Born in Persia more than a thousand years ago, Ibn Sina was one of the greatest thinkers of his time — a philosopher, scientist and physician who made significant discoveries, especially in the field of medicine, and wrote more than one hundred books. As a child, Ibn Sina was extremely bright, a voracious reader who loved to learn and was fortunate to have the best teachers. He memorized the Qur’an by the age of ten and completed his medical studies at sixteen. He spent his life traveling, treating the sick, seeking knowledge through research, and writing about his discoveries. He came up with new theories in the fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy and education. His most famous work is The Canon of Medicine, a collection of books that were used for teaching in universities across the Islamic world and Europe for centuries. Ibn Sina’s story, told in the first person and beautifully illustrated, provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of the great intellects of the past.
This picture book tells the story of Ibn Sina, who compiled The Canon of Medicine, an encyclopedia of medicine that was used in the Islamic world and Europe up until the 18th century. An influential thinker, Ibn Sina came up with many ideas taken for granted today, such as that learning begins at birth and that contaminated water can spread disease. He was born in Persia in 980, and this story starts with his childhood, emphasizing his passion for literature and medicine. Even before turning 18, Ibn Sina succeeded where the best doctors failed, curing Sultan Nuh ibn Mansour al-Samani. As a reward, he was invited to stay at the sultan's palace and given access to the library.
As the political landscape changed, Ibn Sina traveled often, helping many sick people and learning from their experiences. Enchanting illustrations convey the man's experiences. Educators may enjoy having the opportunity to introduce a lesser-known historical figure to kids. However, the text is less than stellar. Told in the first person from Ibn Sina's point of view, the narrative is on the wordy side and tends toward the didactic, covering somewhat complex concepts with which few students are likely to be familiar. VERDICT Because of the dearth of titles on this historical figure, this is a suitable addition for collections looking to diversify their biography collections, but it likely won't resonate with readers
About the Author
Fatima Sharafeddine is an award-winning Lebanese writer who has twice been nominated for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. She divides her time between Beirut and Brussels. Intelaq Mohammed Ali lives in Baghdad.
Age Range: 7 - 12 yearsGrade Level: 1 - 6Author: Fatima SharafeddineHardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Groundwood BooksLanguage: EnglishISBN: 978-1554987108Dimensions: 11.75 x 9.5 x 0.3 inches
