(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: STEM Smackdown series. These lively narratives investigate controversies surrounding who actually developed widely used STEM advances. Each text traces an invention's history, technology, and development by following the contest between two people, each of whom have claimed to be the true inventor. Well-designed with captioned color and black-and-white photographs, paintings, and diagrams, the books should intrigue readers and encourage further research. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: STEM Smackdown titles: Who Invented the Light Bulb?, Who Invented the Radio?, Who Invented the Telephone?, Who Invented the Airplane?, Who Invented the Movie Camera?, and Who Invented the Television?

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 This picture book biography explores how Alexander Graham Bell's youthful inquisitiveness, playful experimentation, and family circumstances led to his celebrated breakthrough invention. Fraser collages her own vintage-inspired cartoons into old and new photographs, creating images that feel a bit disorienting even as they provide context. Bell's broader achievements become clear through sidebars and back matter, which includes expanded biographical information, an author's note, and photo credits. Timeline.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Incredible Inventors series. Providing the most basic information about these inventors' lives and legacies, these six Common Core Standard–aligned books may be useful to report-writing new readers. However, the simplified texts often raise more questions than answers, and some of the photos, paintings, and drawings could use captions or labels for clarity. Lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Incredible Inventors titles: Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, Henry Ford, Thomas A. Edison, and The Wright Brothers.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) K-3 Super SandCastle: Amazing Inventors & Innovators series. Seven innovative thinkers and their history-making inventions are introduced in uncomplicated biographies for early readers. Each slim overview provides a cursory outline of the subject's life in ample archival photos illuminated by large-print text. A final question closes the gap between history and the present in each volume: "Who do you talk to on the telephone?" "What do you like to take pictures of?" Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Amazing Inventors & Innovators titles: Alexander Graham Bell, George Eastman, Henry Ford, Samuel Morse, Thomas Edison, and The Wright Brothers.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Amazing Super Simple Inventions series. Each collection of activities explores the engineering principles and design features of historically important technological innovations in transportation, communication, and imaging. After background information about each invention, its principal innovator, and a timeline of development, readers can follow clear directions (illustrated with photos) to create their own prototypes from common items--a string phone and a balloon-powered car, for instance. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Amazing Super Simple Inventions titles: Super Simple Aircraft Projects, Super Simple Automobile Projects, Super Simple Camera Projects, Super Simple Phonograph Projects, Super Simple Telegraph Projects, and Super Simple Telephone Projects.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Milestones in American History series. Short, clearly written chapters explore the development of Bell's patented 1876 invention, which altered the course of communication around the world. The curricular-support title is amply illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs and reproductions and extended with biographical sketches and excerpts from primary documents. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) 4-6 Inventors Who Changed the World series. This series provides a basic overview of each subject's life and career, including successes as well as mistakes and controversies. The series' design features generally well-reproduced archival photos, stock images of varying usefulness, and distracting, cluttered screen shots. Some less-motivated readers will appreciate the publisher's enhanced website. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inventors Who Changed the World titles: Alexander Graham Bell, Louis Pasteur, Marconi and Tesla, and Philo T. Farnsworth.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Sterling Biographies series. Quick-paced chapters and well-chosen images of photos, paintings, documents, etc. (e.g., Edison's talking-doll prototype) make for engaging, if mostly laudatory, biographies. Sidebars flesh out historical contexts, science facts, and important contemporaries and predecessors. Larger-than-life Houdini will probably have the most appeal. Einstein is the least accessible due to its complex physics content. Across the volumes, quotes aren't cited. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sterling Biographies titles: Alexander Graham Bell, The Wright Brothers, Benjamin Franklin, Harry Houdini, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) K-3 National Geographic History Chapters series. In simple, straightforward language, these volumes provide the highlights of Bell's and Franklin's remarkable contributions to history and science. Brief introductions set the scene, then biographical information rounds out the vivid portraits of the men's accomplishments. Archival photographs and fascinating handwritten notes in Bell and art reproductions in both volumes further extend the texts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these National Geographic History Chapters titles: Alexander Graham Bell Invents and Ben Franklin.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Richard Walz. This introduction to Bell's life chronicles his invention and development of the telephone. The text is easy to read, though specific details about the invention are vague. Lively cartoon illustrations include some humorous moments (e.g., Bell and Watson celebrating their success), which may draw in readers.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) 4-6 Explosion Zone series. Illustrated by David Antram. Despite some needless exclamations, Williams effectively weaves bits of biography, scientific explanations, technological breakthroughs, telecommunications history, and a few experiments into an accurate, readable volume. Cartoon illustrations, though somewhat misaligned in tone with the text, present material accurately and may encourage interest in this introductory volume. The lack of sources is a drawback. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Scientists Who Made History series. Each formulaic book in this series begins with a defining moment in the life of its subject, from Pasteur's impromptu use of his rabies vaccine on a young boy to Bell's first successful telephone call. The following chapters briefly chronicle the lives of these scientists. Illustrated with photos, reproductions, and maps, each book includes diagrams, boxed quotes, and a timeline. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Thomas A. Edison, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Darwin.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 On My Own Biography series. Illustrated by Elaine Verstraete. Accurate information, supporting illustrations in soft colors, and helpful chapter divisions headed by dates strengthen this abbreviated account of Bell's life and accomplishments, from his work with the deaf to the telephone. Occasionally the short sentence structure seems unsuited to explain the material. An afterword and a time line extend the information.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Giants of Science series. These accurate biographies offer a wealth of information clearly and fluently. The authors understand the science and technology involved, and they generally succeed in explaining complex processes to an uninitiated audience. Details of the subjects' lives illuminate their work. Unfussy graphic design features period photos and drawings. A time line is included in each book. Bib., ind., glos.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) 4-6 Fisher's warm, storylike text provides a good introduction to the subject, capturing Bell's apparently indefatigable energy and interest in the world around him. The full- and double-page illustrations in this straightforward biography give the text an intimacy and a sense of personal investment on the part of the author-illustrator.

Reviewer: Elizabeth S. Watson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1999

(3) 4-6 Turning Point Inventions series. Illustrated by Toby Welles. These cleanly designed books trace the creation and development of two nineteenth-century inventions. The focused texts profile Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, explain technological processes, show how these innovations were accepted by the public, and consider future applications in areas such as fiber optics and wireless telecommunications. Photos and reproductions of such items as the inventors' plans and notes add appeal. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) 4-6 In Matthews's personable text, Bell's inexhaustible curiosity emerges as his wide range of experiments are outlined; his concern for people and making their lives better is also made clear. The book features many vintage photographs and drawings that richly picture the details of life in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A chronology is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Elizabeth S. Watson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1999

(3) YA Historical American Biographies series. The lives of six famous figures are profiled in clear prose and illustrated with black-and-white photographs, reproductions, and maps. Information boxes provide diverting sidelights to the well-documented texts, and each volume ends with a chapter reiterating the achievements and historical legacy of the subject. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Importance Of series. Thorough biographies trace the lives and work of four notables from different fields, placing their legacies within historical context. The texts are accompanied by the muddy black-and-white photographs that are this series' unfortunate hallmark. Boxed passages from a variety of primary and secondary sources supplement the books. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta