An inspiring true story of a boy genius.
Plowing a potato field in 1920, a 14-year-old farm boy from Idaho saw in the parallel rows o... read full description
Plowing a potato field in 1920, a 14-year-old farm boy from Idaho saw in the parallel rows o... read full description
reviews
Jul 21, 2010
Ofilia
rated it: 
Farnsworth is certainly a unique subject among biographies for the younger crowd. However, to me this book seemed a bit disjointed. Many different episodes of his life are presented and his constant fascination with technology and inventors is certainly established. But for me the narrative lacked flow and the pacing was sluggish. I also got the feeling that there was actually a lot of deeper drama there underneath the surface, which is actually hinted at towards the end when his struggles with
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Jun 03, 2010
Hava
rated it: 
I have to say that I am a bit biased from the get-go on this - I am related to Philo T Farnsworth, and had heard stories about him all my life from my mother (she met him when she was younger - he passed away in 1971 so I never met him).
Anyway, so all of my life I had heard that Farnsworth invented the TV, and I had no idea that this was ever in question. That was just an established fact. So that in and of itself made it worth it for me to read this book so that I could learn the " More...
Anyway, so all of my life I had heard that Farnsworth invented the TV, and I had no idea that this was ever in question. That was just an established fact. So that in and of itself made it worth it for me to read this book so that I could learn the " More...
Jul 09, 2011
Stephanie
rated it: 
While planting potatoes on his family’s farm in Idaho, fourteen-year-old Philo Farnsworth imagines a way to invent television. He had already learned how to fix his family’s electric generator and motorized his washtub, so anything was possible to this mechanical genius. Although he was forced to quit college because his father passed away, Philo never gave up on his dream of inventing television. He got the money he needed from investors and finally transmitted the first television image wh
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Dec 15, 2009
Nathaniel
rated it:
Grades: 2nd - 4th
What I enjoy about this book is the fact that I knew very little about this man. Upon reading this book, I was re-introduced to an inventor whose place in history was for the most part undefined until recent years. The text is full of information about Philo's life, from childhood interests to inventions he patented to his 'epiphany' he had for the idea of the TV at age 14. His story is stuctured well, and each page of text is framed nicely and coupled with beautiful More...
What I enjoy about this book is the fact that I knew very little about this man. Upon reading this book, I was re-introduced to an inventor whose place in history was for the most part undefined until recent years. The text is full of information about Philo's life, from childhood interests to inventions he patented to his 'epiphany' he had for the idea of the TV at age 14. His story is stuctured well, and each page of text is framed nicely and coupled with beautiful More...
Aug 29, 2010
Kerry
rated it:
This picture book biography chronicles the life of Philo Farnsworth, who transmitted the world’s first television image. Philo is portrayed as a quiet farm boy from Utah who enjoys reading science magazines and dedicates his life to inventing a machine that could send pictures instead of sound. A dreamy scene of father and son stargazing, constellations forming images of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, attests to the heroes of this young budding scientist. A conversation between young P
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Dec 27, 2011
Angie
rated it: 
Great storytelling and I loved the illustrations.
Though ... I've always been told the first "TV" broadcast was in the BY Academy in Provo--well, the tour guide told me that when we went through it back in my undergrad days when it was all falling apart (they've since remade the building into Provo's Public Library). This book made it sound like it was in CA. I wonder who was right?
Thought it was interesting that Philo didn't do much in the way of TV watching ... More...
Though ... I've always been told the first "TV" broadcast was in the BY Academy in Provo--well, the tour guide told me that when we went through it back in my undergrad days when it was all falling apart (they've since remade the building into Provo's Public Library). This book made it sound like it was in CA. I wonder who was right?
Thought it was interesting that Philo didn't do much in the way of TV watching ... More...
Dec 15, 2009
Kris
rated it:
I'm a little bit in love with Kathleen Krull. OK, a lot in love. Her biographies always grab me from the first page. Philo Farnsworth's story is amazing - as a 14-year-old farm boy, he came up with the way television could work when he was plowing a field. And considering that he was later ripped off by a major company and didn't get the credit he deserved until after his death, Krull ends the main text of this picture book with Farnsworth at 22, reading the article in the Chrnonicle heralding h
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Jun 20, 2010
Pam
rated it:
The past for a child no matter how recent is so alien and remote that it is incomprehensible. Krull understands this fact and opens her book with a section called "Life Before Philo" where she sets the context and stage so thoroughly for children they can understand what life was life before TV. After captivating her audience, Krull then tells one of the most amazing stories of scientific discovery of how Philo Farnsworth conceived and built one of the most influential inventions of
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Apr 15, 2011
Shaeley
rated it:
Fascinating story of how the curiosity of Philo Farnsworth led him to solve the problem of transmitting pictures through the air and inventing the TV. Interestingly enough, the solution occurred to him while plowing a potato field and looking back at the parallel furrows. He realized images could be broken down into rows of light, transmitted as electrons, and then reassembled for viewers as the picture on the television. All this while when he was only 14 years old!
