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The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth

(2009, Non-Fiction - Biography, Written by Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Greg Couch)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    True story about an amazing boy who thought outside the box.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The lessons of this book teach that asking questions, studying and thinking creatively can lead to interesting ideas.  Also, this is the biography of an inventor, Philo Farnsworth that few, if any of us, have heard of before.

  • Messages:

    Being creative, hardworking, and curious can lead a person to discover and invent amazing things.

  • Role models:

    Philo is a boy filled with wonder and curiosity, but he is not just an idle daydreamer. Machines seem magical to him, and he is consumed with a desire to figure out their magic. He asks questions, reads, researches, studies...and all of that coupled with a gentle hardworking spirit leads him to make his amazing discovery.

  • Illustrations:

    The artwork in this book is as intriguing as the story itself. Done in acrylics and colored pencil, and overlaid with digitally created diagrams and images, the illustrations are nostalgic, imaginative, and informative. Readers will enjoy the drawings of old phonographs and radios as well as the softly edged period scenes and the golden highlights that capture the tone of this boy's amazing story.They may also enjoy trying to figure out the scientific and mathematical drawings in the various backgrounds.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth

Parents need to know that this is an inspiring biography about a boy who worked hard, and came up with the idea that led to the invention of the TV.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about all the different TV designs, as well as the phonographs and radios depicted inside the covers and throughout the pages.  How have TVs and radios changed? Can you imagine a time without TV and electronics? What do you think that would be like?
  • What makes the TV work? What is electricity? How did planting potatoes help Philo invent the television?
  • How does a person come up with a new idea, like Philo did? Why do you think he thought of it and no one else did? Have you ever had a great idea?

  • What other inventors have you heard of? Were they like Philo in any way?

  • Families might also talk about patents and why inventors need them.  After reading the end paper, parents might talk about why most people don't know that Philo invented the TV.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    harrypotterlover ...
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    I haven't read it, but I had to do a report on this guy. He is very very interesting. Kids should defanlly read about him. There is nothing really to worry about in his life

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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