TOM EDISON

The Edison centennary is sure to produce a rash of biographical material and here is one for this age level, in a series which has set a high standard of excellence to which this does not measure up. Is it perhaps Edison's story demands a fairly detailed account of what the inventor-scientist struggled with -- and that emphasis on that phase is difficult for nine and ten year olds. There is the usual and accepted picture of a hard-working boy, intent on making money from the beginning of his career as candy- butcher and newspaper boy. There is the stress on an early interest in science. But there is lack of the feeling of background and period characteristic of most in the series. This is a story of a cold personality; perhaps it would be almost impossible to make him come alive for youngsters.