Thomas Edison and the Lightbulb (Inventions and Discovery)
This new graphic nonfiction series offers biographical treatments that highlight a technological breakthrough or innovation. Though produced by various illustrators, titles are visually similar: enticing covers, dynamic fonts, bold colors, and vibrant illustrations. Comic book-style word balloons feature fairly sophisticated vocabulary and occasional quotes or other primary source material. Each selection includes titled chapters, a table of contents, summary fact pages, further reading suggestions, and recommended Internet sites. There is close correlation between the dialogue and depicted actions and illustrations, which will provide visual reinforcement for struggling readers. These deceptively slim volumes convey a tremendous amount of information and vocabulary, and should attract attention from reluctant and enthusiastic readers alike. Bibliography. Glossary. Index. Recommended. --Library Media Connection; Vol. 25, No. 7; Pages 83-84, April 2007Grabbing the visual learner s attention, Welvaert is writing for the Graphic Library, a series, a new graphic novel approach for nonfiction. The book uses a comic book format with brief narrative boxes and short, semi-punchy dialogue in balloons. This book is not a biography but a piece of the inventor s life. In this case, Thomas Edison joins others in the race to create a working light bulb. Because of the format, the text is minimal even as the story covers a fair number of details. For example, a narrative box explains, Edison sent people across the world to find materials for his filaments. The pictures with this brief statement show a desert scene with cowboys examining a plant, and a tropical scene where explorers are looking at bamboo. The illustrations are good, accurately showing snapshot-like images of the appropriate time period. They are not as exciting as, say, Spiderman, but they move the reader through the story. The vocabulary is not simple, but there are so few words and so many pictures that this works as a high-low book. Back matter includes a Glossary, a Read More section, a Bibliography, an Index, and a list of Internet Sites. The sites are maintained on Capstone s Facthound Site, where URLs are checked to make sure they are both age appropriate and current. --Childrens Literature Comprehensive Database, July 2007