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Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was Thomas Alva Edison?
One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after.
The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison’s inventions, which include the phonograph and the kinetoscope, an early precursor to the movie camera.
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! Here’s an accessible, appealing biography with 100 black-and-white illustrations.
The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison’s inventions, which include the phonograph and the kinetoscope, an early precursor to the movie camera.
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! Here’s an accessible, appealing biography with 100 black-and-white illustrations.
112 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
April 28, 2018
What could I say about a genius?
January 18, 2021
Wow most amazing person in the 1800 hundreds
March 28, 2017
This book was really good because I just knowed that he made the lightboulb but the book tells about the time line when he was a kid till he died and he make new stuff and he had a companay in NY make new stuff and he got famous for doing that and he was also famous for makeing the lightboulb and now like at night we have light to see all thanks to Thomas Alva Edison.
April 23, 2023
I definitely learned a lot about Thomas Edison. I only knew about the light bulb but he clearly did so much more...
May 10, 2018
106 pages. Great biography of a famous inventor. I did not know about all the inventions he worked on. Some were others’ inventions he improved upon and some were his own. He was totally obsessed with electricity and kept going back to his phonograph machine to improve it. He had an interesting personal life along the way. I learned a lot and I think kids would enjoy it. There were some inspirational sayings and moments that he did not give up that will inspire kids. Highly recommended for grades 4-5.
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August 25, 2021This book was excellent because I only knew that he invented the lightbulb, but the book details his life from the time he was a child until his death, and how he developed new products and established a company in New York to do so, and how he became famous for it, as well as for inventing the lightbulb, and how, thanks to Thomas Alva Edison, we now have light to see at night.
September 9, 2021
This book has converted me into a Edison fan. I really enjoy reading ‘who was’ books.
August 22, 2021
One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after. The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison’s inventions, which included phonograph like a movie camera. Mr. and Ms. Edison had three children, the youngest child was Thomas they called him Al. He was born on Februray 11, 1847 on a cold snowy night in Milan Ohio. He was named Thomas after his Uncle and Alva after captain Alva Bradley, a good friend of his father. He wanted to know everything around the world ,explore etc.. Thomas somewhat did stuff like a scientist he liked asking questions and answering it by himself too. When he saw birds flying by eating worms he wanted to try an experiment like that with the neighbour girl by giving her a mixture of some worms mixed with water. This story shows his passion towards becoming a scientist and his creativity towards his extraordinary inventions. As a famous and intelligent engineer he invented an incandescent bulbs, electric power distribution, electrical vote recorders etc.. Thomas began his business by selling candies, vegetables and other needs in trains.by that profit he bought electrical equipments and stuff for chemical experiments. As he was growing up he started to become successful in his experiments and inventions and kept up his own industrial research lab, and finally became a famous and successful person all over the world.
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June 4, 2021A curious child who fed worms to a friend to see if she would fly like a bird
A boy who left school at the age of twelve and was hard of hearing all his life
The man who changed the world when he invented the electric lightbulb
One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after. The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison’s inventions, which include the phonograph and the kinetoscope, an early precursor to the movie camera. 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! Here’s an accessible, appealing biography with 100 black-and-white illustrations.
A boy who left school at the age of twelve and was hard of hearing all his life
The man who changed the world when he invented the electric lightbulb
One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after. The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison’s inventions, which include the phonograph and the kinetoscope, an early precursor to the movie camera. 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! Here’s an accessible, appealing biography with 100 black-and-white illustrations.
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September 29, 2021One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after. The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison's inventions, which include the phonograph and the kinetoscope, an early precursor to the movie camera.
March 12, 2020
I like this book because it is interesting to discover how the creator of the light bulb made it and made other inventions that we use today.
May 24, 2018
The Wizard of Menlo Park.
He changed the world so drastically, it is hard to imagine what the flow of history would have been like without him.
Would we have, recorded music? Movies? Lighting at night? Car batteries? Clear phone conversations? Yankee Stadium?
My guess is that we still would have developed most of these things, but at different times and in different ways. Even if Edison had only developed half of his inventions, that still would have greatly changed international business and the ways in which wars were fought. There is no telling what the result would have been, but I doubt we would be as technologically advanced now, as a global civilization, had he not existed.
He is one of the greatest inventors of all time, on par with Leonardo da Vinci!
He changed the world so drastically, it is hard to imagine what the flow of history would have been like without him.
