How Encrypted Radio Communication Was Built

An illustrated stories story from Wonder Books — free to read, with narration.

How Encrypted Radio Communication Was Built — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

How Encrypted Radio Communication Was Built — book cover — Wonder Books
How Encrypted Radio Communication Was Built — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

Tarek fiddled with his coral-shaped pencil, watching a school of parrotfish dart through the skeletal remains of the old pirate ship.
Tarek fiddled with his coral-shaped pencil, watching a school of parrotfish dart through the skeletal remains of the old pirate ship. "Grandma Astrid, this school is so cool!" he exclaimed. Astrid smiled, adjusting her diving mask. "It is, Tarek. But even cool places have things we can learn about everyday technology, don't you think?" She pointed to the old ship's radio equipment, now encrusted with barnacles.

Tarek fiddled with his coral-shaped pencil, watching a school of parrotfish dart through the skeletal remains of the old pirate ship. "Grandma Astrid, this school is so cool!" he exclaimed. Astrid smiled, adjusting her diving mask. "It is, Tarek. But even cool places have things we can learn about everyday technology, don't you think?" She pointed to the old ship's radio equipment, now encrusted with barnacles.

Page 2

"That radio thing? What's so interesting about it?" Tarek asked, swimming closer. "Well, how do you think people talked to each other far away back then?
"That radio thing? What's so interesting about it?" Tarek asked, swimming closer. "Well, how do you think people talked to each other far away back then? Before cell phones?" Astrid inquired, gesturing towards the device. Tarek paused, his eyes widening. "Wait... how DID they do that? And how did they keep their messages secret?" He pulled out his worn leather notebook, ready to investigate.

"That radio thing? What's so interesting about it?" Tarek asked, swimming closer. "Well, how do you think people talked to each other far away back then? Before cell phones?" Astrid inquired, gesturing towards the device. Tarek paused, his eyes widening. "Wait... how DID they do that? And how did they keep their messages secret?" He pulled out his worn leather notebook, ready to investigate.

Page 3

Back in his science-themed bedroom—covered with posters of marine life—Tarek plopped onto his bed. He opened his glowing Invention Encyclopedia. "Whoa!
Back in his science-themed bedroom—covered with posters of marine life—Tarek plopped onto his bed. He opened his glowing Invention Encyclopedia. "Whoa! Encrypted radio communication..." he whispered. Suddenly, the room dissolved into swirling light. He clutched his notebook tightly. He remembered what his mom always said: "Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning."

Back in his science-themed bedroom—covered with posters of marine life—Tarek plopped onto his bed. He opened his glowing Invention Encyclopedia. "Whoa! Encrypted radio communication..." he whispered. Suddenly, the room dissolved into swirling light. He clutched his notebook tightly. He remembered what his mom always said: "Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning."

Page 4

Tarek stumbled, landing on cobblestones. Soldiers in tan uniforms hurried past, carrying field radios. A woman in a military uniform approached him.
Tarek stumbled, landing on cobblestones. Soldiers in tan uniforms hurried past, carrying field radios. A woman in a military uniform approached him. "Who are you, son? What are you doing here?" she asked sternly. Tarek stammered, "I... I was just..."

Tarek stumbled, landing on cobblestones. Soldiers in tan uniforms hurried past, carrying field radios. A woman in a military uniform approached him. "Who are you, son? What are you doing here?" she asked sternly. Tarek stammered, "I... I was just..."

Page 5

"He's with me, Major Priya," a voice said. Astrid appeared, now dressed in a simple but elegant dress from the era. "He's helping me with...
"He's with me, Major Priya," a voice said. Astrid appeared, now dressed in a simple but elegant dress from the era. "He's helping me with... radio repairs." Priya raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Radio repairs? In the middle of Warsaw? Very well. But keep him out of trouble."

"He's with me, Major Priya," a voice said. Astrid appeared, now dressed in a simple but elegant dress from the era. "He's helping me with... radio repairs." Priya raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Radio repairs? In the middle of Warsaw? Very well. But keep him out of trouble."

Page 6

Astrid led Tarek into a hidden workshop. Wires, vacuum tubes, and circuit boards covered every surface. "This is where we develop...
Astrid led Tarek into a hidden workshop. Wires, vacuum tubes, and circuit boards covered every surface. "This is where we develop... specialized communication systems," Astrid explained. "Our messages need to be secret. The enemy intercepts everything." She showed Tarek a complex-looking device. "This is an early version of an encryption machine. We scramble the messages using complex algorithms."

