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The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison
From New York Times bestselling author and news anchor Raymond Arroyo comes the first book in the Turnabout Tales series—a picture book biography of one of America’s most famous inventors, Thomas Alva Edison, and a story about never giving up. No one thought much of young Thomas Alva Edison. He couldn’t focus at school and caused trouble around the house. But where others saw a distracted and mischievous boy, his mother saw imagination and curiosity. At only seven years old, Al, as he was called as a young child, was educated by his mother at home, who understood his potential could be unlocked with non-conventional learning, allowing him freedom to explore, dream, and be inquisitive. Those early years of encouragement, motivation, and loving guidance shaped Al’s future and formed the courageous man who would apply those valuable lessons to inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, the light bulb, and more. In The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison readers The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison : The Turnabout Tales series highlights little-known yet fascinating stories of historical figures who went from underdog to hero, and the adults who inspired them to be true to themselves and do big things that changed the world.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2023
2 people are currently reading
2060 people want to read
About the author
Raymond Arroyo
24 books250 followersRaymond Arroyo is an award winning journalist, a New York Times Bestselling author, and a producer. He is the news director and lead anchor of EWTN News; creator and host of the international news magazine The World Over Live seen in 200 million households each week. Arroyo lives in the Washington DC area with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 8, 2023
I love children’s picture books that not only entertain but educate young readers about the world and the people around them. The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison reveals Edison’s curiosity led him from a childhood of unceasing questions to great success as an inventor.
I love how the story helps readers discover that, like “Al,” they can succeed despite their hardships or disabilities. For instance, he believes his loss of hearing was, in large part, what led to his love of reading. And his love of reading explained electricity, mechanics, and such.
Although the book is targeted for young readers, I learned so much! I’m especially fascinated by the inspiration behind his creation of “The Invention Factory.” He endured great setbacks, but his triumphs were even greater.
First Line: As a baby, little Al Edison slept in a dark, windowless attic.
Series: Turnabout Tales
Genre: Children’s Science Biographies
Author: Raymond Arroyo
Page Count: 32 (Hardcover)
Reading Age: 6-12
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
A 2023 Fav♡rite
I love how the story helps readers discover that, like “Al,” they can succeed despite their hardships or disabilities. For instance, he believes his loss of hearing was, in large part, what led to his love of reading. And his love of reading explained electricity, mechanics, and such.
Although the book is targeted for young readers, I learned so much! I’m especially fascinated by the inspiration behind his creation of “The Invention Factory.” He endured great setbacks, but his triumphs were even greater.
First Line: As a baby, little Al Edison slept in a dark, windowless attic.
Series: Turnabout Tales
Genre: Children’s Science Biographies
Author: Raymond Arroyo
Page Count: 32 (Hardcover)
Reading Age: 6-12
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
A 2023 Fav♡rite
May 11, 2023
This is my first Turnabout Tales series book. I wasn’t familiar with the series prior to reading this book. As a homeschool mom, I’m always on the hunt for books that excite, intrigue and offer educational impact.
Telling a brief story of Thomas Alva Edison, this book begins in Edison’s early formative years and focuses on his natural, insatiable curiosity that led to boyish, often dangerous, endeavors. Be aware of the child you’re purchasing this book for because of that. It highlights how Edison’s father, often impatient and angry with Edison, didn’t understand his personality, potential or brilliance, but a mother who did. Nancy Edison values, supports and encourages her son’s creativity, innovation and education. She is the guiding force in his formative years that Edison credits as the reason he became an inventor.
I love the illustrations throughout this book. They are really well done and tell the story every bit as well as the narrative does. The narrative is short, easy to understand and detailed. As an adult, it is easy to see that Edison may have been neurodiverse and because of this, sometimes not accepted in social situations. His studious mind and desire to constantly know more drives him to work hard, to study constantly and to never give up. In addition, his mother’s support and acceptance is unwavering and inspiring. Those portions of the story are worth noting.
I found this story to be somewhat character building and educational however, I do intend to use this book in our homeschool setting with caution. Because it is short and easy to read we will use it as a conversation starter or prompt to research more about Thomas Alva Edison, his character, his contribution to society and his inventions.
