Parents' Guide to

Snowflake Bentley

By Sally Snyder, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Lyrical prose explores a fascinating life.

Book Jacqueline Briggs Martin Biography 1998
Snowflake Bentley Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

june.c
june.c Adult
April 4, 2021
age 6+

Storytime

I believe that I enjoyed this book more than any child, being fond of Biographies. Best for ages 6 and up in group setting. Great for more in-depth fun or studies.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Everyone believes that no two snowflakes are alike. Why? Because Wilson Bentley spent his life photographing over 6,000 of them, and never found a match. From an early age, Bentley was fascinated by snow and wanted to share its beauty. Jacqueline Briggs Martin's eloquent text and Mary Azarian's colorful woodcuts illustrate his life and convey his enthusiasm for snow.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is an excellent choice for introducing biographies to young readers, especially because it is a life story of an inspirational subject who exhibits tenacity. Any child who has cut a folded-paper snowflake will appreciate Wilson Bentley's infatuation with the beautiful and intricate designs of snow crystals. Plainspoken as a Vermonter's speech, Jacqueline Martin's text is also lyrical. Fact-filled sidebars highlight specifics of Bentley's life and his discoveries.

Mary Azarian uses hand-colored woodcuts to illustrate Bentley's life, and a Vermont winter is skillfully captured. Country touches bring the past to life. As beautiful as these illustrations are, more examples of Bentley's photos would have been welcome. Strangely, in a book emphasizing the near uniqueness of snowflakes, each sidebar is decorated with the same set of snowflake designs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about science and art. Do you think Bentley was an artist as well as a scientist?

Book Details

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