Snowflakes

The secret life of a snowflake. An up-close look a the art and science of snowflakes

Kenneth Libbrecht

Minneapolis, US: Voyageur Press 2009 | 48pp | ?10.99 (HB)

ISBN 9780760336762

Reviewed by Gordon Johnstone

This beautifully illustrated book would make a lovely present for an enquiring child this Christmas. Libbrecht, a professor of physics at Caltech, US, is famous for his photographs of snowflakes and this latest book is aimed at children, though any adult would be amazed at Libbrecht’s closeup photographs of individual snowflakes. I must admit that, although I have seen a lot of snow in my life, I have never seen anything like the large beautifully symmetrical snowflakes that Libbrecht photographs in Vermont. 

The photographs are accompanied by text that explains in simple terms how snowflakes are born and grow, including the intricate branches and side branches. The six-fold symmetry of most (though not all) snowflakes is explained in molecular terms, and why snow appears white in terms of light reflections.

There are also instructions on how to make paper snowflakes which should keep a child amused, especially if there is no real snow over Christmas.