Note: There is no religious or faith-based content in this book. For parents concerned about the euthanisation of animals by Edison using electrical current and staging him as a source of inspiration to children today, I highly recommend doing your research to better understand Edison’s character, work and life then use your parental or teacher discretion. This book does not mention animals. It does include a time when very young Edison dangerously tried to climb into a grain silo, snuck away from his mother, and set a fire in his father’s barn.
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
Telling a brief story of Thomas Alva Edison, this book begins in Edison’s early formative years and focuses on his natural, insatiable curiosity that led to boyish, often dangerous, endeavors. Be aware of the child you’re purchasing this book for because of that. It highlights how Edison’s father, often impatient and angry with Edison, didn’t understand his personality, potential or brilliance, but a mother who did. Nancy Edison values, supports and encourages her son’s creativity, innovation and education. She is the guiding force in his formative years that Edison credits as the reason he became an inventor.
I love the illustrations throughout this book. They are really well done and tell the story every bit as well as the narrative does. The narrative is short, easy to understand and detailed. As an adult, it is easy to see that Edison may have been neurodiverse and because of this, sometimes not accepted in social situations. His studious mind and desire to constantly know more drives him to work hard, to study constantly and to never give up. In addition, his mother’s support and acceptance is unwavering and inspiring. Those portions of the story are worth noting.
I found this story to be somewhat character building and educational however, I do intend to use this book in our homeschool setting with caution. Because it is short and easy to read we will use it as a conversation starter or prompt to research more about Thomas Alva Edison, his character, his contribution to society and his inventions.
Note: There is no religious or faith-based content in this book. For parents concerned about the euthanisation of animals by Edison using electrical current and staging him as a source of inspiration to children today, I highly recommend doing your research to better understand Edison’s character, work and life then use your parental or teacher discretion. This book does not mention animals. It does include a time when very young Edison dangerously tried to climb into a grain silo, snuck away from his mother, and set a fire in his father’s barn.
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
May 30, 2023
About the Book:
From New York Times bestselling author and news anchor Raymond Arroyo comes the first book in the Turnabout Tales series—a picture book biography of one of America’s most famous inventors, Thomas Alva Edison, and a story about how a small spark can create a big light. No one thought much of young Thomas Alva Edison.
He couldn’t focus at school and caused trouble around the house. But where others saw a distracted and mischievous boy, his mother saw imagination and curiosity. At only seven years old, Al, as he was called as a young child, was educated by his mother at home, who understood his potential could be unlocked with non-conventional learning, allowing him freedom to explore, dream, and be inquisitive.
Those early years of encouragement and loving guidance shaped Al’s future and formed the man who would apply those valuable lessons to inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, the light bulb, and more. In The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison readers The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison The Turnabout Tales series highlights little-known yet fascinating stories of historical figures who went from underdog to hero, and the adults who inspired them to be true to themselves and do big things that changed the world.
My Review:
Thomas Edison was a true pioneer. He also never met an obstacle that he couldn't withstand or win. He had many mountains placed in his path but was able to overcome each and every one. Thomas had a very vivid imagination and was an extremely curious child as well as adult. This fueled his passion for experimenting. His mother ever the encourager many times had to convince everyone that it was worth it to let Thomas be himself.
The stories contained in this book go into a little more detail about Thomas Edison and you learn more about this person that was intrigued with the world around him. I loved that his mother was always pushing him to do what he felt he needed to do.
It is a great read about history and determination.
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
From New York Times bestselling author and news anchor Raymond Arroyo comes the first book in the Turnabout Tales series—a picture book biography of one of America’s most famous inventors, Thomas Alva Edison, and a story about how a small spark can create a big light. No one thought much of young Thomas Alva Edison.
He couldn’t focus at school and caused trouble around the house. But where others saw a distracted and mischievous boy, his mother saw imagination and curiosity. At only seven years old, Al, as he was called as a young child, was educated by his mother at home, who understood his potential could be unlocked with non-conventional learning, allowing him freedom to explore, dream, and be inquisitive.
Those early years of encouragement and loving guidance shaped Al’s future and formed the man who would apply those valuable lessons to inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, the light bulb, and more. In The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison readers The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison The Turnabout Tales series highlights little-known yet fascinating stories of historical figures who went from underdog to hero, and the adults who inspired them to be true to themselves and do big things that changed the world.
