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The Brilliant Light of Thomas Edison
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The Brilliant Light of Thomas Edison

Curiosity, perseverance and creativity: the childhood of an inventor

Available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish

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The book

In 1847, in a small town in Ohio, a curious and imaginative boy nicknamed Al is born. He loves to read, observe and understand the world; he learns above all with his mother, sets up a small laboratory and fails his first inventions… before succeeding at more than two thousand.

This picture book tells the childhood and journey of Thomas Edison, focusing on what made them possible: curiosity, perseverance and creativity, and a way of looking at failure as a step in learning. An authorized biography, produced with the agreement of The Edison Innovation Foundation, it ends with a note for parents and educators and a note for psychotherapists.

Three threads

01CuriosityAl wants to understand everything: he reads, experiments, asks questions. The book shows how this drive becomes a strength when it is welcomed.
02Mistakes that teachTen thousand ways a light bulb does not work: each failure brings the invention closer. A concrete way to talk with children about the right to make mistakes.
03PerseveranceStarting again, even after a laboratory goes up in smoke. For children who get discouraged quickly, a model that does not give up.

A glimpse inside

“When he was little, Al was imaginative and curious. And he always loved to read.” (translated from the French edition)
Page 2 “When he was little, Al was imaginative and curious. And he always loved to read.” (translated from the French edition)
“Faced with problems, he sought to grow, to learn and to come out stronger, without ever giving up.” (translated from the French edition)
Page 8 “Faced with problems, he sought to grow, to learn and to come out stronger, without ever giving up.” (translated from the French edition)
“Thomas Edison’s bright light keeps shining, lighting the way for everyone.” (translated from the French edition)
Page 20 “Thomas Edison’s bright light keeps shining, lighting the way for everyone.” (translated from the French edition)

« Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. »

Thomas Alva Edison (quoted in the book)

How to use this book with children

This book can accompany a child who is afraid of making mistakes, gives up quickly or doubts themselves. During or after reading, you can:

  • ask the child what they would have done after a failure like Al’s;
  • name together a “failed then successful invention” in their own life (a bike, a reading, a drawing);
  • talk about what helps to try again: a person, a break, a new idea;
  • imagine what the child would like to invent, and where they would start.

The closing notes are addressed to parents and educators (mistakes as learning) and to psychotherapists (perseverance and creativity in session).

Where to buy Printed book. Choose your edition, then the store closest to you:
French editionAmazon USAAmazon Canada
English editionAmazon USAAmazon Canada
Portuguese editionAmazon USAAmazon CanadaUICLAP (Brazil)
Spanish editionAmazon USAAmazon Canada

Also on other Amazon stores (UK, France, Brazil, etc.): search the title or the code — French edition : B0CVRY4SSF · English edition : B0CVFP4WLJ · Portuguese edition : B0CVDHYLQ4 · Spanish edition : B0CVSFV58H

For group orders (schools, clinics, libraries) or a signed copy, write to us. Contact us
Helena Pinheiro Jucá-Vasconcelos

The author

Helena Pinheiro Jucá-Vasconcelos is a psychologist and Gestalt therapist (OPQ #15704-25, Quebec; CRP 05/34161, Brazil) and the founder of the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Sherbrooke. She is also co-author and editor of the book Educação Emocional Positiva and the author of other picture books, born from the same sensitive listening and the desire to translate human experiences into language accessible to children.

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