Genre 4 - Non-Fiction
"Read one of the following BIOGRAPHIES"
Plot Summary
The Boy Who Invented TV begins by setting the stage for readers and letting them know what entertainment was available before TV was invented. We follow Philo Farnsworth as he explores technology and learns about trains and inventors and electricity. The narrative briefly touches on Philo's musical interests and the bullying he experienced at the hands of other kids. We learn of Philo's self-learned expertise with electrical gadgetry and his fascination with popular science. And finally, we get to the invention of television and his inspiration that occurred while plowing fields, the explanation of the electrical television concept to his high school teacher, funding received to build the first one, failure, and finally success. An author's note at the end explains the legal battles against RCA that Philo faced regarding his invention and patents, the evolution of television past its initial invention, and Philo's eventual death.Critical Analysis
Greg Couch's splotchy illustrations convey well the feel of the time period. The blurry softness of the images feel a bit like early television and its limited resolution. Lots of sepia tones also contribute to the aura of long ago times.The writing is simplistic, but conveys well the life of Philo Farnsworth without exceeding the reading abilities of the target audience. Technological advances are skimmed over without much explanation of their workings. The book is primarily about Philo and not so much about how television works. Overall the presentation is engaging and compelling, even if it is highly simplified.
Connections
- Learn about other inventors.
- Explore the workings behind television.
- Explore electricity.
Awards/Reviews
Nominated for Beehive Children's Informational Book Award 2011Parents' Choice Award Nonfiction 2009
School Library Journal Best Books 2009
From Publishers Weekly:
This entertaining book explores the life of inventor Philo Farnsworth, who discovered how to transmit images electronically, leading to the first television. . . Krull's substantial, captivating text is balanced by Couch's warm, mixed-media illustrations. His muted tones suggest the grainy light of early TV screens and bring home the message about curiosity and perseverance.From School Library Journal:
Endpapers featuring a photo collage of generations of televisions from the earliest oval-screened version to modern flat screens set the book's context. Then, readers are asked to imagine life when there was no TV, radio was only for the military, news was hard to come by, and people studied the Sears, Roebuck catalog to make their purchases. Juxtaposing the staid images of farm life with fanciful ones depicting Farnsworth's broadening vision, Couch draws, paints, and digitally enhances the story. To show the boy learning about inventors as he studies the stars, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell appear among the constellations like ancient Greek heroes. . . Krull's focus is on the boy genius becoming an inventor like his heroes, and only in a note does she mention his struggles with RCA and his bitterness later in life. The facts aren't new, but with Krull building the story and Couch's exceptional images, it's one to inspire young audiences with the vast possibilities that imagination and diligence can accomplish.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public LibraryFrom The Horn Book:
To help young readers -- raised with the Internet, iPods, and instant messaging -- understand and appreciate Philo Farnsworth's groundbreaking invention, Krull first asks her audience to imagine life in 1906 (the year of Farnsworth's birth): "No refrigerators, no cars, few phones, hardly any indoor bathrooms...Movies -- no. Radio -- no...And there was no television. That's right. NO TV." . . . Muted and grainy, Couch's mixed-media illustrations are illuminated with startling splashes of light, such as the glow from a light bulb, the sun -- or a television.From Booklist:
In an attention-holding narrative, Krull explains how Farnsworth held on to his dream to develop television, and in smart, concise fashion ably explains scientific concepts behind it. It will take reading the afterword, however, to understand how RCA virtually took the patent away from him. Philo usually looks more like a man than a boy in the pictures, but the oversize artwork cleverly incorporates images from Sears, Roebuck catalogs and scientific diagrams to extend the story.--Cooper, Ilene
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