Books For Kids: Thomas Edison

Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives

By Gene Barretta

What do record players, batteries, and movie cameras have in common? All these devices were created by the man known as “The Wizard of Menlo Park,” Thomas Edison. He is most famous for inventing the incandescent light bulb. But at his landmark laboratories in Menlo Park and West Orange, New Jersey, he developed other staples of modern technology. He persevered despite many failures. We are lucky that he did because it would be very difficult to go through a day without using one of his life-changing inventions. 6-10 years

A Wizard From the Start: The Incredible Boyhood and Amazing Inventions of Thomas Edison

By Don Brown

A wizard from the start, Thomas Edison had a thirst for knowledge, taste for mischief, and hunger for discovery—but his success was made possible by his boundless energy. At age fourteen he coined his personal motto: “The More to do, the more to be done,” and then went out and did: picking up skills and knowledge at every turn. When learning about things that existed wasn’t enough, he dreamed up new inventions to improve the world. From humble beginnings as a farmer’s son, selling newspapers on trains and reading through public libraries shelf by shelf, Tom began his inventing career as a boy and became a legend as a man. 4-7 years

When Thomas Edison Fed Someone Worms

By Mark Andrew Weakland, Illustrated by Thomas Radcliffe

Thomas Edison became a great American inventor and businessman. But do you know what he was like as a child? From exploring shipyards and pastures to feeding a girl worms, Thomas was a curious and creative child. This playful story of his childhood will help young readers connect with a historic figure and will inspire them to want to achieve greatness. 6-8 years

The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison

By Raymond Arroyo, Illustrated by Kristina Gehrmann

No one thought much of young Thomas Alva Edison. He couldn’t focus at school and caused trouble around the house. But where others saw a distracted and mischievous boy, his mother saw imagination and curiosity. At only seven years old, Al, as he was called as a young child, was educated by his mother, who oversaw his rigorous at-home education while also allowing him great freedom to explore and dream. Those early years of encouragement and loving guidance formed the man who would apply those valuable lessons as well as his rich imagination to inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, the light bulb, and more. 4-8 years

Thomas Edison and His Bright Idea

By Patricia Brennan Demuth, Illustrated by Jez Tuya

This nonfiction reader shines a light on Thomas Edison and his greatest invention — the light bulb! As a curious child who was always asking questions, it’s no wonder he grew up to become a famous, prolific inventor. This story follows Edison from his time in school to his career as full-time inventor. His discoveries will fascinate and inspire all curious young minds. 6-8 years

Who Was Thomas Edison?

By Margaret Frith, Illustrated by John O’Brien

One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people lived. The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison’s inventions. As a boy, observing a robin catch a worm and then take flight, he fed a playmate a mixture of worms and water to see if she could fly. 8-12 years

Thomas Edison Lighting the Way

By Lori Haskins Houran, Illustrated by Gustavo Mazali

Most people today know Thomas Edison as the inventor of the light bulb—except, he isn’t! In Edison’s time, other inventors were working on the light bulb, but no one could figure out how to keep the light bulb lit. This is where Edison came in. Read and find out all about the real story of Thomas Edison’s life and his many amazing inventions, like the movie camera and the battery for an electric car! Biography reader includes a timeline and historical photos all about the life of this inspiring figure. 4-8 years

The Inventor’s Secret: What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford

By Suzanne Slade, Illustrated Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford started off as insatiably curious tinkerers. That curiosity led them to become inventors — with very different results. As Edison invented hit after commercial hit, gaining fame and fortune, Henry struggled to make a single invention, an affordable car, work. Witnessing Thomas’s glorious career from afar, a frustrated Henry wondered about the secret to his success. This little-known story is a fresh, kid-friendly way to show how they grew up to be the most famous inventors in the world and best friends, too. 6-9 years

Young Thomas Edison

By Michael Dooling

How did Thomas Edison grow up to be America’s greatest inventor? This book explores the beginnings of his genius from his difficulty in school, to his early years as a young scientist, to the man everyone called, “The Wizard of Menlo Park.” 7 and up

National Geographic Readers: Thomas Edison

By Barbara Kramer

Learn all about Thomas Edison, one of the most important figures in American history, in this leveled reader written in an easy-to-grasp style that will encourage the inventors of tomorrow!  5-8 years

