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The Inventor's Secret

What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford

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Hardcover
$17.99 US
8.38"W x 10.31"H x 0.4"D   | 16 oz | 30 per carton
On sale Sep 08, 2015 | 48 Pages | 9781580896672
Age 6-9 years | Grades 1-4
Reading Level: Lexile 590L | Fountas & Pinnell N
Both 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 Thomas Edison and Henry Ford grew up to be the most famous inventors in the world—and best friends, too.
  • SELECTION | 2016
    Delaware Diamond Award
  • SELECTION | 2016
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
  • SELECTION | 2016
    NSTA-CBC - Outstanding Science Trade Book
  • FINALIST | 2016
    Society of Midland Authors Award
What would a renowned, established inventor have to say to a hopeful young tinkerer?
Slade precedes her description of a historical meeting with interwoven accounts: one of Thomas, a disaster-prone experimenter who parlays an early interest in gadgets and electricity into a pen that produces multiple copies, a phonograph, and hundreds of other popular innovations; the other of Henry, born 16 years later, whose yen to produce a practical, inexpensive motor car encounters obstacle after frustrating obstacle. At last, hoping for insight into Edison's success, Henry buttonholes the great inventor at an 1896 dinner. The two instantly fall into a technical discussion, climaxed by the excited Edison's "Keep at it!" . . . the author and illustrator close with fuller notes on major Edison-ian inventions, the development of the Model T, and particularly the lifelong friendship that the encounter kindled between these two giants of industrial technology. . . .
-Kirkus Reviews

"What's his secret?" That's the question dogging Henry Ford as he watches Thomas Edison's phonograph and incandescent bulb take off, while his own attempts to create steam and gas engines sputter. Slade shifts between the developing careers of both men until, while discussing engines with Edison at a dinner in 1896, Ford gets his answer: "Keep at it!" Edison shouts encouragingly. Reinhardt's mixed-media artwork includes several lighthearted moments (parallel scenes featuring Edison and Ford as children highlight the explosive results of early failed experiments). Extensive endnotes discuss Slade's and Reinhardt's processes and several of the inventions mentioned, along with a time line and source notes. It's a rewarding look at the importance of persistence, as well as the friendship that developed between these prominent inventors. 
-Publishers Weekly


Emphasizing the power of perseverance, this cheery picture book alternates between the lives of two inventors, beginning with Thomas Edison, who was 16 years Henry Ford’s senior. Many of Edison’s major inventions are touched on, and young Ford is portrayed as curious as to the secret of Edison’s success. Ford continues to work on developing engines and designing cars and finally seizes the opportunity to meet Edison in person. The two go over Ford’s designs, and Edison urges the younger man to “keep at it!” With that, Ford discovers that “he’d known Thomas’s secret all along!”—a realization illustrated with a light bulb over Ford’s head. The rest of the story focuses on Ford’s work on creating a car for all Americans, which resulted in the Model-T. Fanciful watercolor sketches depict Edison and Ford dreaming, inventing, and working, with a variety of expressions on their faces. The drawings are framed on the page, providing an old-fashioned feel. Inset images provide details and information on their inventions. The front and endpapers are filled with sketches of various light bulbs and gears in muted brown tones. The early lives and activities of these men are covered briefly. The factual text emphasizes how both started as dreamers who took action. Back matter includes a section on Edison and Ford’s friendship, more material about the inventions, author and illustrator notes, and extensive source notes with citations for dialogue and other facts. VERDICT A suitable addition for those seeking biographies of inventors.
-School Library Journal


This dual picture-book biography of how Thomas Edison inspired Henry Ford succeeds in showing the emotional side of the life of an inventor: success requires more than just one or two—or even two dozen—attempts. Reinhardt’s soft, amiable watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil artwork provides a lot of visual detail about both Edison’s and Ford’s passions, while Slade’s text explains each man’s inspiration and the way his inventions fundamentally changed the world. Ample source notes and a comprehensive dual time line help explain some of Slade and Reinhardt’s depictions of Ford and Edison, and photo-illustrated notes about each inventor’s most memorable creations provide substantial information to get kids started on research projects. While there are abundant compilations for kids about inventions and inventors, Slade and Reinhardt keep the focus solidly on the human element of frustration, persistence, and the power of a mentor. It’s an unusual angle and well executed, which makes it a good fit for STEM-oriented programs as well as storytimes about the benefit of good friendships.
-Booklist
When Jennifer Black Reinhardt was in elementary school and her classmates said that they wanted to be firemen, doctors, and vets, she declared that she wanted to draw the pictures on greeting cards. When she grew up she did that and more. She has an illustration degree from Carnegie Mellon University and is the illustrator of The Adventures of a South Pole Pig (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). View titles by Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Not so long ago the world was a little slower. A little simpler. And a whole lot quieter.
            No airplanes roaring overhead. No cars rumbling down roads. No phones ringing in pockets.
            Then things began to change—because of two curious boys, Thomas and Henry.
            And one secret.

