From an idea to Google How innovation at Google changed the world

Review by Booklist Review

Once upon a time (in 1995), Larry Page and Sergey Brin met during a tour of Stanford University and argued the whole time. But soon, as fellow grad students, these two strong-willed, opinionated individuals discovered that they had a lot in common and began to collaborate. This appealing book tells the story, from their early work building an innovative search engine through their development of Google as a corporation that looks toward the future. The third volume in the From Idea to . . . series, this book repeats a six-page, business-basics section on companies going public, why they do so, and why stock prices fluctuate. The rest of the book is specific to Google's story. Sichol writes in a straightforward manner, presenting details that will interest and amuse her audience. The book's page design features at least one lively line drawing as well as a Fun Facts box or a quote box on each double-page spread. An engaging and informative, if wholly positive, introduction to Google and its founders.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 5--7--Beginning with the background of founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, this slim volume covers the development of Google from its first inspiration to its current status. Throughout the book, there are illustrations, definitions of key terms, fun facts, and quotes from Page and Brin. Along with detailing the basic mechanics of a Google search, there are explanations of the company's mission, their celebration of failures, and their effort "to be the third half of your brain." Back matter includes a time line, examples of real questions asked during Google job interviews, extensive source notes, and a bibliography. It is hard to imagine the world without the convenience of Google, but it took even more imagination to create Google in the first place. The author does a thorough job of presenting the personalities of Page and Brin, as well as the evolution of their creation. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers with an interest in technology, programming, and successful entrepreneurs.--Suzanne Costner, Fairview Elementary School, Maryville, TN

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

An illustrated narrative of Google's growth from a doctoral thesis topic to a tech giant; the latest in a series of nonfiction business books for children.Sichol (From an Idea to Disney, 2019, etc.) starts with the early experiences of the founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, both gifted children growing up in intellectual families who encouraged their interest in computers. She recounts their odd-couple meeting at Stanford University, their eventual partnership to create a search engine, and their persistence through initial setbacks. From there, it's a breezy journey through raising initial funding; turning a profit from ads; growing the business through hiring, innovation, and acquisition; and, finally, restructuring. Business terms such as "invest" and "acquire" are defined in brief callouts, with several pages devoted to "going public." Jennings' cartoons add to the approachability of the text, which is sprinkled with quotations and fun facts, including an entertaining look at what it's like to work at the Googleplex. However, the author's lionizing account sidesteps the recent controversies around tax avoidance, antitrust laws, consumer privacy, censorship, racial diversity, and treatment of women employees. It also skims over the roles that extraordinary women such as Susan Wojcicki and Marissa Meyer played in Google's success while ignoring many others, reinforcing the stereotype of "brilliant men with big ideas"; "Larry and Sergey" are both white.An engaging but unduly lopsided history for budding tech entrepreneurs. (timeline, sample interview questions, source notes, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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Larry Page LARRY'S CHILDHOOD Larry Page was born on March 26, 1973, in East Lansing, Michigan, the hometown to Michigan State University. Larry's parents were dedicated and devoted to both Larry and his older brother, Carl Jr. They encouraged creativity and intellectual conversation, and they valued nothing more than a good education.       Larry's father, Dr. Carl Page, was the first person in his family to graduate high school and attend college. A gifted mathematician, Carl studied engineering and was a pioneer in the field of computer science, earning one of the first computer science PhDs from the University of Michigan. Carl went on to teach computer science at Michigan State University.       Larry's mother, Gloria Page, was passionate about computer science as well. She taught computer programming at Lyman Briggs College, a residential college at Michigan State University.       As a child, Larry had the same distinctive characteristics he does today--short, straight black hair, thick, dark eyebrows, and a big, toothy smile. Larry attended the Okemos Montessori School in Okemos, Michigan, where he had the freedom to self-direct his education and explore school subjects independently. The environment was perfect for quirky, quiet, and curious Larry.       Back at home, Larry was immersed in a world of computers. He explained, "I was really lucky that my father was a computer science professor, which was unusual for someone my age." One day in 1978, Carl Page purchased and brought home the family's first computer, an Exidy Sorcerer. Larry remembers, "It was huge, and it cost a lot of money, and we couldn't afford to eat well after that." As a young boy, Larry began experimenting with the Exidy Sorcerer. Larry's brother, Carl Jr., recalled, "One of the early things I remember Larry doing was typing Frog and Toad Together into his computer, one word at a time."       As Larry got older, he became even more interested in computers. He started doing his homework on the family's latest computer and printing it out. His teachers were both amazed and confused--no child had ever done that before. When Carl Jr. came home from the University of Michigan with college-level computer homework, he let nine-year-old Larry help him try to solve it. Larry and Carl Jr. were a curious duo, often finding items in their house and taking them apart just to figure out how they worked. One day, Larry and Carl took apart all the family's power tools.       In addition to occasionally deconstructing power tools, Larry read books, as well as the computer, science, and technology magazines left around by his parents. When Larry was twelve years old, he read a book that brought him to tears, and would go on to make a big impact in his future. The book was about the brilliant inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla. Tesla was best known for inventing the alternating-current electrical system that's used today. However, Tesla never figured out how to create a sustainable business around his inventions and died with little money, fame, or success. Moved by Tesla's tragic ending, Larry began to understand how innovation alone is not enough. The key to success was to combine innovative technologies with a successful business strategy.       Larry attended East Lansing's MacDonald Middle School and then East Lansing High School. When he wasn't working hard at school or tinkering with computers, Larry enjoyed music. He played the saxophone and spent two summers at Interlochen Center for the Arts studying music composition. Over time, Larry developed a passion for time, rhythm, and speed in music, which eventually carried over to the way he thought about computing.       After graduating high school in 1991, Larry attended the University of Michigan. Larry received excellent grades and earned several academic honor awards. He was president of the University of Michigan chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, a national honor society for computer engineering students. Larry was also a member of the University of Michigan's solar car team, the Maize and Blue, and became interested in the future of transportation. At one point, Larry shared his vision for a monorail system that would run between buildings and campuses at the university. Although the monorail was never built, Larry did become a minor celebrity on campus after he built a working ink-jet printer entirely out of LEGO bricks. By the time Larry graduated from the University of Michigan, his only work experience was helping out with the donut stand to raise money for Eta Kappa Nu. Excerpted from From an Idea to Google by Lowey Bundy Sichol All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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