Review by Booklist Review
In 1838, ahead of her coronation, Queen Victoria demanded a crown made with purple velvet. One problem: the ancient Phoenician way of obtaining purple dye had been lost, and current ways of creating purple were unreliable and stinky. Happily, Londoner William Henry Perkin was at the same time persisting, against his father's wishes, to become a chemist and work on a malaria cure. It didn't work, but the substance he produced, after much trial and error, was . . . purple! Brown and Dunn also include information about science as a business--Perkin patented his method and became rich from his chemistry abilities and his recognition of a mass market for his dye. The main text oversimplifies in one spot, implying that Perkin alone developed the scientific method, but a closing note for older readers clears this up. Overall, the book is a delight, with accessible, compelling text superimposed on Sanna's richly colored illustrations, featuring plenty of purple and mauve, which resemble paper dolls of Perkin, Queen Victoria, and a realistically diverse set of Londoners. A must for science, art, and history shelves.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--5--This nonfiction picture book provides a factual but lighthearted snapshot of a discovery that had far-reaching consequences. A chemist by trade, white Englishman William Perkin attempted to create a synthetic version of quinine, a medication used to treat malaria. The book's nostalgic, comic-style images and old-fashioned font convey Perkin's disappointment. Readers see a dejected Perkin in his dress coat and high-collared shirt, sitting with a beaker against a completely black background. Small white type reads, "But the experiment was a failure. Quinine couldn't be made from coal tar." When cleaning his equipment, he discovered the leftover sludge was purple. Perkin's discovery may have been accidental, but the chemist knew it would become a hot commodity. More important, his method of discovery led to breakthroughs in science and medicine. The pages and endpapers are awash in various hues of purple and evocative of England's Victorian era. The final pages depict people from across the globe attired in purple, a color previously unaffordable by average citizens. An extensive author's note, resources, and instructions for a simple color experiment offer more substantive information about the impact of Perkin's discovery that, at first blush, appeared to be trivial. VERDICT This pleasant narrative detailing an unexpected discovery could appeal to readers interested in a variety of subjects: history, science, fashion, and uplifting stories of perseverance.--Lisa Taylor, Florida State Coll., Jacksonville
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
"Purple is tricky" to make, at least until William Henry Perkin (1838-1907) discovered the perfect purple pigment in 1856. Until then, purple was reserved only for royalty and the extremely influential because it was so difficult to produce (involving milking snails or soaking cloth in human urine). From an early age, Perkin knew he wanted to be a chemist and, as Brown writes, "discover new formulas to make the world better." While studying at the Royal College of Chemistry in London, he tried to synthesize quinine from coal tar to help the poor dying from malaria. His experiments kept failing, but in a final attempt Perkin accidentally discovered his "bright, bold, rich, and royal purple" after dipping a rag into his solution. Fortunately, Perkin realized the value of his invention, patented it, and started a company to manufacture dye and fabrics. This led to "purple for the people," not just the privileged few. In addition to emphasizing this populist message, Brown and Dunn provide a thorough history of the color purple and reinforce the important, lifesaving ripple effects Perkin's discovery and systematic methods had across the scientific community; they smartly devote several pages to Perkin's meticulous scientific process, which Sanna illustrates with molecules and chains. Her rich illustrations incorporate various shades of purple throughout, and a dynamic mix of spreads, full-page art, and spot illustrations carries readers through the authors' lengthy but child-friendly text. Back matter includes a detailed authors' note about Perkin, color, and the scientific method, along with a reading list, photographs, and a color experiment. Cynthia K. Ritter September/October 2020 p.113(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An introduction to the life and innovations of William Henry Perkin (1838-1907), an English chemist who tried to find a cure for malaria but instead produced "purple for the people." Brown and Dunn establish context by showing a cloth maker's dismay when Queen Victoria demands a crown of purple velvet: The challenge of producing it was one of the reasons the color was reserved for the rich and royals. Phoenicians had extracted the mucus of mollusks while the English soaked fabric in bark and berries, then urine to make it colorfast. Enter Perkin, son of a London carpenter. His professor at the Royal College of Chemistry, searching for an antidote during a malaria epidemic, gave Perkin a formula to attempt synthesizing quinine from coal tar. While the experiment failed, Perkin refined the scientific methodology and documentation and created--in a last-minute do-over--a gorgeous new color. The narrative is brisk, alliterative, and full of well-chosen details. Children will be intrigued at the ingenious and sometimes gross aspects of dye-making. In compositions brimming with pattern, Sanna controls an orderly palette, allowing the new hue to pop. Bright droplets are a design element throughout, framing key words, emanating from Perkin's attic laboratory, squirting off the page to celebrate his lasting impact. The conclusion and extraordinarily rich author's note and period visuals emphasize the White Englishman's contributions to the fashion, medical, and scientific communities. Perfect for STEAM-infused reading and for grasping the value of serendipity. (bibliography, experiment) (Picture book/biography. 6-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
