The Man Who Made Time Travel

Kathryn Lasky

May 2013 · Recorded Books · Narrated by Cecelia Riddett

About this audiobook

At sea, captains need to know their ships' location at all times or risk crashing into unseen dangers. Since people first took to the seas, the stars have been useful for measuring latitude-or position relative to north and south. But up until the 18th century, there was no accurate way to measure longitude-or position relative to east and west. Countless seamen were lost because they didn't know they had sailed into dangerous waters. To encourage the invention of an accurate method for measuring longitude, the British monarchy offered the Longitude Prize in 1714. Major scientists of the age-notably Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton-were convinced the only possible solution was mapping the heavens. But John Harrison, a clockmaker from a tiny village, thought differently. He was sure the answer was simply a matter of time. Over many years, he built a seafaring clock entirely from scratch. His design worked brilliantly, yet politics conspired to keep him from the prize he so rightly deserved. This fascinating book from Kathryn Lasky will interest children in science, math, and history through an accessible biography of a great innovator.

About the author

Kathryn Lasky was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 24, 1944, and knew she wanted to be a writer from the time she was ten. She majored in English in college and after graduation wrote for various magazines and taught. Her first book, I Have Four Names for My Grandfather, was published while she was teaching. She has written more than seventy books for children and young adults on everything from historical fiction to picture books and nonfiction books including the Dear America books and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. Many of her books are illustrated with photographs by her husband, Christopher Knight. She has received many awards for her titles including Sugaring Time which was a Newberry Honor Book; The Night Journey which won the National Jewish Book Award for Children; Pageant which was an ALA Notable Children's book; and Beyond the Burning Time which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. She has also received the Washington Post's Children's Book Guild Award for her contribution to children's nonfiction. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.