{"id":24948,"date":"2014-09-15T22:25:18","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T02:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24948"},"modified":"2014-09-15T22:25:18","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T02:25:18","slug":"review-of-mysterious-patterns-finding-fractals-in-nature-by-sarah-c-campbell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24948","title":{"rendered":"Review of Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature, by Sarah C. Campbell"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"mysterious_patterns_large\"<\/a>Mysterious Patterns<\/p>\n

Finding Fractals in Nature<\/em><\/p>\n

by Sarah C. Campbell
\nphotographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell<\/p>\n

Boyds Mills Press, 2014. 32 pages.<\/p>\n

I love it when an author takes a fairly complicated mathematical concept and makes it picture-book simple. And in this case, she makes it look easy. (I\u2019ve taught math. Trust me; it\u2019s not easy to explain things simply.)<\/p>\n

This book explains fractals and how they appear in nature \u2013 with plenty of photographs illustrating the concepts every step of the way.<\/p>\n

Every fractal shape has smaller parts that look like the whole shape. Fractals are everywhere in nature, and can form in many different ways. A tree is a fractal. It starts with one shape that changes in the same way over, and over, and over again.<\/p>\n

This tree [There\u2019s a diagram below this paragraph.] starts with a stem, which splits into two branches, which each split into more branches, until the smallest branches split into twigs.<\/p>\n

Many smaller parts of the tree \u2013 large branches with smaller branches and twigs \u2013 look like the whole tree, with its trunk and branches and smaller branches.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I already knew about fractals. I\u2019ve seen mathematical formulas for them. I\u2019ve even begun knitting a Sierpinski Triangle Scarf. However, after reading this book, I\u2019m noticing fractals around me far more than ever before.<\/p>\n

I think the same thing will probably happen with kids who read this book \u2013 and this book that includes no numbers higher than five may even inspire some child to find out more about the beautiful mathematics behind it.<\/p>\n

sarahccampbell.com<\/a>
\nboydsmillspress.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/help.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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