Alexander Graham Bell: An Inventive Life (Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History) [Paperback]

Elizabeth MacLeod (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History

"One would think that I had never done anything worthwhile but the telephone," complained Alexander Graham Bell. No wonder he was annoyed; Bell invented the phone when he was just 29 and went on to lead a long and inventive life. This biography in the Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History series chronicles the life and many remarkable achievements of Alexander Graham Bell, including his work with the hearing impaired and experiments with flight, iceberg locators and, of course, the telephone.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-Another addition to the growing collection of biographies about Bell. MacLeod traces her subject's life from his birth in Scotland, through his many inventions and achievements, and concludes with his last few experiments and his death at his home in Canada. She gives equal attention to all of Bell's interests, such as his devotion to advancements for the hearing impaired and his later interest in flight. Photos and reproductions of the subject and his family and sketches of his many inventions appear on colorful backgrounds. A list of Web sites is appended. Tom Matthews's Always Inventing (National Geographic, 1999) is a more substantial book for the same age group, but this one is an adequate choice with its own merits.
Carol Fazioli, The Brearley School, New York City, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This large-format Canadian book introduces Alexander Graham Bell in a series of double-page spreads featuring topics such as the invention of the telephone, Bell's friendship with Helen Keller, his summer home on Cape Breton, and his experiments building airplanes. Although the author's practice of referring to Bell as "AGB" is distracting at first, the text reads well, and the extended captions offer interesting facts, such as: "During AGB's funeral, telephone service in North America was halted for one minute." Illustrations include color photographs of sites, documents, and artifacts as well as period photographs printed in various colors. An engraving-style representation of Bell in varied poses appears on each spread making cartoon-balloon comments. The number of disparate graphic elements on each spread detracts from the book's visual appeal. Compared to Leonard Everett Fisher's recent Alexander Graham Bell, MacLeod's treatment includes more information, but the presentation, verbally and visually, is more disjointed. A time line and an annotated list of Web sites are appended. Not a basic purchase, but a possible choice for libraries seeking additional material on Bell. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550744585
• ISBN-13: 978-1550744583
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the Classroom Library, March 1, 2009

By 

J. E. Stephens "Jeanne" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alexander Graham Bell: An Inventive Life (Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History) (Paperback)

I teach 6th grade reading. This book is perfect for the classroom library. Students need to read a variety of non-fiction. I have found that most students love reading biographies. This is a must buy for the classroom.

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Brief Bio of Bell. Recommended, February 28, 2010

By 

Nicola Manning (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alexander Graham Bell: An Inventive Life (Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History) (Hardcover)

Reason for Reading: Read aloud to my son as part of our history curriculum.

Comments: This non-fiction book tells the life story of Alexander Graham Bell, skimming the surface of his private life and concentrating on his life as an inventor. Each "chapter" is a two-page spread with one page of text and both pages profusely illustrated with captioned photographs which both illustrate the text and add more information to the text. Written in an engaging style the text is both informative and interesting to read. My son, who currently wants to be an inventor when he grows up, was of course very interested in the book and enjoyed it very much, as did I. I've promised we will take a trip to Brantford this summer to visit the Bell's first home in Canada. For a brief look at Bell's life you couldn't pick a finer book.

Two things did irk me though. One was the use of AGB, for his name after the initial full spelling. Yes, it gets tiring reading the whole name out for an entire book but I would have preferred variations such as Alexander, Bell, Mr. Bell. I substituted the name "Alexander" most of the time I came across AGB and occasionally said the whole name out loud to remind my son of his correct name as I read aloud. The other thing was that the word "deaf" has been replaced by the words "hearing-impaired" except in the name of associations and schools, etc. Deaf is not a bad word and saying someone is "totally hearing-impaired" makes no sense, that's like saying someone is a little bit pregnant. Plus saying that Bell founded an association for the hearing-impaired which *today* is called the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf is taking PC too far. I read the words hearing-impaired a few times when it felt appropriate but mostly I edited and used the word deaf when reading aloud. And just now I've googled it and deaf people actually take offense at being called hearing-impaired! [...] (scroll down to labels)