From New York Times bestselling author and news anchor Raymond Arroyo comes the first book in the Turnabout Tales series—a picture book biography of one of America’s most famous inventors, Thomas Alva Edison, and a story about never giving up.

No one thought much of young Thomas Alva Edison. He couldn’t focus at school and caused trouble around the house. But where others saw a distracted and mischievous boy, his mother saw imagination and curiosity. At only seven years old, Al, as he was called as a young child, was educated by his mother at home, who understood his potential could be unlocked with non-conventional learning, allowing him freedom to explore, dream, and be inquisitive. Those early years of encouragement, motivation, and loving guidance shaped Al’s future and formed the courageous man who would apply those valuable lessons to inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, the light bulb, and more.

In The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison readers will:

• meet the larger-than-life personality of Thomas Alva Edison • hear an inspiring tale of how taking chances, failures, and struggles can lead to success and achievement • learn about the power of curiosity and imagination • see the importance of the words “Never give up!” • take a carefully researched and actively told romp through history

The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison:

• includes an annotated list of resources and suggested reading • features realistic illustrations by artist Kristina Gehrmann • contains an author’s note by Raymond Arroyo, the author of the bestselling The Spider Who Saved Christmas • makes a great back-to-school gift for young readers and teachers

The Turnabout Tales series highlights little-known yet fascinating stories of historical figures who went from underdog to hero, and the adults who inspired them to be true to themselves and do big things that changed the world.

© 2023 Zonderkidz (Audiobook): 9780310799313

Release date

Audiobook: 21 March 2023