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DK Biography
DK Biography: Thomas Edison: A Photographic Story of a Life
Filled with archival photographs and amazing facts, this groundbreaking series introduces young readers to some of history's most interesting and influential characters. The series now features a refreshed design, taking the series' original look in a more modern direction.
DK Thomas Edison tells the story of the famous inventor, from his childhood as an "addled" student, to his reign as the "Wizard of Menlo Park," where he developed the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and many other inventions still in use today.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
DK Thomas Edison tells the story of the famous inventor, from his childhood as an "addled" student, to his reign as the "Wizard of Menlo Park," where he developed the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and many other inventions still in use today.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2009
8 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Jan Adkins
49 books17 followersJan Adkins is an author, illustrator, designer, storyteller, and explainer. Most of his life he has unraveled snarls, straightened paths, and made a clearer understanding of complex and subtle matters. He has published more than 45 books, many of them non-fiction for young people. He was associate art director for National Geographic Magazine, 1980-88, researching and explaining science, medicine, technology and archaeology to its millions of readers. It was a job described by his editor-in-chief as “getting a doctorate every third month.” He taught editorial illustration at Rhode Island School of Design and at Maryland Institute College of Art. He has a regular 8 pp feature, “Getting Started In Boats,” in WoodenBoat Magazine and contributes often to several sailing magazines. He’s delighted to be a member of the iNKthink team that produces nonfictionminute.com (quick, check it out!). He’s one of the Eisterhold Associates (Kansas City, MO) designing and producing museum exhibits. A great deal of his satisfaction lies in nurturing and herding his 3 grandchildren in Gainesville, Florida, where he lives, and his 2 grandsons in Washington, DC. He walks, canoes, cycles, sails, and cooks, but his neighbors don’t know exactly what business he’s in. On Friday evenings you will often find him holding forth at an outdoor table with friends at his son-in-law’s Cypress & Grove Brewing Company, his version of Rick’s American Cafe.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 15, 2019
Lewis Howard Latimer Though Thomas Edison is recognized as the inventor of the light bulb, African-American inventor Lewis Latimer played an important role in its development. In 1881, Latimer patented a method for making carbon filaments, allowing light bulbs to burn for hours instead of minutes.
October 8, 2010
I think that so far i think that this book is good. Because before i didn't know anything about Thomas Edison, But now so far I do know some stuff about him. he was almost deaf but not there yet, he could still hear but not as good. He also invented the light bulb. He was born in Milan, Ohio. Also he invented the phonograph. Then he dies on October 18, 1931
August 9, 2011
Wow! Oh my gosh! I learned so much from this book! Not a dull moment. Thomas Edison had his hand in everything that marched us into the modern age. Everyone should read this. It's miraculous the way he thought to try new things and the way he was able to learn from what worked and what didn't. Forget Harry Potter, I'm a fan of "The Wizard of Menlo Park!"
July 4, 2021
Interesting and captivating. Is a light book with nice pictures and a nice narrative.
April 10, 2023
This is the second title that I've read in this series, and it, too, reads easily. And now I know a little about Edison.
The concluding summary of the man (p 121) reads:
Edison confounded every label. He was warm and humorous, cold and spiteful, a wonderful friend, a distant father, a genius, and a rube. He loved publicity, but was painfully shy. He loved the company of his Boys and muckers, but a part of him was always aloof. He talked easily with great men in high places, and spit tobacco juice on the lab floor with mechanics and carpenters.
The concluding summary of the man (p 121) reads:
Edison confounded every label. He was warm and humorous, cold and spiteful, a wonderful friend, a distant father, a genius, and a rube. He loved publicity, but was painfully shy. He loved the company of his Boys and muckers, but a part of him was always aloof. He talked easily with great men in high places, and spit tobacco juice on the lab floor with mechanics and carpenters.
November 28, 2025
Man, I just love these little DK Bios. so informative with actual photos of things, places and locations true to the book. so great!
March 7, 2014
Here in the UK Thomas Edison is not a name you hear very often. This is surprising considering the contributions he made to science and modern living. Whilst it is a myth that he invented the light bulb it is true to say he made important improvements to the original design that made the bulb infinitely more practical and useful.
During his lifetime Edison was responsible for inventing, or developing further, the Phonograph, Vitascope (an early form of cinema) the electric dynamo, underground conductor network, safety fuses and all other kinds of mechanical wonders. Edison worked non-stop his entire adult life and achieved some amazing things. I don't think I've ever read about a more driven man.