About

Both 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 Thomas Edison and Henry Ford grew up to be the most famous inventors in the world—and best friends, too.

Awards

  • SELECTION | 2016
    Delaware Diamond Award
  • SELECTION | 2016
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
  • SELECTION | 2016
    NSTA-CBC - Outstanding Science Trade Book
  • FINALIST | 2016
    Society of Midland Authors Award

Praise

What would a renowned, established inventor have to say to a hopeful young tinkerer?
Slade precedes her description of a historical meeting with interwoven accounts: one of Thomas, a disaster-prone experimenter who parlays an early interest in gadgets and electricity into a pen that produces multiple copies, a phonograph, and hundreds of other popular innovations; the other of Henry, born 16 years later, whose yen to produce a practical, inexpensive motor car encounters obstacle after frustrating obstacle. At last, hoping for insight into Edison's success, Henry buttonholes the great inventor at an 1896 dinner. The two instantly fall into a technical discussion, climaxed by the excited Edison's "Keep at it!" . . . the author and illustrator close with fuller notes on major Edison-ian inventions, the development of the Model T, and particularly the lifelong friendship that the encounter kindled between these two giants of industrial technology. . . .
-Kirkus Reviews

"What's his secret?" That's the question dogging Henry Ford as he watches Thomas Edison's phonograph and incandescent bulb take off, while his own attempts to create steam and gas engines sputter. Slade shifts between the developing careers of both men until, while discussing engines with Edison at a dinner in 1896, Ford gets his answer: "Keep at it!" Edison shouts encouragingly. Reinhardt's mixed-media artwork includes several lighthearted moments (parallel scenes featuring Edison and Ford as children highlight the explosive results of early failed experiments). Extensive endnotes discuss Slade's and Reinhardt's processes and several of the inventions mentioned, along with a time line and source notes. It's a rewarding look at the importance of persistence, as well as the friendship that developed between these prominent inventors. 
-Publishers Weekly


Emphasizing the power of perseverance, this cheery picture book alternates between the lives of two inventors, beginning with Thomas Edison, who was 16 years Henry Ford’s senior. Many of Edison’s major inventions are touched on, and young Ford is portrayed as curious as to the secret of Edison’s success. Ford continues to work on developing engines and designing cars and finally seizes the opportunity to meet Edison in person. The two go over Ford’s designs, and Edison urges the younger man to “keep at it!” With that, Ford discovers that “he’d known Thomas’s secret all along!”—a realization illustrated with a light bulb over Ford’s head. The rest of the story focuses on Ford’s work on creating a car for all Americans, which resulted in the Model-T. Fanciful watercolor sketches depict Edison and Ford dreaming, inventing, and working, with a variety of expressions on their faces. The drawings are framed on the page, providing an old-fashioned feel. Inset images provide details and information on their inventions. The front and endpapers are filled with sketches of various light bulbs and gears in muted brown tones. The early lives and activities of these men are covered briefly. The factual text emphasizes how both started as dreamers who took action. Back matter includes a section on Edison and Ford’s friendship, more material about the inventions, author and illustrator notes, and extensive source notes with citations for dialogue and other facts. VERDICT A suitable addition for those seeking biographies of inventors.
-School Library Journal


This dual picture-book biography of how Thomas Edison inspired Henry Ford succeeds in showing the emotional side of the life of an inventor: success requires more than just one or two—or even two dozen—attempts. Reinhardt’s soft, amiable watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil artwork provides a lot of visual detail about both Edison’s and Ford’s passions, while Slade’s text explains each man’s inspiration and the way his inventions fundamentally changed the world. Ample source notes and a comprehensive dual time line help explain some of Slade and Reinhardt’s depictions of Ford and Edison, and photo-illustrated notes about each inventor’s most memorable creations provide substantial information to get kids started on research projects. While there are abundant compilations for kids about inventions and inventors, Slade and Reinhardt keep the focus solidly on the human element of frustration, persistence, and the power of a mentor. It’s an unusual angle and well executed, which makes it a good fit for STEM-oriented programs as well as storytimes about the benefit of good friendships.
-Booklist

Author

When Jennifer Black Reinhardt was in elementary school and her classmates said that they wanted to be firemen, doctors, and vets, she declared that she wanted to draw the pictures on greeting cards. When she grew up she did that and more. She has an illustration degree from Carnegie Mellon University and is the illustrator of The Adventures of a South Pole Pig (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). View titles by Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Excerpt

Not so long ago the world was a little slower. A little simpler. And a whole lot quieter.
            No airplanes roaring overhead. No cars rumbling down roads. No phones ringing in pockets.
            Then things began to change—because of two curious boys, Thomas and Henry.
            And one secret.