Would we have, recorded music? Movies? Lighting at night? Car batteries? Clear phone conversations? Yankee Stadium?
My guess is that we still would have developed most of these things, but at different times and in different ways. Even if Edison had only developed half of his inventions, that still would have greatly changed international business and the ways in which wars were fought. There is no telling what the result would have been, but I doubt we would be as technologically advanced now, as a global civilization, had he not existed.
He is one of the greatest inventors of all time, on par with Leonardo da Vinci!
March 28, 2022
From one to five I will rate this book with a 4 because it could have a little bit more information. I really recommend this book because it was really fun to read the book because it was easy to understand and read. I would recommend this book to people that like to learn about scientists because they would really enjoy reading the book. Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847, he was called All. His mom was called Nancy and his dad was called Samuel. His dad worked with electricity, All liked to understand how electricity worked. All couldn't hear very well because he had scarlet fever. This book changed me because it cheered me up to work better on my work.
February 21, 2011
This is a great book to use in school. I love these biographies. I would use this book which contains great facts, with the Young Thomas Edison and Edison The Man movies, which my students absolutely loved. Thomas Edison was a great figure in American history and very inspiring to students.
April 22, 2021
Thomas Alva Edison was a very busy and intelligent man who invented over a thousand things throughout his life. He seldom slept and was always writing down notes. This was a good summary of his life and well worth the read.
July 17, 2012
Great introduction to this amazing and inspirational man. Full of easy to understand information but not overwhelming. I love this series of books for older children.
May 8, 2013
man he inspired me to create an app called sy-mail.
January 11, 2017
This book was very good and I learned a lot of things about Thomas Edison.
December 8, 2017
Nice read for a quick summary of his life. No mention of his relationship with Tesla though.
June 19, 2017
I first discovered this series of books at Barnes & Noble while birthday shopping for Munch. I knew it would be perfect for him and with a sale going on I picked up several of people I knew he admired, because he talked about them all the time. And a few that I thought we could enjoy together as I wanted to expand his knowledge base and open his eyes to other things from our collective history. He took to the like Munch to a book, splendidly. He wants more. This particular book tells the life of Thomas Edison, not just his accomplishments but his life. It tells the story of his successes, as well as his failures. It tells the story of his spirit and his attitude to keep on going. This is something I want my Minions of Mayhem to embrace. Failure is giving up not in lack of success.
OK, Munch thinks it's his turn now. His thoughts... I honestly think it's kind of cool since it has my first name in it. It's kinda cool to learn about all the things he invented and not just the one thing everyone knows - the light bulb. It's cool to learn about his childhood and what he did to make money. It teaches you and tells you about his children and his family. Tells you of the places he went and the things he did. Another thing cool is the people that Thomas was with and this book tells a little bit of their story as well (like Henry Ford and George Eastman who made the Kodiak camera). I like that he thought his greatest invention was the phonograph.
From the adult perspective I like that the illustrations and side bios are integral to the story and help to develop the story for the young reader. This book takes someone historically famous and makes them approachable and easy to understand. An interest in science is not born of graphs and formulas but of personal-ability and approachful-ness. I'm glad I discovered this series for Munch and hope to add to it for him and to the other Minions as well.
Originally published at https://fizzypopcollection.blogspot.c....
OK, Munch thinks it's his turn now. His thoughts... I honestly think it's kind of cool since it has my first name in it. It's kinda cool to learn about all the things he invented and not just the one thing everyone knows - the light bulb. It's cool to learn about his childhood and what he did to make money. It teaches you and tells you about his children and his family. Tells you of the places he went and the things he did. Another thing cool is the people that Thomas was with and this book tells a little bit of their story as well (like Henry Ford and George Eastman who made the Kodiak camera). I like that he thought his greatest invention was the phonograph.
From the adult perspective I like that the illustrations and side bios are integral to the story and help to develop the story for the young reader. This book takes someone historically famous and makes them approachable and easy to understand. An interest in science is not born of graphs and formulas but of personal-ability and approachful-ness. I'm glad I discovered this series for Munch and hope to add to it for him and to the other Minions as well.
Originally published at https://fizzypopcollection.blogspot.c....
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October 6, 2021Thomas Alva Edison, probably the greatest inventor that
America has produced, was born at Milan, Ohio, on February
nth , 1847.
