Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for The Inventor's Secret by Suzanne Slade - Available

The Inventor's Secret

by Suzanne Slade
Susie Berneis
Audiobook
5 of 5 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
5 of 5 copies available
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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    April 22, 2014

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781666594485
      • File size: 22918 KB
      • Duration: 00:47:44

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 590
    • Text Difficulty: 2-3

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The spirited delivery of Susie Berneis enhances this historically based story--winner of a National Science Teachers Association award. As Henry Ford labored over his automobile invention, he was fascinated by Thomas Edison's successes. Ford finally meets his hero and learns his "secret" as they begin a thirty-year friendship. Berneis ably portrays both men, including their years as inquisitive and sometimes mischievous children. Realistic sound effects, including pulsating electricity and vintage car sounds, add to the nostalgic atmosphere. Berneis's enthusiastic delivery, lively tone, and childlike questioning make for a fun listen. The book also offers listeners facts about Edison's electric pen and why the Tin Lizzie became an essential family member. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Leslie Bellair narrates Cremer's story of an alternative America, a steampunk land that lost the Revolutionary War and suffers as an oppressed British territory. Bellair's lilting voice suits the character of 16-year-old Charlotte, who lives in hiding as a member of the American resistance movement. In the dialogue, Bellair captures Charlotte's concern for her new friend, Grave, and the earnest hopes of both young people as they journey to the city to discover Grave's identity. In the narrative, however, Bellair's delivery is clipped and brisk, creating an overly perky effect that might have been softened by more fluid phrasing. Cremer's inventive mechanical creatures and sympathetic characters help smooth the stiff presentation. Curiosity about Charlotte's suitors and Grave's past will keep listeners attentive--as will the cliff-hanger ending, which promises future installments. C.A. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 20, 2015
      “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. Ages 6–9. Illustrator’s agent: Marietta Zacker, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:590
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

Loading