Professor publishes children’s book about Alexander Graham Bell

Local author brings children’s book to Pierce Library

August 19, 2019 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Local author Carol Lauritzen and co-author Laurel Stewart Mathewson will share their new book “Grampie: True Home Stories from the Life of Alexander Graham Bell” at 4 p.m., August 29 at Pierce Library of Eastern Oregon University.

“Grampie” tells many events in the life of Bell not found in other biographies for young people, including tricks he played as a boy and pastimes as an adult at his home in Nova Scotia.

“The book focuses on the personal aspects of Bell’s life with his grandchildren and lets the reader consider how Bell lovingly cultivated scientific curiosity and desire to learn through home experiments and activities,” said EOU Library Director Karen Clay.

The authors became interested in Bell when helping develop a science curriculum about inventions. Through research at the Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site and the Library of Congress, the authors gathered the personal stories and historical photographs included in “Grampie.” Lauritzen is a “mostly retired” EOU education professor and Mathewson is an Episcopal priest who grew up in La Grande.

The authors will read from their work and share a modern version of one of Bell’s home experiments. Books will be available for purchase for $18.