ANNOTATION

A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From the time he was a small boy, Wilson Bentley thought of the icy crystals as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystals.

Bentley's enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths about snowflakes: first, that no two are alike and second, that each one is startlingly beautiful. His story, gracefully told by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and brought to life in Mary Azarian's lovely woodcuts, gives children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist's vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature. "Of all the forms of water the tiny six-pointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied."
-- Wilson Bentley

FROM THE CRITICS

Martha Davis Beck

Jacqueline Briggs Martin tells the story of 'Snowflake' Bentley with affection and grace. . .Readers will be inspired by this story of a man who was both scientist and artist, who let his deepest interests lead him through life, who found beauty in something others found common—and in the process opened up a part of the world we otherwise might not know.
-- Riverbank Review

New York Times Book Review

Illustrator Mary Azarian was awarded the 1999 Caldecott Medal for illustration.

Publishers Weekly

Azarian's (A Farmer's Alphabet) handsome woodcuts provide a homespun backdrop to Martin's (Grandmother Bryant's Pocket) brief biography of a farmboy born in 1865 on the Vermont snowbelt who never lost his fascination with snowflakes. Wilson A. Bentley spent 50 years pioneering the scientific study of ice crystals, and developed a technique of microphotography that allowed him to capture the hexagonal shapes and prove that no two snowflakes are alike. Martin conveys Bentley's passion in lyrical language ("snow was as beautiful as butterflies, or apple blossoms"), and punctuates her text with frequent sidebars packed with intriguing tidbits of information (though readers may be confused by the two that explain Bentley's solution of how to photograph the snowflakes). Hand-tinted with watercolors and firmly anchored in the rural 19th century, Azarian's woodcuts evoke an era of sleighs and woodstoves, front porches and barn doors, and their bold black lines provide visual contrast to the delicate snowflakes that float airily in the sidebars. A trio of Bentley's ground-breaking black-and-white photographs of snowflakes, along with a picture and quote from him about his love for his work, is the icing that tops off this attractive volume.
Ages 4-8.

"This picture-book biography beautifully captures the essence of the life and passion of Wilson A. Bentely. . . . The story of this man's life is written with graceful simplicity. . . . An inspiring selection."

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Willie Bentley loved snow-he was passionate about snow. He was fascinated by the beauty of snowflakes and wanted desperately to be able to share their beauty with the world. However, it was not until his parents spent their savings to buy him a camera with a microscope attachment that his desire was finally fullfilled. He took pictures, hundred of pictures of snowflakes, and eventually became a world-renowned expert. His photographs graced the pages of magazines and books and were used by artists and professors. Willie became known as "the Snowflake Man." A monument to Willie stands as a testament to his dedication and his desire to share the beauty of snowflakes with the world. At the end of the book, readers see Willie at work and several examples of his snowflake photographs. Azarian's hand-tinted woodcut illustrations, the snowflake motif, and the wintry scenes and hues are a perfect match for the story. Read all 9 "From The Critics" >