Runner of the Mountain Tops facts for kids

Runner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis Agassiz is a special book for young readers. It tells the exciting life story of Louis Agassiz. He was a famous scientist from the 1800s. Agassiz studied ancient life, like fossils, and also nature in general.

This book was written by Mabel Robinson. It follows Agassiz from his childhood in Switzerland. It shows his journey all the way to becoming a professor at Harvard. The book has cool pictures drawn by Lynd Ward. It first came out in 1939. In 1940, it won a special award called a Newbery Honor.

About the Book

Runner of the Mountain Tops is a biography. This means it tells the true story of a person's life. The book focuses on Louis Agassiz, a very important natural scientist. It helps young readers understand his discoveries.

The author, Mabel Robinson, wrote the book in a way that is easy to read. She wanted to inspire kids. The book shows how Agassiz became a great scientist. It covers his early interests and his later work.

Who Was Louis Agassiz?

Louis Agassiz was born in 1807 in Switzerland. He grew up loving nature. From a young age, he collected plants and animals. He spent a lot of time exploring the mountains and lakes.

Agassiz became a natural scientist. This means he studied many parts of nature. He was also a paleontologist. Paleontologists study fossils. Fossils are the remains of ancient plants and animals.

Early Life and Learning

Louis Agassiz's father was a pastor. His family lived near a lake. This gave young Louis many chances to explore. He loved to watch fish and collect insects. He was always curious about the world around him.

He went to school to study medicine. But his true passion was natural history. He learned a lot about fish and how to classify them. This early work showed his talent for science.

Agassiz's Big Ideas

Louis Agassiz made many important discoveries. One of his most famous ideas was about glaciers. He studied the huge ice sheets in the mountains. He realized that glaciers had once covered much more of the Earth.

He showed that these glaciers shaped the land. They carved valleys and left behind rocks. This idea was new at the time. It helped scientists understand Earth's history better.

Studying Ancient Fish

Agassiz was an expert on fish. He studied both living fish and fossil fish. He wrote many books about them. His work helped create a system for classifying fish.

He also studied how fish changed over time. This was a big step in understanding evolution. He looked at how different species were related. His detailed drawings of fish are still admired today.

Teaching at Harvard

In 1846, Louis Agassiz moved to the United States. He became a professor at Harvard University. He was a very popular teacher. Students loved his exciting lectures.

He taught about geology, zoology, and paleontology. He encouraged his students to observe nature closely. He believed in learning by doing. He often took his students on field trips.

Founding the Museum of Comparative Zoology

At Harvard, Agassiz helped create a big museum. It was called the Museum of Comparative Zoology. He wanted a place where people could study many different animals. He collected thousands of specimens for the museum.

This museum became a very important center for science. It allowed scientists to compare animals from all over the world. It helped people learn more about biodiversity.

Awards and Recognition

Runner of the Mountain Tops was recognized for its quality. In 1940, it received a Newbery Honor. The Newbery Medal is a very important award for children's books in the United States.

Winning a Newbery Honor means the book was one of the best published that year. It shows that the story of Louis Agassiz was well-told. It was considered a valuable book for young readers.