According to family records, the paternal ancestor of the
Edisons landed in New Jersey, from Holland, about the year
1730. The family on Edison's mother's side, the Elliotts, was
of Scotch-English origin and settled in New England prior to
1700. The Edisons were a vigorous, hardy stock. When young Edison was seven years old, his family removed
from Milan, Ohio, to Port Huron, Michigan, through which
town the Grand Trunk Railroad had laid its tracks along the
St. Clair River which separated Michigan from Ontario. The
boy was good-natured and courageous. Most boys are well
endowed with curiosity, but little Thomas seems to have had
curiosity insatiable. He used to express surprise that the
grown-up people round him were unable to answer his numerous questions. He spent three months at the Port Huron
public school, that being all the formal schooling he ever had.
As a scholar, he does not appear to have made a success.
One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after.
- Shubhangi TM
America has produced, was born at Milan, Ohio, on February
nth , 1847.
According to family records, the paternal ancestor of the
Edisons landed in New Jersey, from Holland, about the year
1730. The family on Edison's mother's side, the Elliotts, was
of Scotch-English origin and settled in New England prior to
1700. The Edisons were a vigorous, hardy stock. When young Edison was seven years old, his family removed
from Milan, Ohio, to Port Huron, Michigan, through which
town the Grand Trunk Railroad had laid its tracks along the
St. Clair River which separated Michigan from Ontario. The
boy was good-natured and courageous. Most boys are well
endowed with curiosity, but little Thomas seems to have had
curiosity insatiable. He used to express surprise that the
grown-up people round him were unable to answer his numerous questions. He spent three months at the Port Huron
public school, that being all the formal schooling he ever had.
As a scholar, he does not appear to have made a success.
One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after.
- Shubhangi TM
January 25, 2021
If you have kids this is a must read with them.
Some interesting things I learned.
1. He was HUGE at the time. When he tied President Humphrey requested everyone turn their lights out across the country at a specific time.
2. He lived in Port Huron for awhile.
3. He invented a battery operated car. He was good friends with Henry Ford.
4. He was almost completely deaf at the end of his life and didn't mind as it helped him to focus and concentrate better.
I will probably reread this book with my kids next year.
5. His shop was in Menlo Park, New Jersey
6. The Detroit Edison Electric company was named after him
7. His biggest money maker was an industrial size storage battery (developed it for his car but was used by other businesses instead) and his true love (invention) was the phonograph.
Some interesting things I learned.
1. He was HUGE at the time. When he tied President Humphrey requested everyone turn their lights out across the country at a specific time.
2. He lived in Port Huron for awhile.
3. He invented a battery operated car. He was good friends with Henry Ford.
4. He was almost completely deaf at the end of his life and didn't mind as it helped him to focus and concentrate better.
I will probably reread this book with my kids next year.
5. His shop was in Menlo Park, New Jersey
6. The Detroit Edison Electric company was named after him
7. His biggest money maker was an industrial size storage battery (developed it for his car but was used by other businesses instead) and his true love (invention) was the phonograph.
June 21, 2023
How would you star rate this book (from 1 to 5) and why?
5 = you loved the book, and
1 = you didn't like the book.
How highly do you recommend others to read this book, and why? Yes because it’s cool and it tells a story
To what kind of people would you recommend this book to, and why?
To people that like inventions.
In 4 sentences or more, give a brief description of the book's story.
AL was born on a farm once he got stuck in a wheat thing and his uncle resceued him . then he had seen a telegraph he invented one and connected it to his friends house. He selled newspapers on the train . once his train lab exploded and they kicked him out of train. Then with his experience he was a telegrapher from the western union.
Did this book change you? If so, how? If not, why not? Yes because it made me want to invent something
5 = you loved the book, and
1 = you didn't like the book.
How highly do you recommend others to read this book, and why? Yes because it’s cool and it tells a story
To what kind of people would you recommend this book to, and why?
To people that like inventions.
In 4 sentences or more, give a brief description of the book's story.
AL was born on a farm once he got stuck in a wheat thing and his uncle resceued him . then he had seen a telegraph he invented one and connected it to his friends house. He selled newspapers on the train . once his train lab exploded and they kicked him out of train. Then with his experience he was a telegrapher from the western union.
Did this book change you? If so, how? If not, why not? Yes because it made me want to invent something
April 19, 2019
An informative biography on Thomas Edison, engaging readers from the beginning with amusing stories about his childhood curiosity. (I had not heard the story of the bird and worms; loved it.)
I requested this book from our library, along with Who Was Nicola Tesla? from the same series, as my daughter was doing a homework assignment on the two inventors. Our kids have no real text books to read anymore- everything is on i-pads, and it was suggested she surf the internet for information to form her mock debate between the two men on who is the greater inventor.
