Snowflake Bentley By: Jacqueline Briggs Martin Illustrated by: Mary Azarian

Winner of the 1999 Caldecott Medal

 A true and inspiring story of Wilson Bentley a man who loved the beauty of snow.  A man who dedicated his life to sharing the beauty and originality of all snowflakes. Find out how he learned to use a microscope armed with a camera to take photographs of snowflakes that would never been seen again because no two snowflakes are alike.  He did this in a time when people looked down on him and thought it was silly.  He never made much money from his snowflake work but that didn't bother him. He just wanted to share what he had found.  In the summers he would take pictures of dew drops on spiderwebs and flowers, but it never compared to his love for snow.  Scientist who respected Mr. Bentley's work raised money for him to make a book out of his best photographs. He had it published when he was sixty-six years old. Shortly after that he became ill and died from pneumonia after walking six miles in a blizzard.  The town in his honor set up a museum for their "snowflake authority".

This is really a fascinating book that showcases a child who had a dream and a passion and followed it dispite not making any wealth from it.  It is really inspiring and a wonderful message for our children to follow their dreams!

The first time I saw a snowflake for the beautiful thing it really was, I was sitting in a cold car watching them drift down onto the windshield. I watched them for as long as I could.  Up until that point I just thought snowflakes were little puffs and that a snowflakes beauty was fabricated.  My girls are looking forward to catching a snowflake and getting a chance to admire it for as long as it will stay.

To learn more or if you are intersted in visiting the museum in Jericho Vermont here is a link:
http://snowflakebentley.com/