My Review:
Thomas Edison was a true pioneer. He also never met an obstacle that he couldn't withstand or win. He had many mountains placed in his path but was able to overcome each and every one. Thomas had a very vivid imagination and was an extremely curious child as well as adult. This fueled his passion for experimenting. His mother ever the encourager many times had to convince everyone that it was worth it to let Thomas be himself.
The stories contained in this book go into a little more detail about Thomas Edison and you learn more about this person that was intrigued with the world around him. I loved that his mother was always pushing him to do what he felt he needed to do.
It is a great read about history and determination.
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
May 18, 2023
This picture book biography is about Thomas Edison's childhood. It focuses on his scientific curiosity, his mischievous nature, and the ways that his mother believed in him and encouraged him when no one else did. Raymond Arroyo emphasizes Edison's relationship with his mother throughout the story, and he shares further thoughts in the author's note. The illustrations from Kristine Gehrmann are colorful and expressive, showing many different scenes and settings with convincing historical details.
The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison shares information and anecdotes from Edison's experiences as a child and young adult. The last few pages are about his work as an inventor, but if someone is specifically looking for children's books about his inventions, they should know that this is mainly about his formative experiences in life, not about what he achieved as an adult. Also, the book has occasional typos and does not mention any of the controversies surrounding Edison, such as how he treated associates like Nikola Tesla. It's possible to appreciate someone's brilliance while also openly acknowledging their flaws. I wish that the author's note had included reflections on this, especially since the book had already addressed Edison's flaws as a child, such as being too impulsive and reckless.
This book will appeal to families who enjoy dynamic picture book biographies that make historical figures feel real and relatable. This will be especially meaningful for homeschool families, since Edison's mother taught him at home after a school teacher decided that Edison was unteachable. This book can encourage other hyperactive and mischievous kids who are different than their peers, and the emphasis on a mother's love will be a blessing to mothers who continue to believe in and empower their children no matter what struggles they face.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison shares information and anecdotes from Edison's experiences as a child and young adult. The last few pages are about his work as an inventor, but if someone is specifically looking for children's books about his inventions, they should know that this is mainly about his formative experiences in life, not about what he achieved as an adult. Also, the book has occasional typos and does not mention any of the controversies surrounding Edison, such as how he treated associates like Nikola Tesla. It's possible to appreciate someone's brilliance while also openly acknowledging their flaws. I wish that the author's note had included reflections on this, especially since the book had already addressed Edison's flaws as a child, such as being too impulsive and reckless.
This book will appeal to families who enjoy dynamic picture book biographies that make historical figures feel real and relatable. This will be especially meaningful for homeschool families, since Edison's mother taught him at home after a school teacher decided that Edison was unteachable. This book can encourage other hyperactive and mischievous kids who are different than their peers, and the emphasis on a mother's love will be a blessing to mothers who continue to believe in and empower their children no matter what struggles they face.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2023
A definite success, this quickly takes us through the life of a young Thomas Edison (mostly here called Al, due to his middle name), and shows us how he managed to experiment here, there and everywhere – partly inspired by a wannabe balloonist down the road, and then principally by his mother. It's amazing to think his thousand-plus patents are partly down to her, and to him surviving a youthful test to see what a fire in a haybarn might do, and a time when his job selling newspapers to train passengers meant he was fixing up a lab in the baggage cabin.
This side of his history is great, and the visuals look wonderful – the achievements of Kristina Gehrmann are crucial to the book. So it does feel a touch odd that the moral of the piece is one more successfully directed to the adults amongst us – that nobody should be forsaken just because he has an inquisitive mind you find insufferable, and that nobody should be ignored just because her way of proving themselves, or showing their light within, is counter to yours. But second to that is the admirable, and of course aspirational, story of Edison – if anything like the same is allowed now health and safety have been invented, we might be able to see the sparks of our future in the young minds around us. A strong four stars.
