Ernest Rutherford. Just an Ordinary Boy by Maria Gill, Illus. Alistair Hughes. Pub. Upstart Press, 2023

An easy to read picture book on the boyhood life of arguably New Zealand’s finest scientist Ernest Rutherford.

Aimed at primary and intermediate age children the picture book part of this publication looks at an ordinary boy growing up in small town New Zealand in a family of 14 children.

Young Ernest played rugby was fascinated by lightening and the world of science and failed early exams as he sought scholarships for higher learning. He persisted and was ultimately successful and became one of the mist revered scientists alongside the likes of Einstein, Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday and Marie Curie.

He was Knighted, appears on the NZ$100 note and has a statue in Shanghai showing him holding two parts of an atom apart in recognition of his achievement of being the first man to split the atom.

In the back is a time line of his achievements, his experiments with radiation and a glossary of scientific terms..

Alastair Hughes illustrations paint a picture of a bygone era in which young Ernest grew up and show the wonder he had for science..

Excellent cover.Maria Gill on the money as usual.