DK Biography Thomas Edison: A Photographic Story of a Life

By Jan Adkins

Filled with archival photographs and amazing facts, this biography tells the story of the famous inventor, from his childhood as an “addled” student, to his reign as the “Wizard of Menlo Park,” where he developed the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and many other inventions still in use today. 10-17 years

Thomas Edison For Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities

By Laurie Carlson

Thomas Edison, one of the world’s greatest inventors, is introduced in this activity books. Children will learn how he ushered in an astounding age of invention with his unique way of looking at things and his refusal to be satisfied with only one solution to a problem. This books helps to inspire kids to be inventors and scientists, as well as persevere with their own ideas. Activities allow children to try Edison’s experiments: making a puppet dance, using static electricity, manufacturing a switch for an electric current, constructing a telegraph machine, and many more. 9-12 years.

The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like: Thomas Edison Invented https://barbaralowell.com/thomas-edison-invented

 

Books For Kids: Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words

by K.M. Koystal and Benjamin Franklin, Illustrated by Fred Harper

Discover history through the eyes of one of the smartest, funniest, and coolest figures from America’s past. Ben gives sage advice on everything from good citizenship, manners,  friendship, and being happy. 

Ben Franklin & the Magic Squares

By Frank Murphy, Illustrated by Richard Walz

A funny, entertaining introduction to Ben Franklin and his many inventions, including the story of how he created the “magic square.” A magic square is a box of nine numbers. They are arranged so that any line of three adds up to the same number, even on the diagonal. 

What’s the Big Idea Ben Franklin

By Jean Fritz, Illustrated by Margaret Tomes

A fun historic tale by Newbery Honor-winning author, Jean Fritz! No matter how busy he was, Ben Franklin always found time to try out new ideas. A man of many talents, he was an ambassador, a printer, an almanac maker, a politician, and even a vegetarian (for a time.)

Ben Franklin Thinks Big

By Shelia Keenan, Illustrated by Gustavo Mazali

Ben Franklin was a famous inventor, statesman, and writer who helped the thirteen colonies become the United States. From inventing the lightning rod to helping write the Declaration of Independence, his big ideas had a lasting impact on American history.

Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in Ben Franklin’s life in this Level Two I Can Read biography. This biography includes bonus materials, complete with a timeline and historical illustrations, including Franklin’s electrical machine invention and his leaf print money that couldn’t be counterfeited. 4-8 years

When I Grow Up: Benjamin Franklin

By Annmarie Anderson, Illustrated by Gerald Kelley

Benjamin Franklin is one of America’s most beloved Founding Fathers and a man of many talents. He is most well-known for discovering electricity. But he was also an author, and editor, a printer, and a diplomat. And he invented many things we still use today. This book takes the reader on an exciting journey from Ben’s childhood to his adulthood as a famous American.

Who Was Ben Franklin

By Dennis Brindell Fradin, Illustrated by John O’Brien

Ben Franklin was the scientist who, with the help of a kite, discovered that lightning is electricity. He was also a statesman, an inventor, a printer, and an an author. He was a man of such amazingly varied talents that some people claimed he had magical powers. 

Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

By Gene Barretta

What would you do if you lived in a community without a library, hospital, post office, or fire department? If you were Ben Franklin, you’d set these up yourself. Franklin also designed the lightning rod. He suggested the idea of daylight savings time. And he invented bifocals. All were inspired by his common sense and intelligence. 

Benjamin Franklin: Inventor of the Nation

By Mark Shulman, Illustrated by Kelly Tindall

Benjamin Franklin has been called one of the most accomplished and influential Americans in history, and his role in shaping the United States has had a lasting impact that is still felt today. From his birth in Boston in 1706 to his days as a printer, inventor, and politician.

Benjamin Franklin: Inventor of the Nation! tells the story of “the First American” in an accessible graphic novel format. Franklin’s research into topics as varied as electricity, meteorology, demography, and oceanography were as wide-ranging and important as his travels, which took him across the globe as a diplomat for the newly founded United States toward the end of the 18th century.

Benjamin Franklin (Giants of Science)

By Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Boris Kulikov

Benjamin Franklin was a famous inventor and multitasker. He’s best remembered as one of America’s Founding Fathers. But he was also a scientist. His experiments led to important discoveries about the nature of electricity. He famously demonstrated that electricity and lightning are one in the same. 

