(3) YA Jepp never felt that his size was remarkable. But then a stranger invites him to become a court dwarf for the Spanish Infanta. The posh surroundings offer only ridicule and humiliation, so Jepp escapes, soon finding an eccentric master in astronomer Tycho Brahe. The sixteenth-century European settings are richly detailed, historical figures are intriguingly represented, and Jepp is a likable and believably flawed protagonist.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) YA Renaissance Scientists series. These thoughtful, documented books reward careful reading. Tycho explains how Brahe used his observational talents to measure astronomical phenomena, and Johannes discusses how Kepler developed his three laws of planetary motion. Both books recount the scientists' personal lives, and fine color visuals, mostly from period art and documents, extend the texts, as do occasional sidebars and diagrams. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Renaissance Scientists titles: Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Great Minds of Science series. This account of the life of astronomer Tycho Brahe--whose research produced copious and extraordinarily accurate astronomical observations--includes details about sixteenth-century scientific work. Gow's writing about Brahe's personal history is uneven, but her explanations of astronomical principles are well stated. Black-and-white historical illustrations include portraits and scientific diagrams. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford