author
Laurence B. White
1935–2008
A teacher, science writer, and lifelong magician, he created books that turned experiments, puzzles, and optical tricks into hands-on fun for young readers. His work mixed curiosity, showmanship, and clear explanations in a way that made science feel playful.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Best known for children's books on science, magic, and visual puzzles, Laurence B. White Jr. wrote practical, highly engaging titles such as Optical Illusions, Math-A-Magic, and several hands-on science activity books. His writing focused on getting readers to try things for themselves, whether that meant building simple experiments, exploring perception, or learning number tricks.
White was also remembered as a teacher and lifelong magician. Obituaries describe him as a longtime Stoughton, Massachusetts resident who studied biology and spent years sharing science with elementary-school students. That mix of educator, performer, and experimenter helps explain the lively style of his books, which often feel like part lesson and part magic act.
He died in December 2008 at age 73. Even in brief references to his life, the same themes come up again and again: curiosity, invention, and a love of making science memorable for children.