All in a drop: How Antony van Leeuwenhoek discovered an invisible world by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger

I honestly don't remember why I bought this - I think I was looking for more nonfiction around scientific discovery and water or something. I thought it looked pretty, but was unlikely to appeal to kids. Having gotten around to reading it, I still agree with that initial assessment, but with a little promotion by a teacher or librarian, kids may appreciate just what a little gem this book is.

Told in the present tense, Alexander narrators the story of Antony's life, introducing him as a young boy and then, in the context of his life as a merchant and local businessman in the Netherlands, focusing on his interest in microscopes and the microorganisms he could see through them.

With digressions and additional information about the time period, including a thoughtful discussion of the relative tolerance and freedom of the Netherlands, Alexander explores Antony's amazing discovery. His endless patience and curiosity allowed him to create exquisite microscopes, far better than anything created at the time, and although secretive by nature he eventually became well-known to the Royal Society, the main scientific organization of the time.

Extensive back matter brings the book in at under 100 pages and copious watercolor illustrations add interest and delight to every page. This one is even more accessible than the lovely The Girl Who Drew Butterflies, being much shorter, although it is briefer in its account of van Leeuwenhoek's life.

Verdict: While kids may not be swarming your shelves looking for books about untrained scientists from the 1600s, before "scientist" was even a thing, this book should find an audience with kids who need "a nonfiction" book for a report and want something not too long and "interesting." Recommend also to kids who struggle in school and will appreciate the story of someone who was successful outside the boundaries of accepted academics. Finally, I'd try this on kids who have not yet lost their sense of wonder and will be able to grasp the wonder of van Leeuwenhoek's discovery.

ISBN: 9781328884206; Published 2019 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Purchased for the library