Children usually look forward to the first snowfall of the year. If it snows so hard that school is called off, the event can become a glorious holiday. Young children sometimes try to catch snowflakes in their mouths, while older youngsters want to ride their sleds down steep hills.
Of course the snow itself needs to be shoveled, which makes people pay close attention to the type of snow on the ground. Snow has different shapes, weights and shades of color. But all snowflakes have one thing in common: they are all six-sided, or hexagons. Jacqueline Martin has written an interesting book about the scientist/photographer responsible for this unique knowledge. His name is Wilson Bentley, but he is usually known as Snowflake Bentley.
Wilson Bentley was born on a Vermont farm on February 9, 1865. He finds nature fascinating as a young boy and learns of a new science called photography. His commonsense father feels that studying nature is fine, but the real purpose of a farm is to produce food and make money. But questions continue forming in the young man’s mind.
In particular, he ponders the shape and contours of snowflakes. Why are they so fragile? What makes some snowflakes large while others remain small? Do they all look alike, or are some unique? As Wilson puzzles over these questions his neighbors scoff at his curiosity. Snow is everywhere in Vermont; why would you ever study it?
But Wilson is so persistent that he eventually convinces his skeptical father to buy him an expensive camera to photograph snowflakes throughout the winter. With this new tool Wilson begins photographing snowflakes with patience and determination.
This becomes an arduous process as the young scientist must learn how to handle the tiny, fragile snowflakes. A breath on a photo slide can cause snowflakes to melt. Even slight movement on the photo negative can cause the snowflakes to shatter. Sometimes there is little snow, and at other times the photographing is a failure.
But Wilson is resolute. He is going to photograph hundreds and hundreds of snowflakes and then write a book on the topic. Finally, after years and years of selfless study, Bentley is ready. In 1926, Wilson publishes his remarkable book on snowflakes. All the years of toiling in the freezing cold reaches its successful conclusion.
How did the public receive his book? Why did this simple Vermont farmer begin to be seen as a world -wide authority on snowflakes? How much money did Bentley make for all of his masterful study? Why did he have such deep satisfaction in his heart for the project? Why do children simply call him "Snowflake Bentley?"
Have you ever risked failure to try to accomplish an important project? Why is it so important to try? What can we learn from Snowflake Bentley’s interesting life? To find out, go to the library and check out "Snowflake Bentley" by Jacqueline Martin.
This book won the 1999 Caldecott Medal for distinguished art. It is a serious biography done with beautiful illustrations and text. I hope you get a chance to share this book with your family. The next time you wonder at the beauty of the shapes of snowflakes, say a prayer of thanksgiving for the years of diligent work by Snowflake Bentley explaining these lovely, white, hexagon marvels.