When it comes to accuracy of information, and young people seeking that information, I find books so much more valuable than surfing the internet. I'd recommend these books (Who Was, What Was, and Where Is from Who HQ) to anyone and everyone.
They are outstanding introductions for new learners, and I find them wonderfully enjoyable as adult, for brushing up on my historical figures and events.
Stellar non-fiction books for curious minds of all ages.
I requested this book from our library, along with Who Was Nicola Tesla? from the same series, as my daughter was doing a homework assignment on the two inventors. Our kids have no real text books to read anymore- everything is on i-pads, and it was suggested she surf the internet for information to form her mock debate between the two men on who is the greater inventor.
When it comes to accuracy of information, and young people seeking that information, I find books so much more valuable than surfing the internet. I'd recommend these books (Who Was, What Was, and Where Is from Who HQ) to anyone and everyone.
They are outstanding introductions for new learners, and I find them wonderfully enjoyable as adult, for brushing up on my historical figures and events.
Stellar non-fiction books for curious minds of all ages.
May 15, 2017
Who is Thomas Edison by Margaret Fith is about Thomas Edison and how his inventions started. As a young boy he was always curious and love to do experiments on almost everything. His curious mind turned into inventions that would end up helping everyone in the world to this day!
I give this book a 4/5 because I really enjoyed this small yet knowledgeable book. Although, I think they could have explained a couple more inventions he created.
I recommend this book to ALL ages if you just want to read a quick book on a previously famous or famous now person to get a little knowledge of who they were and what they did!
I give this book a 4/5 because I really enjoyed this small yet knowledgeable book. Although, I think they could have explained a couple more inventions he created.
I recommend this book to ALL ages if you just want to read a quick book on a previously famous or famous now person to get a little knowledge of who they were and what they did!
April 12, 2019
I generally like the Who Was series. This is my fifth or sixth book. They vary in quality, and that’s probably because they’re not written by the same author, and the fact that we have different number of sources available for each of the characters biographies are written of. With Edison, and same as other books in the series, the book follows a story-like style, beginning with his birth and childhood. Contrary to other books in the series, this book seems to give more focus on his scientific discoveries and professional life than his personal life (which I like). Other scientist biographies in the series allotted almost equal weight for personal and professional life.
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June 22, 2021My thoughts on this book_
One of the most famous and prolific inventors of all time, Thomas Alva Edison exerted a tremendous influence on modern life, contributing inventions such as the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera, as well as improving the telegraph and telephone.
The invention of the light bulb changed the world in many ways, including facilitating the creation of large power grids, changing the social and economic structure of society and bringing other appliances into the home. Interior lighting changed the structure of society, allowing activities to extend into the night.
One of the most famous and prolific inventors of all time, Thomas Alva Edison exerted a tremendous influence on modern life, contributing inventions such as the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera, as well as improving the telegraph and telephone.
The invention of the light bulb changed the world in many ways, including facilitating the creation of large power grids, changing the social and economic structure of society and bringing other appliances into the home. Interior lighting changed the structure of society, allowing activities to extend into the night.
May 19, 2023
I am deeply grateful for his numerous trials and errors, as well as his hard work involved in the process. It is evident that these elements play a crucial role in achieving his success. Moreover, the book emphasizes the significance of practical experience over mere theoretical knowledge, particularly in the realm of invention. It suggests that actively engaging in practical application is of greater importance than relying solely on studing and acquiring information. This perspective resonates with me and has further reinforced my belief in the value of hands-on experience in the creative process.
October 4, 2018
I am a big fan of the “Who Was” books and once again, this book on Edison is informative and interesting. I read this to my 3rd grade and 6th grade sons. My 6th grade son has read this book on his own many times and never minds reading it again as he says he learns something new every time. I also learned a lot about this amazing inventor.
One of our favorite Edison quotes we read in this book that is now in my son’s room: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”.
One of our favorite Edison quotes we read in this book that is now in my son’s room: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”.
December 1, 2018
Who Was Thomas Alva Edison is a ok at best book it only told you about his inventions and nothing about the man himself it basically just said first he made this then he made that. It was just so boring it talked about things that didn't matter and it spent 10 - 20 pages on it. Such as he Wasn't in a rush on of his inventions and then people wanted it and he was in a rush, it actually spent 15 pages explaining just that. I feel like if this book told me more about the man himself I would not have written such a bad review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews