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

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.[em] (June) [/em]