Biography: Alexander Graham Bell: Setting the Tone for Communication

For my biography picture book I chose Alexander Graham Bell: Setting the Tone for Communication by Mike Venezia. This is a very neutral biographical depiction of the life and inventions of a controversial historical figure within the Deaf community.

I chose this book because of how well-known A.G. Bell is. In the Hearing community the first thing people will think about is the spectacular invention of the telephone. In the Deaf community you will begin a debate about the oralization of the deaf and the culture of disability in which deaf people need to be fixed. However, what is great about his book is how neutral and mater of fact the biography of this historical figure is. The author started working on this series for Scholastic in an effort to make the impact of scientists and their inventions known to a younger generation.

Bell is not depicted as someone trying to fix the deaf and his political perspectives are never mentioned. Even though he is most well known for his intention of the telephone, I learned about his other inventions and ideas from this book, such as the metal detector. I especially appreciated the depiction of Bell as an idea man, but how he struggled with the application of those ideas. There really is an overall message of teamwork. Without the skilled engineers and electricians he worked with the Bell's telephone may never have come into being.

Since A.G. Bell is such a controversial figure in the Deaf community this book would be a good source for a positive representation of his character. It could be compared and contrasted with other resources to discuss how and why he has been depicted in varying ways.