Astrid led Tarek into a hidden workshop. Wires, vacuum tubes, and circuit boards covered every surface. "This is where we develop... specialized communication systems," Astrid explained. "Our messages need to be secret. The enemy intercepts everything." She showed Tarek a complex-looking device. "This is an early version of an encryption machine. We scramble the messages using complex algorithms."

Page 7

"But how did people invent this stuff?" Tarek asked, scribbling furiously in his notebook. Astrid smiled. "It wasn't easy.
"But how did people invent this stuff?" Tarek asked, scribbling furiously in his notebook. Astrid smiled. "It wasn't easy. One key inventor was Gilbert Vernam in 1917, who invented the 'one-time pad' encryption. During World War II, Alan Turing and others at Bletchley Park developed the Colossus machine to break German codes encrypted by the Enigma machine. It all started with understanding simple codes, Tarek, then making them more complex!"

"But how did people invent this stuff?" Tarek asked, scribbling furiously in his notebook. Astrid smiled. "It wasn't easy. One key inventor was Gilbert Vernam in 1917, who invented the 'one-time pad' encryption. During World War II, Alan Turing and others at Bletchley Park developed the Colossus machine to break German codes encrypted by the Enigma machine. It all started with understanding simple codes, Tarek, then making them more complex!"

Page 8

Suddenly, Priya burst into the workshop. "We have a problem! The enemy is about to intercept a crucial message! Their new decryption machine is too powerful!"…
Suddenly, Priya burst into the workshop. "We have a problem! The enemy is about to intercept a crucial message! Their new decryption machine is too powerful!" she exclaimed. Astrid grabbed Tarek's notebook. "Remember what you learned about the 'one-time pad'? We can use that to create a new, unbreakable code!" Tarek nodded, remembering the simple cipher. "It's a perfect solution!" he shouted back.

Suddenly, Priya burst into the workshop. "We have a problem! The enemy is about to intercept a crucial message! Their new decryption machine is too powerful!" she exclaimed. Astrid grabbed Tarek's notebook. "Remember what you learned about the 'one-time pad'? We can use that to create a new, unbreakable code!" Tarek nodded, remembering the simple cipher. "It's a perfect solution!" he shouted back.

Page 9

Working together, they quickly devised a new code using the 'one-time pad' method, scrambling the message beyond recognition.
Working together, they quickly devised a new code using the 'one-time pad' method, scrambling the message beyond recognition. The message was sent, successfully evading the enemy's decryption efforts. Priya smiled, relieved. "You saved us, Tarek!" Tarek grinned. Astrid said, "As Louis Pasteur said, 'Chance favors only the prepared mind.' You were prepared, Tarek, and that's why you saw the solution."

Working together, they quickly devised a new code using the 'one-time pad' method, scrambling the message beyond recognition. The message was sent, successfully evading the enemy's decryption efforts. Priya smiled, relieved. "You saved us, Tarek!" Tarek grinned. Astrid said, "As Louis Pasteur said, 'Chance favors only the prepared mind.' You were prepared, Tarek, and that's why you saw the solution."

Page 10

Back in his room, Tarek closed the Invention Encyclopedia. He ran to Astrid, who was preparing dinner. "Grandma! I helped invent encrypted radio!" he exclaimed.
Back in his room, Tarek closed the Invention Encyclopedia. He ran to Astrid, who was preparing dinner. "Grandma! I helped invent encrypted radio!" he exclaimed. Astrid chuckled. "Well, you helped save a crucial message using knowledge from the past. Today, encryption protects everything from our emails to our bank accounts, Tarek. It all started with those simple codes." "To be continued!" the Invention Encyclopedia echoed.

Back in his room, Tarek closed the Invention Encyclopedia. He ran to Astrid, who was preparing dinner. "Grandma! I helped invent encrypted radio!" he exclaimed. Astrid chuckled. "Well, you helped save a crucial message using knowledge from the past. Today, encryption protects everything from our emails to our bank accounts, Tarek. It all started with those simple codes." "To be continued!" the Invention Encyclopedia echoed.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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