“The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art & Science of Snowflakes,” by Kenneth Libbrecht
Voyageur Press, 2009, 48 pages, Grades 3-5.
St. Thomas Aquinas states in the Summa Theologicae Part 1, Question 2, Article 3 that there are five proofs for the existence of God. The Fifth Proof is that of the design and governance of the world.
There are perfect designs in nature, such as snowflakes and these beautifully-formed creations point to the existence of a First Designer. St. Thomas states that this Perfect Being is called God. When we see these lovely, six-sided (hexagon) wonders falling to the earth, we are reminded of God’s perfection.
Of course, since this is earth and not heaven, snowflakes sometimes gently fall and at other times seem to be hurled to the earth. Regardless, they come in innumerable sizes and shapes. Why is this so? Why are all snowflakes different, and why, when we look at snowflakes under a microscope is the exquisite guiding hand of God so evident? Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht, a professor of physics at Caltech, answers these questions in his beautifully photographed book: “The Secret Life of a Snowflake.”
Dr. Libbrecht begins the book by asking us to carefully look at snowflakes. Each one has an intricate pattern that is breathtaking. Each snowflake has its own shape and no two snowflakes look exactly alike.
As water rises from rivers, lakes and oceans, clouds are formed. Within the clouds, water droplets are created. Libbrecht tells us that a cloud droplet is 100 times smaller than a raindrop. As the weather gets colder, the droplets start to freeze in the clouds and become larger. Amazingly enough, it takes 100,000 droplets to make one snowflake. Because of the way water molecules freeze, they always form hexagons and are always symmetrical. However, if they collide with other snowflakes on their descent, some of the six branches may be damaged, resulting in an irregular shape.
The author meticulously photographs dozens of snowflakes under a microscope throughout the book. The shapes are surprising and fascinating. Some snowflakes look like flower petals and others look like nearly-solid hexagons.
Since snowflakes are made from pure ice, they have no color. They look white because light bounces off their crystal surfaces. Libbrecht gives an example of clear objects looking white in an experiment he gives in the book of small piles of salt, clear glass and snow. They all appear white because they have reflected light instead of absorbing it.
At the end of the book Libbrecht even shows other types of snowflakes that look like spools of thread. But to find out the answers to the many other facets of snowflakes, please go to the library and check out this beautifully written and photographed book.
This book is sure to be popular with middle school students. The text is accurate and easy to follow. The pictures are simply awe-inspiring. Libbrecht photographs and describes so many different kinds of snowflakes that it is mindboggling. This book can be read by itself or shared in a group. Your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews will enjoy spending time with you as you pore over the many lovely photographs in the book. I hope you get a chance to check out this enjoyable book. You will just love it. Enjoy!