This side of his history is great, and the visuals look wonderful – the achievements of Kristina Gehrmann are crucial to the book. So it does feel a touch odd that the moral of the piece is one more successfully directed to the adults amongst us – that nobody should be forsaken just because he has an inquisitive mind you find insufferable, and that nobody should be ignored just because her way of proving themselves, or showing their light within, is counter to yours. But second to that is the admirable, and of course aspirational, story of Edison – if anything like the same is allowed now health and safety have been invented, we might be able to see the sparks of our future in the young minds around us. A strong four stars.
May 25, 2023
Hello everyone!
I'm here with another book review. This one is The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison. It was written by Raymond Arroyo and illustrated by Kristina Gehrmann. I was aware of a bit of Thomas Edison's back story. I knew that he had failed in school and subsequently been homeschooled by his mother. Go homeschoolers! But, this book surprised me! You might say that it was unexpected!
I had no idea just how much trouble young Al got into and caused as a youngster. I didn't realize the friction it caused in his home and community and the damages he caused.
This is a terrific book for parents and for kids. I think it's probably good for 2nd graders and up, but I wouldn't hesitate to read it to kindergartners or first graders. The cool thing is that it's good for older folks, too. Read to your children! Great kids' books are great for grown-ups, too!
The story is told chronologically and with plenty of detail to keep the reader and listener interested. The illustrations add a marvelous interpretation of the text to secure attention.
I highly recommend this book!
Five stars!
I received this book from Zonderkidz in exchange for an honest review.
I'm here with another book review. This one is The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison. It was written by Raymond Arroyo and illustrated by Kristina Gehrmann. I was aware of a bit of Thomas Edison's back story. I knew that he had failed in school and subsequently been homeschooled by his mother. Go homeschoolers! But, this book surprised me! You might say that it was unexpected!
I had no idea just how much trouble young Al got into and caused as a youngster. I didn't realize the friction it caused in his home and community and the damages he caused.
This is a terrific book for parents and for kids. I think it's probably good for 2nd graders and up, but I wouldn't hesitate to read it to kindergartners or first graders. The cool thing is that it's good for older folks, too. Read to your children! Great kids' books are great for grown-ups, too!
The story is told chronologically and with plenty of detail to keep the reader and listener interested. The illustrations add a marvelous interpretation of the text to secure attention.
I highly recommend this book!
Five stars!
I received this book from Zonderkidz in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2023
The illustrations are what make this book a fun read. The story itself is great too though! I liked how it centered on his younger years. Some books on Edison that are for children tend to be more about his adult life and his many inventions. This book shows how Edison was as a child and the influence his parents, especially his mother, had on him. It was interesting to read about some of his first experiments and how they went wrong. There is a mention of him getting spanked over something he did wrong that seemed a bit out of place. I'm sure he got in trouble but didn't think that fit to well with what the writer was trying to show. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am spreading the word that it is worth having a copy of. Especially for children who enjoy Science or experiments or who are wanting to learn more about Edisons growing up years.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Zonderkidz, for the temporary digital ARC that I read and gave my honest opinion of.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Zonderkidz, for the temporary digital ARC that I read and gave my honest opinion of.
May 23, 2023
Thomas Edison was so curious and eager to learn but didn’t fit into the normal conventions of his day. His mother gave him free rein to explore his curiosity, and she answered his endless questions. She also taught him tenacity and endurance, which he especially needed later in life with his lightbulb invention. This beautifully illustrated book sends a clear message to the reader that it is good to explore, ask questions, and follow your own pursuits. Home-schooled families will especially appreciate this story, and for any boys who struggle to fit into classroom expectations, this will provide inspiration.
May 26, 2023
You something new every day. I haven’t read too much about Thomas Edison beyond the basic stuff they teach briefly in school so this was a fun read from a slightly different view of him as a kid to adult. I think kids who read this book will be able to relate to Thomas as they learn about his curious nature. But we also see a different side of how this cause tension in the classroom and how his mom ended up having to be his biggest supporter and advocate. I enjoyed the Author’s Note at the end of the book which tells more about Thomas’ mother. There is also a section with more books you can read to learn about his life.
December 8, 2022
The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison shows the curiosity and experiments that created the genius inventor many are familiar with. I loved the angle of showing Edison's family life and the faith his mother had in him. Where the world saw a misfit, she saw brilliance. This book had such a clever way of being relatable to kids. It was a delight for my biography-loving kiddo, and it brought tears to my mama eyes. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Zonderkidz and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy for me to review! We loved it.