There were also some unpleasant aspects to Edison's character. He neglected his wife and children, preferring to spend time in his factory working on new inventions. Ironically Edison himself complained that he had a poor relationship with his father then inflicted the same thing on his own children. He was also capable of trying to ruin competitors by spreading rumours about their products. He had a habit of blaming his customers for the failure of his products rather than himself. I think perhaps his most shameful act was when Edison's company was responsible for killing an elephant named 'Topsy' on Coney Island by electrocuting it. Topsy had killed a trainer who had made her eat a lit cigarette and was sentenced to death. Edison used the opportunity to discredit the inventor of AC electricity by using it to execute the poor creature in front of a crowd of 1,500 people thus proving how dangerous it was. Although this was one act during a shining career that benefited mankind all over the world I still can't bring myself to admire a man capable of such cruelty just for the sake of showing up a competitor.
The book itself is a Dorling Kindersley book, full of pictures and information. It is geared towards younger readers but is still very informative, particularly if you don't know much about science.
Overall an interesting book if a slightly disappointing figure in history.
During his lifetime Edison was responsible for inventing, or developing further, the Phonograph, Vitascope (an early form of cinema) the electric dynamo, underground conductor network, safety fuses and all other kinds of mechanical wonders. Edison worked non-stop his entire adult life and achieved some amazing things. I don't think I've ever read about a more driven man.
There were also some unpleasant aspects to Edison's character. He neglected his wife and children, preferring to spend time in his factory working on new inventions. Ironically Edison himself complained that he had a poor relationship with his father then inflicted the same thing on his own children. He was also capable of trying to ruin competitors by spreading rumours about their products. He had a habit of blaming his customers for the failure of his products rather than himself. I think perhaps his most shameful act was when Edison's company was responsible for killing an elephant named 'Topsy' on Coney Island by electrocuting it. Topsy had killed a trainer who had made her eat a lit cigarette and was sentenced to death. Edison used the opportunity to discredit the inventor of AC electricity by using it to execute the poor creature in front of a crowd of 1,500 people thus proving how dangerous it was. Although this was one act during a shining career that benefited mankind all over the world I still can't bring myself to admire a man capable of such cruelty just for the sake of showing up a competitor.
The book itself is a Dorling Kindersley book, full of pictures and information. It is geared towards younger readers but is still very informative, particularly if you don't know much about science.
Overall an interesting book if a slightly disappointing figure in history.
May 28, 2012
This was a relatively short book, so I finished it in 1 day.(Total:123 pages)
Half-way mark: page 63
Thus far, the book has talked on Edison's younger life, when he starts off his experiments in a cellar, and finds a job on the railway line. He learns telegraphy here and improves the telegraph system. As he continues to make inventions, his money situation became became serious, finds financial aid from new friends, and moves to Menlo Park to ease his stress. I predict that Edison will make plenty of mistakes due to his appearance of ignorance and become financially unstable a couple of times.
Page 123: This last half has seen Edison make some of the inventions we know him for, like the phonograph, electric bulb, etc. and see his fame rise. He starts to get a little proud as he was sure that no company would ever surpass him in electricity, and his money becomes a problem again. He returns to work on the phonograph and tries out a gold, then iron mine, without success. His age starts to slow him down, until he finally dies, still with dreams in mind.
I picked up this book as to continue reading on the DK biography series after reading Albert Einstein, as that book was quite good and informative.
I finished the book because it is kind of being there yourself, and the flow of time for Edison just kept on flowing, so it was difficult to stop reading and because of the fear of losing the sensation of wonder if I stop reading.
I would recommend this book to people who want a better understanding of the "father" of the modern world or those who want inspiration or life lessons since Edison's story is no where near perfect, to offer plenty of lessons and should inspire all age groups since it goes through his entire life.
Half-way mark: page 63
Thus far, the book has talked on Edison's younger life, when he starts off his experiments in a cellar, and finds a job on the railway line. He learns telegraphy here and improves the telegraph system. As he continues to make inventions, his money situation became became serious, finds financial aid from new friends, and moves to Menlo Park to ease his stress. I predict that Edison will make plenty of mistakes due to his appearance of ignorance and become financially unstable a couple of times.
Page 123: This last half has seen Edison make some of the inventions we know him for, like the phonograph, electric bulb, etc. and see his fame rise. He starts to get a little proud as he was sure that no company would ever surpass him in electricity, and his money becomes a problem again. He returns to work on the phonograph and tries out a gold, then iron mine, without success. His age starts to slow him down, until he finally dies, still with dreams in mind.
I picked up this book as to continue reading on the DK biography series after reading Albert Einstein, as that book was quite good and informative.
I finished the book because it is kind of being there yourself, and the flow of time for Edison just kept on flowing, so it was difficult to stop reading and because of the fear of losing the sensation of wonder if I stop reading.
I would recommend this book to people who want a better understanding of the "father" of the modern world or those who want inspiration or life lessons since Edison's story is no where near perfect, to offer plenty of lessons and should inspire all age groups since it goes through his entire life.
