For Graeme Nathan and Douglas Acknowledgments First I want to thank the librarian who suggested I write about fractals I am sorry I did not get your name I learned most of what I know about fractals from Michael Frame a mathematics professor at Yale University who partnered with the late mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot to create the university's course on fractals I accessed the course online Michael generously agreed to share his expertise for this book His contribution has been enormous and I remain in awe and grateful I had further help from Dr. Ewald Weibel professor emeritus at the University of Bern Switzerland I appreciate Aliette Mandelbrot's willingness to share photographs For the broccoli and much else I thank Loy Moncrief and the other gardeners associated with the Jesse Gates Edible Forest at Wells Church Whenever anyone in my family writes a book it becomes a family endeavor I thank my husband Richard my parents Dave and Patty Crosby and my sisters Emilye Crosby and Jessica Crosby Pitchamootoo I also thank my critical readers Julie Owen Carolyn Brown Beth West Jenny Mayher and Peg Fisher Finally I would like to thank my fourth grade critique group at Davis Magnet IB School in Jackson Mississippi Brandon Allen Jahari Bell Amber Craft Selase Dzathor Gene Harrion III Sydney Shaw Mikayla Smith Joseph Trigg and Ashley Wells
Glossary Benoit Mandelbrot BEHN wah Mahn del BROT cone a solid shape with a circle for its base and a curved surface tapering evenly to a point curve a line having no straight part cylinder a solid shape with two parallel circular bases connecting with a curved surface line a long thin mark that never ends pattern a design with consistent characteristic form of natural or constructed origin sphere- a solid shape with a surface equally distant from the center at all points surface the outside or the outer covering of a thing
On a street in a town in a city familiar shapes are everywhere
Some are spheres Some are cones Some are cylinders These shapes were made by people 5
