a treasure. His pen and ink images on textured paper defy space and gravity, pay homage to evolution, and show how the medium can be meta, as with his use of pointillism on the pages devoted to Einstein’s meditations on atoms, and his playful expression of perspective: it's all relative! The cleverness and whimsy of the pictures is a perfect fit for the story of Einstein.

End notes include a list of additional resources.

Evaluation: I have looked at the pictures over and over in this book. Chronicle Books, which specializes in works of art and design, has done an excellent job in putting together this book. It will encourage young children to see not only the possibilities of imagination, but will also give them an appreciation for the beauty and delight of artistic rendition.

Highly recommended!

[ramber1-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great biography on Albert Einstein. The illustrations were very unique and almost had a child like drawing quality to them that I felt added to the book. The illustrations, even though childlike, really went along with the book and the feel of the story. The text was interesting too in that some of the more important sentences on the page were in bold, red text while the other text was just in black. I think that this made it easier for younger children to be able to get the main ideas on that page even when their was more text them they are used to. Even though this was a biography, I felt that it had a really good message for children that they should constantly question their surroundings and never stop wondering and really made it seem possible for them to be successful and reach their dreams and most importantly be themselves no matter what any one else said. The last page really sums up this book and the big ideas that it was hoping to foster. It says "Questions that someday YOU may answer... by wondering, thinking, and imagining."

[melodyreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

nice to read ...

[emtimmins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book conveys how the imagination and creativity of Einstein must have FELT! It is a great jumping off point for learning more about Einstein!

[bstove1-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think this is a good children's book. I like this book for the illustrations and the message of the story. I like that the illustrations are simple pencil like drawings. Although they are simple, I think that they express the story well and show emotions of the characters. I also like the meaning of the story. Through Albert Einstein's story, the reader learns to never give up and to always keep trying because eventually it will pay off. This is a great lesson for all children to learn and aspire to live by.

[emills4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interestingly written picture book about the biography of Albert Einstein. The story begins with a boy riding a bike down the road and wondering if he could go at a speed faster than the speed of light. This ultimately leads to Albert Einstein's development of the speed of light. There are many other scenes where the young Albert shows how he will ultimately become the most influential and famous scientist in history. It was a good book as far as learning and education but it was not a very interesting book in regards to the illustrations.

[johnstod_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This would be a wonderful introduction to the very complex Albert Einstein. I liked that it shared the importance of thinking about light and his understanding of the universe.