The Boy Who Thought Outside the Box
The Story of Video Game Inventor Ralph Baer
Marcie Wessels author Beatriz Castro illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Union Square & Co.
Published:7th Jul '20
Should be back in stock very soon
Crazy about Wii, Nintendo, X-Box, and PlayStation? Meet the inventor whose work made them all possible: Ralph Baer, creator of the first home video game system!
Today, the video game industry keeps growing, with ever more platforms available to fans. But how did the very first system come about? This picture-book biography of Ralph Baer, whose family fled Nazi Germany for the US, introduces kids to a great inventor AND the birth of the first home console. Using wartime technology, Baer thought outside the box and transformed the television into a vehicle for gaming; Baer's invention, the Odyssey, is a precursor to the Atari gaming system. Today, interactive systems like Wii and PlayStation are descendants of Ralph’s innovative “Brown Box,” making this award-winning inventor the true “Father of Video Games.”
"Wessels’ clear, flowing text provides a bounty of information on Ralph’s life, inspiration, and thought process, detailing his contagious excitement and thoughtful perseverance. A nice portrait of a lesser-known inventor whose work has had a tremendous influence on our modern-day world."—Booklist
“A personable and energetic introduction with a positive message.” – Kirkus
“A gentle introduction to a passionate inventor’s incredible impact on our culture. Young gamers will get a kick out of their beloved systems’ humble beginnings.” – School Library Journal
“Wessels’s unabashed fandom will appeal to the like-minded. Castro’s illustrations combine cartoonish exaggeration with realistic details, including plenty of tubes and plugs, to depict Baer’s journey.” – Publishers Weekly
ISBN: 9781454932598
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
48 pages