If you’re reading this, you owe a debt of thanks to Johann Gutenberg. No, Gutenberg never built a website. He couldn’t write code. He wouldn’t know a microchip from a chocolate chip. But if he hadn’t invented the printing press, the chances are good that you would not be able to read this blog post — or anything else. And don’t forget that “freedom of the press” is one of the pillars of democracy in the United States of America. Without Gutenberg and others like him, there’d be no press to keep free.
Gutenberg’s printing press made it (relatively) easy and (relatively) fast to print books, and it triggered a revolution. Printing has changed dramatically since then, and it would be easy to take his invention for granted, given the ubiquitous laser printers and copy machines of our modern world. But as someone who would probably wither up and die without a daily infusion of printed words, I rank Johann Gutenberg’s contribution to civilization higher than those of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs.
Children who have recently learned to read are an especially good audience for books about Gutenberg and his invention. They may appreciate even more the books in their school library if they know the history of how books are made. Each of the three books for young readers described below provides an introduction to Gutenberg’s life, although they take very different approaches to the topic.
Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press
By Bruce Koscielniak
Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press puts Gutenberg’s invention into historical context. The author-illustrator, Bruce Koscielniak, first explains how books were produced before the printing press was invented. He describes the methods used in China and Korea to print characters and images on paper. He then explains the laborious process through which books were produced in Europe before Gutenberg’s time — copied and illustrated by hand by scribes in monasteries. He describes how paper for books was made and how books were bound by hand. He then explains in detail how Gutenberg’s press worked, including how the ink was made, how the type was molded, and how the press was constructed.
This book is a great introduction to Gutenberg for any young readers interested in the mechanics and engineering of the printing press.
You can learn more about Bruce Koscielniak at harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/bruce-koscielniak-77070.
Johann Gutenberg and the Printing Press
By Kay Melchisedech Olson
Illustrated by Tod Smith
Johann Gutenberg and the Printing Press is part of the Graphics Library at Capstone Press, and it presents Gutenberg’s story in the form of a graphic novel. As such, the dialogue appears in thought balloons and the story is dramatized in vivid illustrations. The book focuses on Gutenberg’s struggles to finance his work as an inventor and the dramatic story of how he lost his first printing business when he couldn’t repay a loan from his wealthy benefactor. It points out that Gutenberg died without being recognized for what he had accomplished but describes the impact his invention had on civilization.
I can’t help but mention that either Kay Melchisedech Olson, the author, or Tod Smith, the illustrator, must like cats because cats appear throughout the book, including on top of Gutenberg’s gravestone. I give it an extra gold star for that.
This book would be a good choice for young readers who like a little drama and intrigue in their history lessons.
You can learn more about Kay Melchisedech Olson at encyclopedia.com/children/scholarly-magazines/olson-kay-melchisedech-1948. More information about Tod Smith is at lambiek.net/artists/s/smith_todd.htm.
From the Good Mountain: How Gutenberg Changed the World
By James Rumford
In From the Good Mountain, James Rumford takes an entirely different approach to the story of Gutenberg and the printing press. The physical book itself is a work of art with the look of a medieval manuscript illustrated by hand.
The story begins as a series of riddles, each of which describes one of the elements that contributed to the invention of the printing press. For example, one description of something made from “rags from beggars’ clothes, ladies’ petticoats, and the shirts of gentlemen” ends with: “What was this thing made of rags and bones? It was paper, and it was ready.” The final element, of course, was Gutenberg himself. “Who was this man? He was Johannes Gutenberg, ‘John from the Good Mountain,” and he was ready.” (Gutenberg means “good mountain.”)
James Rumford does cover the known biographical details about Gutenberg. He includes an epilogue that describes the impact of the printing press and speculates about the future of printed books. He also encourages learning beyond his own book by offering a list of keywords that young readers can search on the internet, including gold leaf, madder, kerning, and linseed oil.
This is a perfect book for young readers who are budding writers, poets, and illustrators.
You can learn more about James Rumford at jamesrumford.com/.
Reading these books about Gutenberg made me wish that Gutenberg could read them, too. Maybe he can. (I myself plan to continue reading after I die as a ghostly presence in my local library.) Wherever Gutenberg is now, I hope that he knows that his invention is still very much appreciated.