Step inside the inventor's workshop to see how one creative spark leads to another . . . until an invention is born. Find out how, when, and why these ingenious breakthroughs happened, and learn about all the people who created them. Discover how Ada Lovelace's code inspired Charles Babbage's work on the first modern computer; see how Lewis Latimer's technology made Thomas Edison's light bulb possible; and much more. This STEM book for middle grade readers features:

• Real-life stories behind 10 great inventions--computer, compass, radio, camera, television, light bulb, engine, telephone, bicycle, and clock
• Mini biographies and profiles of more than 50 inventors
• Beautifully illustrated timelines, showing how creations of today exist because of the long line of inventions and inventors that came before
• Incredible cross-sections, revealing the intricacies of each discovery

What do swim fins, Popsicles(R), Infection-Detecting Stitches, the Braille alphabet, and Taco vs. Burrito all have in common? They were all invented by kids!

When Remya Jose had to spend many hours washing her family's laundry by hand, she invented a pedal powered washing machine that could finish the chore in only 20 minutes! When Tripp Phillips' Lego creations kept falling apart, he developed a glue strong enough to hold his creations together that would wash off when he was ready to build something new! And when Fatima Al Kaabi didn't have anyone willing to teach her about robotics, she turned to the internet to teach herself all the skills she needed--and created multiple crowd-pleasing robots in the process!

From Popsicles(R) and swim fins to robots and glitter shooting prosthetics, Kailei Pew's middle grade nonfiction debut is full of fun and inspiring stories, illustrated by Shannon Wright, about real kid inventors who proved that even the youngest people can change the world.

An inspiring story of persistence and an ideal purchase for any collection. School Library Journal, STARRED review

2021 Nutmeg Book Awards Nominee

Winner of the 2020 Sakura Award

Read Across America Book of the Month, May 2021

Center for Multicultural Children's Literature Best Book of 2019 List

Smithsonian Magazine '10 Best Children's Books of 2019′ List

Every day, Momofuku Ando would retire to his lab--a little shed in his backyard. For years, he'd dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was quick, convenient, and tasty for the hungry people he'd seen in line for a bowl on the black market following World War II. Peace follows from a full stomach, he believed.

Day after day, Ando experimented. Night after night, he failed. But Ando kept experimenting.

With persistence, creativity, and a little inspiration, Ando succeeded. This is the true story behind one of the world's most popular foods.

Get ready to ignite your child's curiosity with Have You Thanked a Kidventor Today? - the captivating follow-up to Microsoft's acclaimed STEM read Have You Thanked an Inventor Today?.

This biographical picture book features the incredible stories of young inventors who changed the world with their innovative ideas. From the Popsicle to the trampoline, your child will discover the fascinating origin stories behind some of their favorite inventions.

The book also includes a glossary and fun science experiments that will boost your child's vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Plus, with its engaging rhyming text, Have You Thanked a Kidventor Today? makes learning about STEM and STEAM more enjoyable and easier to remember.

But that's not all - by showcasing young inventors, this book fosters an important text-to-self connection, inspiring your child to tap into their own creativity and inner genius. It's the perfect way to promote an interest in STEM and STEAM, while empowering your child to contribute to the world's scientific landscape.

Don't miss out on this must-read book for children of all ages!

Cardboard is everywhere! For creative kids aged 9 to 14, it's the perfect eco-friendly building material, and Cardboard Box Engineering is the perfect guide to get them started on inventive tinkering. A working kaleidoscope, a marble roller coaster, a robotic hand, and a wind-powered tractor with cardboard gears are just some of the ingenious projects developed by Jonathan Adolph, author of the best-selling Mason Jar Science. Working with simple household tools, kids can follow the step-by-step photographic instructions to exercise their design smarts, expand their 3-D thinking, and learn the basics of physics and engineering with activities that have real-life applications.

