Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature

by Sarah C. Campbell, Richard P. Campbell (Photographs)

Nature’s repeating patterns, better known as fractals, are beautiful, universal, and explain much about how things grow. Fractals can also be quantified mathematically. Here is an elegant introduction to fractals through examples that can be seen in parks, rivers, and our very own backyards. Readers will be fascinated to learn that broccoli florets are fractals—just like mountain ranges, river systems, and trees—and will share in the wonder of math as it is reflected in the world around us. Perfect for any elementary school classroom or library, Mysterious Patterns is an exciting interdisciplinary introduction to repeating patterns.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Science, Nature, Childrens, Middle Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

تصاویر خیره کننده و توضیحات ساده، این کتاب رو به یکی از بهترین کتاب ها برای توضیح فراکتال به کودکان تبدل میکنه. تا قبل از سال 1975 هیچ کلمه ای برای این اَشکال وجود نداشت. یادداشت مختصری هم درباره ی کاشف فراکتال ها هم در این کتاب موجوده. کتاب ساده و جذابیه.

[David Molnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this after reading Growing Patterns by the same author, and I was not disappointed. (Incidentally, someone at goodreads ought to recognize that Sarah C. Campbell and Sarah C Campbell could conceivably be the same person.) The primary purpose of this book is to introduce young readers to the concept of fractals, stressing the distinction between man-made shapes (cylinder, sphere) and nature-made shapes. It does this well. Pineapples and caterpillars make gratuitous appearances as examples of things that are not fractals. (I think the caterpillars were photographed on our parsley plant.)

More words are required to explain fractals than to explain Fibonacci numbers. Nonetheless, the words have been carefully chosen so that the book should be readable for a wide range of ages, moreso than in most kids' books. An eight-year-old could read it, but at the same time a high-schooler would not feel that they are being talked down to.

(from my not-really-a-blog at https://sites.google.com/site/molnarm...)

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fractals were first studied in 1975 by Benoit Mandelbrot. They are shapes we find in nature. They are different from one another, but all have in common the fact of having small parts that look like the whole part. They are self-similar.
We can find them everywhere from tiny leaves veins to massive mountains ranges. We find them even in a lightning and inside our body.
Knowing about fractals helped us to study things that are to small, to big or too complex to study. Fractals help to find order in what looks messy at the first sight.Taking them as an example man has created systems that work in the same way, as Internet wiring and cellphone antennas.
This books explains in a clear way what fractals are, and how they are different from other repetitive patterns in nature and "perfect shapes" man created. It also includes an afterword by Michael Frame, math teacher at Yale University, who worked many years ago with Benoit Mandelbrot.

Age range:6 to 10 years old.

Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains what fractals are very simply. It shows what they are comprised of (familiar shapes, like cones and spheres,) and gives examples from our every day lives. As the book goes on it shows how these shapes repeating over and over each time smaller, can be found in nature. It uses architecture, flowers, geology, the human body, and more to illustrate the lesson. Campbell is sure to teach us about repeating patterns that do not change in size, and that these are not fractals. She also mention briefly who discovered them and how. I thought it was very useful to have a glossary in the front. There is also a mini lesson on the last page. It teaches the reader how to make their own fractal. I love that it helps kids put what they learned into practice. The photographs are great. They really help describe the text, and some of it is quite beautiful as well.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool photographs and a simplified explanation of fractals, along with many examples, make this book an accessible must-have for the classroom library. It's pretty amazing to realize that there was no word for these shapes found in nature until 1975. Once youngsters start exploring the world of fractals, it will be difficult to contain their enthusiasm because of their incredible patterns. I also liked the inclusion of a brief note about Benoit Mandelbrot, the father of fractals. Naturally, the biographic information made me curious to know more about this scientist.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me this is a three star book, but that is strictly due to my bias against math and science. I know! I just need to get over it already. I do, however, see that the text is easy to understand and would be a fascinating read for many kids who gravitate toward non-fiction, science-y type books.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept book, clear and concise with excellent visual examples.