October 27, 2012
This book is a biography about Thomas Edison. Thomas Edison was a famous American inventor that invented the electric light bulb. He invented many, things and improved things such as the telegraph. As a young boy he didn't go to the school house, but instead he was taught at home. In the cellar he had a lab and very often blew up or caused some other form of destruction. When he was twelve he worked on a train selling candies and newspaper. In the end of the train he made a lab. Once it blow up and his boss said to never create a lab again. He worked as a telegraph operator and he created many inventions to improve the system. He always wanted to invent stuff not work on it. Thomas Edison always wanted to spend time with his workers (his boys) instead of his wife and kids. Then he moved to Menlo Park and created the light bulb and his favorite, the phonograph. At the end of his life he helped Henry Ford create a battery for an automatic car. I recommend this book to anyone looking for good, quick information on Thomas Edison. Also the pictures and captions are a nice touch to help you understand things better.
December 21, 2012
Thomas Edison
by Jan Adkins
128 pages
Thomas Edison is a inventor, scientist, boss mucker, plug, and a wizard. He was born in Milan, Ohio. Later in his life, Thomas's family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. There, he quit school and became a newsboy. He made a lot of money. One day, Thomas saved a little boy from getting killed. So the boy's dad taught him telegraphy. Edison later started to work at the gold indicater Company. He met Mary Stilwell there. He married Mary. Six years later, Edison invented a lot of stuff. He also invented the phonograph. Thomas then started to move to West Orange, New Jersey. He also died there too. Thomas Edison can be remembered as a famous scientist.
I liked this book. It had lots of information about what most people wouldn't know. Did you know that inventions, like the lightbulb, by Thomas Edison were actually first invented by someone else. In many ways, he invented invention. Thomas Edison also didn't believe in heaven. He only believed that the atoms of his body would be recycled, by and by, into natural materials. Thomas Edison has changed our lives.
by Jan Adkins
128 pages
Thomas Edison is a inventor, scientist, boss mucker, plug, and a wizard. He was born in Milan, Ohio. Later in his life, Thomas's family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. There, he quit school and became a newsboy. He made a lot of money. One day, Thomas saved a little boy from getting killed. So the boy's dad taught him telegraphy. Edison later started to work at the gold indicater Company. He met Mary Stilwell there. He married Mary. Six years later, Edison invented a lot of stuff. He also invented the phonograph. Thomas then started to move to West Orange, New Jersey. He also died there too. Thomas Edison can be remembered as a famous scientist.
I liked this book. It had lots of information about what most people wouldn't know. Did you know that inventions, like the lightbulb, by Thomas Edison were actually first invented by someone else. In many ways, he invented invention. Thomas Edison also didn't believe in heaven. He only believed that the atoms of his body would be recycled, by and by, into natural materials. Thomas Edison has changed our lives.
July 13, 2013
A nice little biography, well-illustrated (which I love), a bit folksy in tone (bleckk), comprehensive in an introductory sort of way. A wonderful book for young readers to learn about Edison (if only I could get more of my students to be interested in biography!). High interest for someone like me who grew up in the town (Edison) that now encompasses Menlo Park.
August 24, 2015
I love this series. The information is more dense than the DK Eyewitness books, but there's still a lot of photos and illustrations to help kids wrap the heads around it. It's so interesting to learn the life story that was happening around such important people and events.
We read this a couple of years ago and now we're reading it again with kids that were too young to read it last time.
We read this a couple of years ago and now we're reading it again with kids that were too young to read it last time.
July 25, 2016
An infuriated personality who never stop innovating. With out him, we wouldn't have seen the modern work. His brilliance has pushed the human race forward. A man who never gave up. He will ever remains a legend.
July 17, 2017
This was an interesting book as far as facts about the life of Thomas Edison goes. Definitely a quality history book, great for kids to read who are in 4th or 5th grade. It is mostly just a compilation of facts and photos of Thomas Edison and his family.
July 27, 2016
Another in the amazing DK Biography series. The text is easy to read and the pictures are magnificent. A fantastic introduction to nonfiction for younger readers.
Want to read
July 11, 2013Lexile: 1050
Read
August 28, 2013I thought this book was interesting to read about. His inventions have changed our life.
September 3, 2013
Very interesting. I was very interested in all that the book was talking about. I learned many new facts. The author did their work researching.
February 7, 2015
Quite an interesting book, his contributions have changed our life dramatically, and transformed the world to a newly modern age.
May 15, 2015
"Muitas das falhas da vida ocorrem quando não percebemos o quão próximos estávamos do sucesso na hora em que desistimos".
(Thomas Edison)
December 29, 2025
Very easy reading and quite interesting. Only 123 pages. He invented many things and some projects were failures but it didn't stop him from starting another project that didn't fail.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews