I Gave Thomas Edison My Sandwich

Children's Literature - Gisela Jernigan

In the early 1900s, most of the residents of little Iron City, Tennessee including Floyd Moore and the rest of his fourth grade class, turned up at the train station to greet the three famous people who were passing through. Not unsurprisingly, Floyd was ignored by the first two men who exited the train (President Taft and Henry Ford), but he was thrilled when Thomas Edison spoke to him in a friendly way, so thrilled, in fact, that he ended up giving Edison his special souse and mustard sandwich. This biographical picture book with its colorful, rather humorous, oil pastel illustrations, might remind children that their own older relatives might have similar true and exciting stories to share about their youthful experiences.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-In this nostalgic nugget, an 87-year-young gentleman remembers the very special day his fourth-grade class went to the depot to see the celebrity train carrying William Taft, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison. Stuck behind the adults in the crowd, Floyd stands on his lunch pail to catch a glimpse of these famous men. Then, Edison comes toward the boy and chides him about standing on his ham sandwich. "`It's not ham, sir, it's souse-'" Floyd stammers. "`Haven't thought about [souse] in a long time,'" Edison replies. As the train pulls out of Iron City, Tennessee, the youngster races to give the conductor his dishcloth-wrapped sandwich for Mr. Edison. Splendid word pictures of the ``olden days'' are filled with unfamiliar concepts and old-fashioned words artfully defined in context. Realistic deep-toned pastels add humor to and further explain the text in this unusual trip down memory lane.-Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NE

Kay Weisman

Octogenarian Moore recalls a vivid memory from his youth when a celebrity train carrying William Taft, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison stopped in his hometown of Iron City, Tennessee. The author's fourth-grade class took a field trip to the train station, where Edison paused long enough to chat with Moore. He particularly remembers discussing souse-and-mustard sandwiches and offering his own lunch to the famous inventor. Nelson's colorful pastels include many period details and complement the understated humor of the text. A good choice for primary story hours, Grandparents' Day celebrations, and introducing the concept of personalized storytelling.