Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives

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. Edison is most famous for inventing the incandescent lightbulb, but at his landmark laboratories in Menlo Park and West Orange, New Jersey, he also developed many other staples of modern technology. Despite lots of failures, Edison persevered. And good for that – because it would be very difficult to go through a day without using one of his life-changing inventions. In this enlightening book, Gene Barretta enters the laboratories of one of America’s most important inventors.

The 2013 Cook Prize Honor Title (STEM)

Bank Street College of Education

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews: STARRED REVIEW!!! “In a nice touch, he pays homage to the gifted, dedicated team of scientists, chemists, engineers and inventors with whom Edison worked for years at both of his New Jersey laboratories; short biographical sketches of these important men are included, as is a list of ‘Thomas Trivia.’ A glowing tribute to the inventor who continues to influence modern life.”

School Library Journal: “This will be a useful tool to introduce history and inventions to reluctant readers or students as the book stays tightly focused on Edison’s work rather than on his personal life.”

Booklist: “Chipper cartoon illustrations show a perma-grinning Edison cranking out invention after invention, but Barretta also slyly draws in some of Edison’s employees, who are identified in short concluding biographies, emphasizing that Edison didn’t go it alone. An entertaining, enlightening intro.”

If you have an Indy Bookstore nearby, please support them. If not, click below:

  • HONORS

  • 2022 - "Timeless Thomas" received an award for Barnes & Noble's STEAM/STEM Books for 6-8 Year Olds

  • 2017 - "Timeless Thomas" included in Geekwrapped.com's 100 Best New Science Books for Kids

  • 2014 - "Timeless Thomas" was chosen by Teaching Books for the 2014 Collaborative Summer Library Program themed "Fizz, Boom, Read!"

  • 2013 - "Timeless Thomas" made it onto NEA 2013 Calendar.

  • 2012 - "Timeless Thomas" awarded a STARRED REVIEW from Kirkus.

Outtakes & Sketches

Previous
Previous

The Bass Plays the Bass and other Homographs

Next
Next

Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare