Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Alexander Graham Bell
Illustrator: Elaine Verstraete
Nonfiction
For ages 6 to 8
Lerner, 2001 ISBN: 978-1575054605
Even when he was still very young Alexander Bell was interested in science, nature, music, and sound. It was not surmising really because Alexander, or Aleck as his family called him, came from a family which had dedicated itself to trying to find ways to teach the deaf how to talk. Aleck’s father and grandfather both worked in the field and his father had developed a system called Visible Speech to help deaf people say words correctly.
When he was grown up and had completed his studies Aleck also taught the deaf in various schools in England, in Canada, and in Boston in the United States. He also developed a new interest; Aleck became interested in developing a telegraph machine which could carry more than one message at a time. From this interest grew another one; Aleck wondered if it would be possible to send spoken words over a wire. Imagine being able to speak to someone who was miles away!
This excellent early reader provides newcomers to reading with a wonderful introduction to the life and work of Alexander Graham Bell. Laid out in short chapter like sections and with illustrations throughout this is one of the books in the excellent "On My Own Biography" series.
