I am Leonardo Da Vinci

Book Title: I am Leonardo Da Vinci
Author: Brad Meltzer
Artist: Christopher Eliopoulos
Part of the series that inspired: Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum on PBS Kids
Ordinary People that change the World Series.
Dial Books for Young Readers
An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York
Copywrite: 2020
Cost $ 15.99
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

The 38-page story fits wonderfully into the Ordinary People Change the world books.

The story is told through the eyes of Leonardo Da Vinci. It is through adult version of Leonardo.

The story tells how Leonardo got family name of Da Vinci which means from Vinci in Italian language. It was the place that Leonardo was born. This was during Renaissance Period was happening and people started using art, science, and even politics to use things in brand new ways..

The story tells how as a child Leonardo found new things and followed his curiosity. He once as child even though scared went into dark cave and found a whale fossil embedded in the wall. He realized seeing might creature just how powerful nature can be.

Leonardo self-taught himself other things than learned in school. This opened him up to new ideas and experiences. As a result, he did not think like anyone else.

The story tells how Leonardo loved to draw.

He was also left-handed and did not write like anyone else.

His father showed Leonardo’s art to one of the best local artists, Andre Del Verroccio. Leonardo was only 14. He was made apprentice, which means Andre became his teacher.

He taught Leonardo how to mix paints, draw and sculpt from models, and work with machinery on large projects.

The other students talked about anatomy, geometry, architecture and antiquities. Plus, there were books on subjects talking about.

The book showed first preserved art shield made by Leonardo. It was very realistic. The shield sold – and was eventually owned by the Duke of Milan.

Leonardo’s greatest strengths were curiosity and observation. He was especially interested in birds. He was curious about everything about him.... For instance, going up to the top of Mount Rosa and figuring out why the sky is blue? “The light is reflecting off particles in the air.

Over time in addition to being artist, he became an architect, an engineer, making accurate and precise land scaping maps, inventing a crank to move stuff. He even designed a bridge. He designed a tank, submarine, scuba gear, a hang glider, an early try at a helicopter, a design for an early parachute.

The book told how Leonardo worked almost 16 years painting The Mona Lisa. Talking about techniques used to blur the edges of her mouth. Sfumato to make her smile change. Depending on how you look at her face.

The book concludes with Leonardo saying:

In my Life, people called me a Genius, a Renaissance man. They said I was weird and odd. That’s not a bad thing. Nothing amazing happens by thinking like everyone else. Look closely at Nature, no two trees are the same. No two humans are the same. Build what has not been built before. When you do...no one will be able to look away.

Some of Leonardo’s ideas did not become reality for over 500 years.

Leonardo was impressed that if a human arm bends just right, it resembles a bird’s wing. Leonardo’s wing drawing inspired Bill Finger’s and Bob Kane’s design for Batman. It was said in book. Without Leonardo Da Vinci there would be no Batman.

I found Brad Meltzer drawn into book on page 33. I also think as Easter Egg bonus Benjamin Franklin was drawn into two pages spread of people viewing The Last Supper. The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper are my two favorite art works by Leonardo Da Vinci. I KNOW BOOK CAN BE ORDERED THROUGH INTERNET SITES. I JUST GOT MY COPY FROM LOCAL LIBRARY.

The book ends with Leonardo saying: sometimes crazy ideas are the best ideas.

Even ones that fail.

My wings did not make me fly.

My scuba gear did not make me breath under water.

My pre-helicopter never took off, but over time, as technology and innovation caught up with my ideas, every single one of them worked.

Stay curious.

Ask questions.

Look closely.

And always be daring.

I am Leonardo Da Vinci, and I know new ideas are beautiful.

The final two pages have a history of his life time line. He was born on April 15th, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. He had many remarkable accomplishments in his life to his death on May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France.

Here is what the front cover says about Leonardo Da Vinci book by Brad Meltzer.

What makes a hero?

Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the greatest artists and inventors the world has ever known. From childhood, he followed his curiosity and learned through observation. He was curious about a lot of things! He loved science and nature, building, music, math... always art. He spent hours and hours practicing drawing, sculpting or jotting down new strange ideas (like flying machines and under water gear). Today, more than 500 years later, all of his inventions actually work, and The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the whole world.

This lovely, New York Times bestselling biography series inspires kids to dream big. One great role model at a time. You’ll want to collect each book.

WE CAN ALL BE HEROES!

Allen Klingelhoets