Born sixteen years apart, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were both inventors. Thomas designed an electric pen, a phonograph to play music, and an incandescent light bulb that burned all night. Henry dreamed of building a motor car: not just any motor car, but the best motor car, one that families could fit in and that wasn’t too expensive. While Thomas kept inventing new things, Henry grew frustrated with his failures. What was Thomas’s secret? With beautifully detailed drawings by Jennifer Black Reinhardt that capture the determination, frustration, jubilation, and curiosity of these two friends, Suzanne Slade’s book is a delightful romp through the lives and inventions of Edison and Ford. But what was The Inventor’s Secret (Charlesbridge, $16.95)? You’ll have to read the story to find out. Ages 8-11