Jan 22, 2010
Raina
rated it:
Picture-book-style story depicting the life of Philo Farnsworth, apparently the person who first conceived of the original television technology. End papers have photographs of tvs throughout history. Appreciated the inclusion of the corporate takeover of his invention, and focus on his early life (he was only 14 when he had the initial idea). Might try booktalking to 5th/6th grade, but could easily go lower.
Jan 10, 2012
Angie
rated it:
This is an interesting picture book biography. The story of Philo's invention of TV is told in a narrative style that is easy to read. The illustrations are ok and do help the story. I enjoyed the book, but wish there was more somehow. I found the author's note at the end about his fight with RCA very interesting and am not sure why this wasn't included in the text of the story.
Jan 06, 2012
Chelsey
rated it:
A picture book biography on the 2011-2012 William Allen White list. A great read. Tells the story of Philo Farnsworth who originally invented the first tv. The author's note in the back explains how RCA took credit for the invention and tells what happened in the future to Philo. A great story. More people need to read this book and know his story.
Feb 04, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
I'm like a child when it comes to picture books. If it has a lot of words I don't like to read it. But I'm glad I read this book. It was exciting, fast-paced and tapped into my sense of creativity. It is about Phil the young man that created television. Great to use in a classroom for social studies when studying inventors/innovators.
Dec 17, 2009
Beth
rated it:
Interesting and informative story of a very curious, mechanically-inclined boy who grew up to invent TV. Kid-friendly and appealing as a story. Unfortunately, in going for a retro style, the artist makes the teen and adult Philo look rather dorky.
"Recommend" for elementary-school biography projects and for budding inventors.
"Recommend" for elementary-school biography projects and for budding inventors.
Apr 11, 2011
This is based on a true story of how t.v was invented. It tells of a little farmer boy in Idaho who used potatoes to create the worlds first t.v image. This is a very interesting book and would serve well to grades 2nd through 5th. This story could be used to introduce other leading inventors in history.
Apr 18, 2010
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
rated it:
This is an interesting story of Philo Fransworth who invented Television. A non-fiction picture book for 3rd to 5th grade. The book tells about Philo's life from the time that he was a small curious child up till the time that he first creates/discovers how to send an image to a TV. Overall a nice read.
Aug 10, 2010
Heather
rated it:
An interesting true biography/picture book about the man who invented TV. The illustrations are clear, colorful, interesting and the story should be fascinating for most who read this whether they are kid or grownups. Talk about a story that shows the value of perseverance!
Mar 13, 2010
Marguarite
rated it:
This is the biography of the man who invented television. The text is extremely engaging and very storylike. Who knew that a potato farmer in Idaho would come up with the idea for creating something as complicated as the television. Great book!
Feb 05, 2010
Jason
rated it:
This book stands out for me more for the introduction of Farnsworth as the inventor of TV than anything else. In the illustrations, the perspective seems off, with Philo growing or shrinking as if on a whim.
Jan 12, 2010
D'oh. I was actually writing this book with Rob. dang-it dang-it dang-it. Nonetheless, this story needed to be told to children, so I'm glad someone who has the noteriety to do so it pulling it off.
Jun 27, 2011
Laura
rated it:
This simple biography was wonderful to read with my children. I was so amazed at what perseverance Philo Farnsworth had! I would love to instill this virtue into my children.
Jan 10, 2011
Ziyan
rated it:
It was a good book but i thought it was like any other biography .It was surprising how a teenager made a T.V.This bookreally surprised me.What would it be like without T.V.
May 30, 2010
Lynn
rated it:
Wonderful book about a farming boy I'd never heard about who has had such a great impact on the lives of many around the world. He invented TV.
Nov 12, 2010
Kendall
rated it:
A great story about the true inventor of television...a short biography that students of all ages could appreciate.
Jun 17, 2010
Ruth
rated it:
Picture book Biography. Teenager who figured out how a television could be made. Good story slightly sad ending.
May 29, 2010
Teri
rated it:
Especially nice because he was from Utah and we loved reading about Salt Lake City.
Mar 23, 2010
Kim
rated it:
You sit in front of it ALL day, but do you know how the T.V. was invented? This is a great picture book that tells you how Philo came up with the idea for the greatest inventions of all time!
Feb 25, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
a lot of text, but love the story of Philo and how he invented the tv.
Nov 20, 2009
oplkids
rated it:
The story of Philo Farnsworth, who invented television at the age of 22.
Jan 13, 2011
Susan
rated it:
Much like the Day Glo Brothers, I was more interested in this biography than my 4th graders were. Maybe slightly older kids would understand more.
