This picture biography is a fascinating story about the life of Thomas Edison. It follows “Al”, as he was known as a child up until he turned 21. As a child he was always experimenting. In his parents’ basement, in the baggage car when he was a newspaper boy on a train and in the train station when he worked as a telegrapher. The author, Michael Dooling, brings history alive through the story of Young Thomas Edison.

The following vocabulary words will be introduced throughout the story:

invention ~ something new that someone thinks up and creates

experiment ~ a test that helps scientists answer their questions

laboratory ~ a place where scientists work and do experiments

genius ~ a very smart person

gadget ~ a small machine or tool that is useful

electric ~ runs by electricity

signal ~ a sound, a movement, or another sign that sends a message

occasional ~ sometimes but not very often