Illustration by James Bennett from Dream by Susan V. Bosak

Einstein was a shy child who didn't
fit in; his teachers thought he was rather slow. He became what many consider to be one of the smartest people who has ever lived.

He always had a clear view of the problems of physics and a determination to solve them. He had a strategy of his own and was able to visualize the main stages on the way to his goal. He regarded his major achievements as mere stepping-stones for the next advance.

His most famous formula is E = mc², which says that energy (E) equals mass (m) times the speed of light (c) squared. In essence, it means mass is just one form of energy.

Said Albert Einstein:

"For an idea that does not at first seem insane, there is no hope."

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

"The important thing is not to stop questioning."

"Concern for man himself and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors... in order that the creations of our mind shall be a blessing and not a curse to mankind."

Recommended Reading:

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown. Houghton Mifflin, 2004. A look at Albert Einstein's childhood, from feeling like the "odd boy" at school to his teachers not knowing quite what to make of him.

What's the Matter with Albert? by Frieda Wishinsky and Jacques Lamontagne (illus). Maple Tree Press, 2002. Cub reporter Billy has to interview Albert Einstein for his school newspaper.

Who Was Albert Einstein? by Jess Brallier and Robert Andrew Parker (illus). Grosset & Dunlap, 2002. A biography that describes Albert Einstein's early struggles to harness and focus his abilities, his relationships with his family and first wife, and his most significant scientific achievements.