Samuel Morse, That's Who!: The Story of the Telegraph and Morse Code

by Tracy Nelson Maurer, El Primo Ramón (Illustrator)

Overview

Writer Tracy Nelson Maurer and illustrator El Primo Ramón present a lively picture book biography of Samuel Morse that highlights how he revolutionized modern technology.

Back in the 1800s, information traveled slowly. Who would dream of instant messages? Samuel Morse, that’s who! Who traveled to France, where the famous telegraph towers relayed 10,000 possible codes for messages depending on the signal arm positions—only if the weather was clear? Who imagined a system that would use electric pulses to instantly carry coded messages between two machines, rain or shine? Long before the first telephone, who changed communication forever? Samuel Morse, that’s who!

This dynamic and substantive biography celebrates an early technology pioneer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627791304
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	06/25/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	528,236
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tracy Nelson Maurer is the author of over a hundred books, including John Deere, That's Who! and many other nonfiction books for children. She lives near Minneapolis with her family, and loves to interact with readers on her frequent school and library visits.

Editorial Reviews

05/06/2019

In a frank, upbeat style, Maurer conveys to young digital natives what it meant to communicate via telegraph: “In the early 1800s, nothing traveled long distances fast. So, who would dream of instant messages? Samuel Morse, that’s who!” Appearing in Ramón’s charcoal-lined mixed-media art as a nondescript gentleman in a tailcoat, Morse strives unsuccessfully to become an artist before beginning to tinker with what would become the first electromagnetic telegraph machine. After disastrous attempts to lay cable in New York Harbor, success came in the form of above-ground telegraph lines. While back matter provides a timeline and additional facts relating to the telegraph, readers may still have questions about the technology and Morse Code. Still, the key takeaway, that the most innovative new technologies begin with a spark of imagination, is sound. Ages 4–8. (June)

Publishers Weekly

An NSTA Best STEM Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year

"The text effectively explains how the invention works as well as how it came to be, and young readers and listeners just may be inspired to try some inventing of their own. An excellent, entertaining choice to highlight social-emotional skills, history, and STEM."—Kirkus Reviews

"The approach to Morse’s story has lots of charm, and Ramón’s digitally colored pencil illustrations leaven the square-jawed protagonist’s travails with gentle touches of humor. A timeline, bibliography, trivia bits, and even a photograph of early nineteenth century women telegraph operators are included."—The Bulletin

"Who makes a great topic of a picture book biography? Samuel Morse, that’s who! This is an excellent biography on a lesser-known figure; add to collections looking for inventors and makers. As it turns out, . . . amuel M - - - r . . . e was a predecessor of the maker movement."—School Library Journal

"Another accessible exploration of an instrumental figure in STEM. Ramón's illustrations complement the breezy tone as they map Morse's journey. Readers curious about Morse code, discussed briefly in the text, should check under the book's jacket . A fun, informative way to tap into historical inventions. "—Booklist

"A valuable lesson in grit and determination."—Horn Book

From the Publisher

06/01/2019

Gr 1–2—Who makes a great topic of a picture book biography? Samuel Morse, that's who! Maurer tells the story of Morse's invention of the telegraph and Morse code in an engaging, light text. Pencil-line drawings with digital coloring by Ramón convey a strong sense of time and place, and the heavy use of white space makes the layout appealing for young readers. Maurer begins by emphasizing some of Morse's failed endeavors, including unsuccessful inventions and his passion to become an artist. While Morse enjoyed painting, he was never critically successful; however, in his travels to become a better artist, he discovered the French optical telegraph system, which inspired the telegraph and Morse code. He eventually turned his focus to his invention and the development of a U. S. telegraph line. The simple text provides relevant connections for students in its portrayal of great success spawned from failure and revision of plans and ideas. Endpapers include a time line of Morse's life, facts about the telegraph, an extensive bibliography, and an author's note that connects Morse's code to the modern binary language of computers. VERDICT This is an excellent biography on a lesser-known figure; add to collections looking for inventors and makers. As it turns out, … amuel M - - - r … e was a predecessor of the maker movement.—Jamie Jensen, Wayne Cox Elementary School, Roanoke, TX

School Library Journal