Rescuing Einstein's Compass

One day, a boy named Theo is called into the living room by his parents to meet "the most famous man alive." Theo is so nervous, he's not sure he'll be able to speak. But he finds the great man--Professor Albert Einstein--to be kind and gentle. Soon they are chatting about all sorts of subjects. When Theo and Professor Einstein go out for a sail on Theo's small boat, the Professor unexpectedly loses his compass overboard. The compass was a cherished gift from Einstein's father when he himself was a young boy. Fortunately, Theo manages to save the day--along with the compass! The author's husband was a personal friend of Albert Einstein's, and though fictional, this story is based on events in Einstein's life. The lovely watercolors capture the meeting between a young boy and the wild-haired physicist. Their simple conversations provide insight into the mysteries of physics that inspired Einstein's lifelong quest to understand and explain the forces of nature.

About the Author :
Shulamith Levey Oppenheim is the award-winning author of many books, including Iblis, a retelling of the Islamic version of the fall from Eden, and, with Jane Yolen, The Fish Prince, a collection of Mermen folktales, and The Sea King. She lives in Massachusetts. George Juhasz is an artist, designer, sculptor, filmmaker, and illustrator who lives in Vancouver, Canada. He was born in Hungary where he received his art training and has lived and worked in Switzerland, Spain, France, Germany, England, and Canada. He has worked on over 100 animation projects, including The Yellow Submarine, The Selfish Giant, The Happy Prince, Young Robin Hood, and Joseph and his Brothers, and he also illustrated Pacific Tree Frogs.

Review :
"A charming picture book, most ably illustrated in watercolors by George Juhasz" "A memorable day in the life of a young boy...Juhasz's expressive watercolor illustrations show gentle activity and nostalgic charm. Two-page spreads seem to float behind the printed text and extend the visual appeal. Attractive endpapers depicting the crew and famous compass provide a polished beginning and ending to the tale." "In this charming story"Juhasz has created wonderful pictures that sweep across each spread"an excellent read-aloud." "Rescuing Einstein's Compass is a lovely old-fashioned story about a young boy's encounter with celebrity, an encounter that enriches rather than disappoints...The book, itself, has the old fashioned, dreamy quality of the text, with impressionistic watercolor and ink artwork in soft pastel colors. It could be a lovely read-aloud to complement a science curriculum or a bedtime story with its simple plot infused with gentle introductions to physics. Recommended."