Thank you to Zonderkidz and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy for me to review! We loved it.
May 5, 2023
My thoughts: THE UNEXPECTED LIGHT OF THOMAS ALVA EDISON is an inspiring story of what a child can do with curiosity, imagination, and supportive parents (well, at least one). I loved the way mom went to his defense and gave Thomas the support and encouragement to live his dream which made him one of the most famous inventors ever. This is perfect for homeschoolers, Christian schools, and just for fun reading. Not fiction, this is a true story. loved it. Grab your copy today. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.
March 9, 2023
What a wonderful book! The story of Thomas Edison's early life is often skipped over when telling children of his inventions and crew of inventors and engineers. This book delves into the source of Edison's creativity and how his early life shaped his ideas (and his stubbornness). The illustrations are wonderful as well, giving the reader a greater understanding of the timeline by showing Edison's growth, physically and mentally, through this early-life story.
January 8, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. Arroyo gave so many new and interesting bits of information that young readers will enjoy. As a former teacher and fellow children's book author I appreciate the creativity and research the author put in to writing this story.
Additionally, as a former teacher, I think this would be a great book for a young reader to do a book report or "Famous American" project on.
Highly recommend!
Additionally, as a former teacher, I think this would be a great book for a young reader to do a book report or "Famous American" project on.
Highly recommend!
July 13, 2023
I won a copy of this book.
This book is fantastic for kids. The pictures are engaging and fun to look at; they convey the words to keep interest in the story. I like how the book talks about the failures as well as successes. Persistance is one themes through this book. The other theme is having an accepting and caring parent.
This book is fantastic for kids. The pictures are engaging and fun to look at; they convey the words to keep interest in the story. I like how the book talks about the failures as well as successes. Persistance is one themes through this book. The other theme is having an accepting and caring parent.
July 13, 2023
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I am clearly not the target audience for this book, but I wanted to read it before passing it on. I'm really glad I took a few minutes to do so, because the story was really sweet. The biggest standout for me, though, was the absolutely gorgeous illustrations. I look forward to passing this along for someone else to enjoy.
I am clearly not the target audience for this book, but I wanted to read it before passing it on. I'm really glad I took a few minutes to do so, because the story was really sweet. The biggest standout for me, though, was the absolutely gorgeous illustrations. I look forward to passing this along for someone else to enjoy.
July 15, 2023
Many people are familiar with Thomas Edison's inventions. But not many people know about his upbringing. It is easy to think that he came from a well-to-do family and they paid for the best education. The reality is he was a hard working and always thinking person. Being self-taught and curious led to many of his inventions.
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December 28, 2022
A wonderful biography story for young readers to be introduced to Thomas Alva Edison. I even learned things about him I didn't know -- as an adult reader! The illustrations are lovely. Would definitely recommend this book. And I'm interested in finding more titles in this series!
May 28, 2023
This is a beautiful story that introduces Thomas Edison to littles in an engaging way, but my favorite part that it's inspirational and encouraging for those who may see the world differently--it's wonderful to have your own ideas and pursue them!
June 13, 2023
A picture book biography on Thomas Edision that is told as the story of a boy who, curious about everything, got into a lot of trouble. Nonetheless his mom believed in him and he eventually went on to make his mark in the world. Great for kids.
July 14, 2023
Very informative book about Thomas Edison’s life. Easy read for children. Interesting artwork to keep kids interested and a fascinating story about how you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to as long as you keep trying.
April 23, 2023
Nice quick and easy book for children to pick up some information on Edison's early life.
July 14, 2023
Cute story, really beautiful illustrations.
August 8, 2023
A different take on the usual Edison biography revealing his setbacks, etc. But through it all his Mom believed in him. Nice tale.
October 25, 2023
Listened to this book and it included some extra content, which was interesting. My little one found the book interesting.
November 5, 2023
Vibrant pictures, great information, and an inspiring story for young readers.
December 26, 2024
A great child's biography of Edison's early years!
Wonderful pictures.
Wonderful pictures.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews