Theodoric’s Rainbow by Stephen Kramer, illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy. W.H. Freeman and Company, 1995. 32 pages.
I don’t know if it’s The-ODD-oric or Theo-DORE-ic, but either way this fictionalized biography of a real thirteenth/fourteenth century German Dominican friar who experimented with light, optics, and rainbows is a delight for the eyes and the mind. The story is simple enough to read to a five or six year old, yet the scientific concepts that are introduced are challenging enough to intrigue and interest much older children and adults. In fact, after re-reading the book myself, I want to find a prism or a drop of water and go play with rainbows.
The note at the back of the back about Theodoric of Freiburg tell us that little is known about Theodoric’s personal life or about the details of how he made his discoveries or how they were received in the monastery where he lived. “This is the story of how it might have happened.” So, much of the story contained in the pages of this book is just that—a story.
The paintings by Daniel Mark Duffy that illustrate Theodoric’s story are breath-taking and beautiful. As befits a book about rainbows, the illustrations are colorful enough even for me, a lover of color. Mr. Duffy “studied medieval paintings and manuscript illuminations, rainbows of all kinds, and Theodoric’s own drawings” to prepare for illustrating this biography.
It’s not so easy to find biographies or fiction about real medieval people written for children, picture book or otherwise. Theodoric lived during the high middle ages, and he did interesting work as a proto-scientist and observer of God’s creation. I would definitely want to share this book with elementary age children who were studying or interested in this time period or the science of rainbows.
If you are interested in purchasing ($5.00) a curated list of favorite picture book biographies with over 300 picture books about all sorts of different people, email me at sherryDOTpray4youATgmailDOTcom. I’m highlighting picture book biographies in March. What is your favorite picture book about a real person?