Edison's Fantastic Phonograph Book

Imagine life without CDs and videos, or television and radio. Over 100 years ago, none of these things existed, and entertainment had to be homemade. Then a scientist invented a machine that changed the world. In this fascinating picture book, Edison's young daughter Dot tells the story of her famous father and how he recorded sound for the first time. M.P. Robertson's dramatic illustrations perfectly capture the period, while Diana Kimpton's lively text makes this an irresistible and informative trip to the past. Included is a brief biography of Edison.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-This picture book shows how Thomas Edison's young daughter encouraged him in the development of the phonograph. Kimpton sets the scene by explaining that there was no radio or television 100 years ago. After showing Dot (who was nicknamed for a Morse code symbol) one of his contraptions, the inventor promises her an exciting surprise and works feverishly until he accomplishes his goal. At the end, he explains to her that people will now be able to listen to music whenever they want to, and the final illustration depicts a 21st-century family sitting on a blanket, with the mother using a CD player with headphones. A one-page biography of Edison is appended, but there is no specific information about the events described in the narrative. The large, realistic paintings are of average quality. On some pages, sketches done in brown ink suggest scientific drawings. The text falls flat, though, and there is no real excitement about the invention. Readers would be better served by a straightforward biography that would provide information without leaving them to wonder what is true and what has been supposed by the author.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.