‘Leonardo’s palette’ – by Bailey, Gerry and Foster, Karen.

Leonardo da Vinci’s life is told through two different styles in this book positioned side by side. The first is through an informal story told by a man who sells oddities and artefacts at a market, to a 10 year old boy who collects antiques. We learn about da Vinci’s genius, his works and life through the questions the boy asks the collector, after he finds an artist’s palette belonging to Leonardo amongst the treasures.

The other half of the book is set out in small boxes of facts with matching illustrations and reproductions. The official information is well set out, interesting and attractively laid out and works slightly better than the device of the boy’s story. Overall the story is made accessible by the two different approaches and would attract and reader of about the Year 3-5 level. This series (Stories of Great People) includes other famous people such as Neil Armstrong, Cleopatra, Mother Teresa, and the Wright Brothers, to name a few.

Reviewed by Suzanne Hardy