The Boy Who Invented TV The Story of Pholo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Krull, K. (2009). The boy who invented TV: the story of Philo Farnsworth. New York: A.A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375945618


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Philo Farnsworth was an inquisitive child by nature. He was born in 1906 in the American West at a time where electricity, indoor toilets and phones were rare and TV was non-existent. Kathleen Krull writes about his life, his vision and tenacity of sticking to an idea he had to create an Image Dissector - television. Philo was a thinker and doer, someone who would change the world with his invention.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This picture book biography allows people to see the inside story of an inventor who won the race to invent TV but lost getting credit for doing it. Kathleen Krull has written a well organized, well designed, and well-written story that makes you want to find out the inside “scoop” of Philo Farnsworth as well as other inventors. An added author’s note at the back of the book explains Farnsworth’s patent battle with the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), the largest electronics company in the 1930s. The illustrations created by using an acrylic wash with a colored pencil and dry brush allow you to envision the period of time before high definition color and more technical images were created. The front and back inside covers were cleverly styled to include pictures of some of the first invented televisions to modern day TVs. The style of writing and vocabulary allow young readers to be able to pick up the book and read with ease. The large print and few words fit well for young readers but the book and information given is sure to grab the attention of all ages. The narrative demonstrates the real heroes of Farnsworth’s life the people who believed in him, his parents, teacher, and wife. Krull gives a very personal insight into Farnsworth’s struggles in his life and continuance to believe in his dreams.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS and AWARDS
Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2009 (Vol. 105, No. 19)). 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.


Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2009 (Vol. 77, No. 16)) A detailed author’s note further explains how the Radio Corporation of America challenged and subsequently disregarded Philo’s patent, thrusting him into obscurity.

AWARDS School Library Journal Best Books, 2009; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2009; Cahners; United States


5. CONNECTIONS
Check out the sources of books, web sites and television documentaries at the end of the book to give more in depth studies on the history of television.
Inventions: study biographies of famous inventors who made a difference in the world.
• Microwave- Percy L. Spencer
• Phonographs – Thomas Edison
• Radio- German physicist, Heinrich Rudolph Hertz
• Telephones Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray
• Air conditioners- Willis Haviland Carrier
• iPods- Tony Fadell
• Disposable diapers Marion Donovan in 1950
• Light bulbs- Thomas Edison
• Refrigerators- William Cullen An improved refrigerator design was patented by African American inventor John Standard
• Sticky note Arthur Fry a 3M chemist invented the post it note and Spencer Silver invented the glue
• Internet Tim Berners-Lee
• Computers- Konrad Zuse
• Asphalt- Belgian immigrant Edward de Smedt. Belgian chemist, Ernest Solvay
• Ovens British inventor, James Sharp patented a gas oven in 1826, Thomas Ahearn with inventing the first electric oven in 1882
• Internal combustion engine- 1886 - On January 29, Karl Benz received the first patent (DRP No. 37435) for a gas-fueled car
• Photocopier- Chester Carlson was the inventor of the photocopier
• Penicillin
• Chlorine
• Indoor Plumbing