[Annie Cheesman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the cover of this book because it is really intriguing to look at. Both the cover and back cover are the same image which really entails the importance of the patterns. I really enjoy how the book outlines patterns in everyday life objects and things than just showing pictures of random patterns. I think the readers will enjoy seeing objects that people have made at the beginning of the book then it transitions into places where patterns occur in the world, which I believe in incredibly marvelous to look at. I really thought this book would only be for children such as third grade and beyond, but some pages describe how some objects in nature such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and icicles are defining shapes. It could be a great view and representation of shapes for young children to look at. It is also interesting how it shows and describes that some organisms such as flowers or broccoli do not form a perfect shape, and that makes its uniqueness enjoyable to look at. l really enjoy how he describes the difference between similar patterns, natural shapes, and "fractals." I really think children and any reader, in general, will enjoy that explanation of fractal shapes have smaller parts that look like the whole shape. Showing the different examples really helps the reader further understand the newly introduced topic. Each page was a different story declaring its importance with different patterns and colors. For example, the lightning was so neat to see and the explanation of why it is a fractal helped me as a reader to understand the importance. I did not know there are fractals inside our body also, so that was awesome to read more into. Lastly, I enjoyed how each page number was outlined on each page with a fractal and it was great to see instructions on how to make your own fractal. If I was still a younger child and I was reading this book, I would have loved to make a fractal and color.

[Virginia McGee Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I had observed the phenomenon but didn’t know the word “fractal” until I read Sarah Campbell’s picture book, Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature (2014). Sarah explains that the term did not exist until 1975. In the author’s note at the end, she adds an intriguing story of Benoit Mandelbrot, the overlooked scientist who studied and named them.
A fractal shape has smaller parts that look like the whole. Trees form a good example in their shapes against the sky. Smaller versions of limbs with twigs join together to make the larger tree that repeats the same basic shape. Broccoli makes a hands-on version familiar to children that is easy for them to take apart one floret at a time to see how it repeats the pattern of the stalk.
Sarah and her photographer husband and writing partner Richard add several other natural fractals like Queen Anne’s lace, rivers, and even the airways in human lungs. My favorite fractals to observe, at least for the moment, are the trees bare against the blue sky all winter, transforming but holding the pattern as they push out green leaves at the tops of their shapes.
I love the way Sarah and Richard combine science, photographic art, and child friendly activities. Previous books Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator (2008) and Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Patterns in Nature (2010) follow their own similar pattern and have won many awards in the children’s book world. Adults who reads the Campbells’ books aloud to children get a bonus in their own enjoyment of the photographs and maybe learn a thing or two themselves. Rumor has it that another book is in the works. I’ll be waiting.

[Jeni VW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a succinct and approachable introduction to fractals for elementary school and above. Without going into the intricacies of mathematical equations, the photographs and text show that fractals are backed by "beautiful math" and discernible in nature and human biology as well as in various technological grids and, even (in the afterword), the underlying structure of Harry Potter's invisibility cloak. The concept of Mandelbrot fractals is presented in a way that's easy to grasp, and there are also several non-examples of fractals to reinforce the basic definition.

I'd recommend this for STEM classes at upper elementary through high school levels to spark interest in mathematical patterns, the details of nature, to differentiate STEM lessons, and to inspire STEAM explorations of patterns and their replication at different scales.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talks about what a fractal is compared to other kinds of shapes and patterns, with examples drawn from a variety of places in nature. The discussion of repeating things that aren't fractals was something I especially appreciated. I also really liked the emphasis on seeing fractals in both small and large thing, in things that happen very quickly and very slowly. And illustrating with photos here was a good move.

My minor quibble is that everything shown in nature here is really an approximate fractal (not extending infinitely), but that's a *very* minor thing here.

[Mel]

Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature is a non-fiction math informational book about the shapes and patterns that occur in nature. It explains how scientists wanted to classify natural objects but couldn’t easily do so until Benoit Mandelbrot’s discovery of fractals. This book features photographs of shapes and fractals, a glossary of vocabulary words, a biography of Mandelbrot, and a “make your own fractal” activity.

[Camille Rickis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction book about fractals is extremely interesting. The illustrations are a mixture of drawings and photographs, both life size and extremely zoomed in, and they are so interesting to look at. Many people do not know much about fractals, but after reading this informative but also interesting and attention-grabbing picture book, reader will find themselves wanting to learn more, and also looking for fractals all around them.

[Grace Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature” by Sarah C. Campbell would be a perfect pick to incorporate both science and ELA standards. this book discusses things such as nature's repeating patterns, better known as fractals, are beautiful, universal, and explain much about how things grow. I think seeing the pictures and connecting them to the patterns of growing would be very beneficial for young students. In conclusion I really enjoyed this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A STEM book that is probably actually rewarding to artists and those afraid of math. Who isn't intrigued by patterns? Gorgeous photographs illuminate. I hope parents and other educators can find this even before fractals come up in the textbooks.

I definitely want to find more by the Campbells.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This describes what a fractal is and gives examples of fractals in nature. There are lovely photographs of fractals. In the afterword, it gives information about Benoit Mandelbrot who discovered fractals. The afterword also describes a few practical applications that use fractals.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benoit Mandelbroit thought in shapes, and when he became a scientist he discovered patterns in the things he studied. This book shows the amazing fractal patterns in our world. Beautiful illustrations.

[Samantha Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is helpful to teach patterns and new words related to science. This book also has an activity to help students learn patterns. The pictures in the book fit with the word and they are well done.

[Taylor Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

nonfiction

[Cameron Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book, it shows real pictures that can be found. It also relates to math and geometric figures. Kids can see these and then look for them in nature.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, photo-filled introduction to fractals in nature! I read this book with my 9.5 and 6 year olds who both enjoyed it as well.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good explanation of fractals illustrated using photographs.

[Dvine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple introduction book with nice pictures to introduce fractals to your grandparents or kids

[Colorado Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used for a book club to explain patterns in nature. Great pictures

[yaashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was good.

[Luke Azzarelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Spoiler Alert**

Mysterious Patterns is about the different shapes that surround us in the real world. Fractals shapes are looked at closely and are natural repeating patterns. In other words, they have smaller parts inside the whole shape that look like that whole shape. The book gives an example of how a tree has a trunk with two large branches, then more branches come off the original two branches, and it keep continuing until the last one. They can also be found in nature. Throughout this book, it shows how fractals can be found in flower heads, lightning, the earth's surface, in our human body, and much more.

I rated this book a four star because I liked the educational value, but I felt like it wasn't all that engaging. This book would be a good read for children because it takes an in-depth look at fractal shapes. I also liked the images because they gave the reader a good visual of what they were reading about on that page. I was able to relate this to the real world because I could simply apply what I learned from the book and identify fractal shapes better.

[Jacquelynn Ruot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mysterious Patterns was about the shapes that we see in our everyday lives. It showed examples of most of the common shapes like spheres, cubes, and cones. There was a few more as well. After explaining those, then they introduced what they called a fractural. A fractural is a shape that starts with a few straight lines and then continues to grow off of that in the same pattern. One example they showed was a tree. It started with the trunk, then the branches, then sticks and twigs. The story continues by showing some more examples.

I rated this book a three, because I think it could be good for a certain audience. I would not expect all children to just want to sit and listen to this story though. I think this could be used as a support book for a science or math lesson depending on what the teacher was trying to focus on when teaching. If I could change anything about this book, I think I would make it a little more child friendly. Some children will not be able to read this book on their own. It is a more sophisticated book.

[Emily Lanz · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILERS INCLUDED

Mysterious Patterns is a book based on science and explaining how to classify natural shapes in the world. Natural shapes that do not classify as an existing perfect shape are called fractals. Every fractal has smaller parts that look like the whole part. The book then goes onto give many examples of fractals that we see in nature and in our everyday lives. The autho concludes by explain how scientists can look at fractals to see how nature develops and changes over time.

I rated this book a 3/5 stars. I overall I enjoyed reading this book and loved looking at the pictures. I like how the author decided to use photographs instead of illustrations. The book was very informational; however, for a children's book, it was a little dull. I can see this book appealing to elementary age boys, not girls. I would have rated the book higher if it appealed better to girls as well.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Every fractal shape has smaller parts that look like the whole shape."

Natural shapes are categorized as fractals because they are not "perfect shapes." "All fractals have parts that repeat at different sizes." Patterns are not fractals unless they repeat at different sizes.

Fractals: "an idea that helps us see the world in a whole new way."

Such an interesting topic, explained in easy terms that students can understand. Photographs help to illustrate the points in the text. There is a brief bio of Benoit Mandelbrot in the back that includes examples of how his discovery of fractals impacted the world. "The wiring of the Internet is a fractal." and "Harry Potter's invisibility cloak would have been made of fractals."

This is a great example of how thinking outside the box can lead to huge advancements in science and other areas.

[Tina Sample · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. I paired this book with "Monster Knows Patterns" by Lori Capote (2013).

2.) I chose these books because patterns are reassuring for children and it's fun to see how excited they get when they find patterns, or make them, on their own. The fiction pairing is a lot of fun with the cartoon drawings and monsters that are included. The non fiction has beautiful photographs that she children nature offers patterns in a lot of things that they encounter everyday.

3.) The text structure of this book is descriptive. There's not a sequence that needs to be followed. Each page stands beautifully on its own with facts and information about the photographed image.

4.) The strategy I chose for this book pairing is patterns making. After reading both books, children should be able to create their own patterns in either a two or three dimensional way.