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin

By Michael J. Rosen, Illustrated by Matt Tavares

Young Benjamin Franklin wants to be a sailor, but his father won’t hear of it. The other trades he tries — candle maker, joiner, boot closer, turner — bore him through and through. Curious and inventive, Ben prefers to read, swim, fly his kite, and fly his kite while swimming. But each time he fails to find a profession, he takes some important bit of knowledge with him.

That tendency is exactly what leads him to become the astonishingly versatile genius we remember today. Inspired by The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Michael J. Rosen’s tale captures Ben’s spirit in playful language, while illustrations by Matt Tavares follow Ben from the workbench to the water in vivid detail. 

The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin

By Cheryl Harness

No one could have thought up a more amazing character than the living, breathing Benjamin Franklin. He was everything from a “soapmaker, candle dipper, and printer” to a “postmaster, political activist, community reformer, revolutionary, statesman, international diplomat, and first great citizen of a nation which he, as much or more than anyone, helped to create.” 

John, Paul, George & Ben

By Lane Smith

Once there were four lads…John [Hancock], Paul [Revere], George [Washington], and Ben [Franklin]. Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around. These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few…liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated. This is the story of five little lads before they became five really big Founding Fathers.

The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like: Ben Franklin Invented Swim Fins  https://barbaralowell.com/ben-franklin-invented-swim-fins

Ben Franklin Runs Away

https://barbaralowell.com/ben-franklin-runs-away

 

 

Leonardo da Vinci Invented…

Leonardo da Vinci painted two of the best known paintings in the world: Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. In addition to his magnificent work as an artist, Leonardo designed inventions that are familiar to us today, almost 400 years later.

Leonardo sketched and wrote about his inventions in notebooks. Most of his ideas could not be made into working objects during his lifetime. Engineering was a new science and many of his designs were technically complicated.

These are six of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions:

In the Air:

Glider — Leonardo’s glider design looks similar to both a bird in flight and a modern hang glider. Leonardo studied birds as he worked on his design.

Helical Screw — This is Leonardo’s design for an early type of helicopter. Four men inside operated the screw. It would compress air to fly just like helicopters do today. 

Parachute — Leonardo imagined floating through the air using a parachute. Designed to be made of linen and wood, his parachute had a triangular shape.

Anemometer — Leonardo designed this instrument to measure wind speed. Anemometers are used at weather stations today.

Under Water:

Scuba Gear — Leonardo designed a leather suit with a head covering attached to two tubes. The tubes connected to an above water diving bell. The diver would breathe air from the water’s surface through the tubes. Today, scuba divers breathe air from the tanks they carry underwater. Early divers used Leonardo’s method.

On Land:

Tank — Leonardo turned again to the natural world for this design. A turtle shell inspired it. The tank’s design provided for a 360 degree rotation.  Four men inside would operate the tank with hand cranks while other men would fire the weapons. Modern tanks first appeared in World War I.

To see these and more of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions visit: http://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/

If you like this post, the please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like Books For Kids: Leonardo da Vinci https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-leonardo-da-vinci

 

 

 

To Learn More:

Ben Franklin Invented Swim Fins

Ben Franklin was the first person to invent and test swim fins.

Growing up in Boston, Ben loved to swim. He wanted to find a way to make swimming easier. When he was eleven, he built a set of wooden swim paddles for his hands, similar to the fins of a fish. The paddles worked, but swimming with them eventually hurt his wrists.

Ben went back to work and made a second set for his feet. He then tried out both sets together. Unfortunately, he found that he could swim better without the paddles. He later found that floating in the water could be easily accomplished when holding onto a kite.

Today, we use flexible swim fins based on the same principle Ben used. We can swim faster and easier with them.

Read about his swim fins in:

61BVa1RnddLBen Franklin’s Big Splash

By Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by S.D. Schindler

As an adult, Ben continued inventing practical objects. He invented the Franklin Stove, bifocals, the lightning rod, a musical instrument called the Glass Armonica, the Long Arm for reaching books off a high shelf, the library chair, the second hand clock, and the odometer — only the Glass Armonica is rarely used today.

Read about his inventions in:

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

By Gene Barretta

And of course — he discovered that electricity is the same as lightning.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

To Learn More Read: Ben Franklin Runs Away at: https://barbaralowell.com/ben-franklin-runs-away

Books For Kids: Ben Franklin https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-ben-franklin

Watch kids present how Ben discovered electricity at: http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin/videos/kids-history-ben-franklin-and-his-kite