Leonardo Da Vinci
         This biography, aimed at attracting young readers, is a complete account of Leonardo Da Vinci�s accomplishments as well as failures.  Readers will enjoy learning all about the painter/inventor�s dreams and desires.  It will be interesting to note that, despite his lack of formal education, he was a person who was driven to learn.  His ideas and theories were well ahead of his time.  Children may relate to him from the beginning, when the story of his life begins to be told from the moment he was born.  The picture on the cover features a teenage Leonardo, and the title page displays him as a young boy holding a
kitten.  The author takes great care to maintain the authenticity of the information she presents by avoiding the use of direct quotations, and instead only quoting things which at some point have been in writing.  The illustrations are quite colorful and keep readers interested with their many details.  Most of the pictures portray him as a teenager, and an older image of him is portrayed later in the book, when he is now interested also in learning more about the human body.
           The author works at maintaining an unbiased point of view when telling of Da Vinci�s life. She presents from accomplishments to failures, to unfinished jobs and avoids letting her opinion on this show.  Readers are allowed to decide on their own what type of person Da Vinci was.  In this way, we are able to see him more as a real person, and not as someone who has always perfect and glorified.  For example, readers will learn that Leonardo took risks and they did not always work.  He tried to fly and did not succeed, despite spending many years trying to accomplish this feat.  He tried to create a huge bronze sculpture of a horse, but �the Moor used the bronze to make cannons instead!� On another occasion, he tried a different method of preserving a painting which resulted in, �the top part of the painting was darkened by the smoke and the rest began to run. Completely discouraged, Leonardo gave up.� By showing this side of Da Vinci, readers are able to see that he was a person just like us. The author allows readers to decide for themselves whether Leonardo was a hardworking and persevering man, or one who gave up easily.
          Diane Stanley provides readers with a more realistic view of Leonardo Da Vinci�s life, and allows readers to know him much better than any encyclopedia ever could.

Stanley, Diane. 1996. Leonardo Da Vinci. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0-688
          10438-X.
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