Cardboard is everywhere! For creative kids aged 9 to 14, it's the perfect eco-friendly building material, and Cardboard Box Engineering is the perfect guide to get them started on inventive tinkering. A working kaleidoscope, a marble roller coaster, a robotic hand, and a wind-powered tractor with cardboard gears are just some of the ingenious projects developed by Jonathan Adolph, author of the best-selling Mason Jar Science. Working with simple household tools, kids can follow the step-by-step photographic instructions to exercise their design smarts, expand their 3-D thinking, and learn the basics of physics and engineering with activities that have real-life applications.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS 2022
An international best-seller, translated into over 25 languages

Often human scientists try and solve a problem or invent a new tool and they realise that animals have already invented it for them. In this book you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their super inventing powers to make amazing things for humans.

We have invented ways of solving problems, making unbelievable materials, ways of getting around and working out how to survive on our own for millions of years. Sometimes when a human inventor gets stuck, they come to the animal kingdom to see if we can help them out. In this book you will meet the crème de la crème of animal innovators who have created or are in the process of inventing things that people use every day.

Meet the shark who invented a pair of swimming shorts so fast, they were banned from the Olympic games. And meet the snail who has invented a house that stays cool inside even in the desert.

Many Americans have a dishwasher in their kitchen. But who invented it?

Meet Josephine Garis Cochrane: entrepreneur, innovator, girlboss. Washing dishes is a pain--it leaves Josephine's cups cracked, her dishes dinged, and her chowder bowls chipped. She'd rather be picking flowers, frosting cakes, or playing piano than dealing with cracked crockery. What to do about a chore that's icky, destructive, and time-consuming? Josephine tackles this task the modern way: she makes a machine to do it for her! She tinkers and tests, and perseveres through fizzles and flops--until she has a government patent for her invention, and there are whirring, whizzing, bubbling dishwashers making a splash across America.

This charming tale includes an author's note, a list of notable women inventors, a timeline of fascinating inventions, and a list of sources.

Reveals the real-life stories behind dozens of brilliant ideas, from the invention of the wheel, to the hi-tech gadgets of today.
A fascinating book that describes the successes - and failures - of inventions in transport, food, household gadgets, communication, clothing, medicine and more. Humorously illustrated by Adam Larkum, with cartoons and simple diagrams showing how the inventions work. Includes invention timelines, a glossary and internet links to websites with games, biographies and tips on becoming an inventor.

Take a tour of the science of superpowers and see how science fiction is becoming science fact

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Fly like Shazam? Turn invisible like Violet Parr? Or maybe have the super strength of the Hulk? Believe it or not, many of the extraordinary abilities we see in comics and movies are already a reality--or could become one soon!

This middle-grade nonfiction book uses superheroes to explore how science is transforming our bodies and our experiences. Engaging text, detailed timelines, and intricate diagrams break down how superhero traits have been reflected in technological innovations throughout history, and how they could appear in the future. Jetpacks and rocket belts can help us fly like Superman. Prosthetic limbs and lab-grown human tissue mirror the regenerative powers of Wolverine and Ms. Marvel. But readers are also invited to think critically about these incredible, and sometimes controversial, advancements--after all, with great power comes great responsibility!

A fresh and timely take on innovation, Becoming Bionic and Other Ways Science Is Making Us Super blends pop culture, history, and STEM for a fun, engaging, and thought-provoking look at the science of superpowers.

Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people's pain? These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in this dynamic look at several unsung heroes who shared a desire to improve people's lives. Offering profiles with fast facts on flaps and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a nod to the minds behind the gamma electric cell and the ice-cream scoop, improvements to traffic lights, open-heart surgery, and more -- inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter.
Back matter includes an authors' note and sources.

Accidents happen. Sometimes that's a good thing.

Did you realize cheese puffs, Coca-Cola, bubble wrap, and the Post-it note were all invented by accident?

With Fun Illustrations For Every Story!

This book covers fascinating origin stories of 60 every-day items that were invented by accident; that is, the inventor did not expect to make the product when the product was discovered.

Not only will this book share amazing stories about everyday products, but it will also inspire you. We all encounter things that go wrong, and this book reminds us that when life gives lemons, we can make lemonade.

Each story is written to encourage kids and adults to be curious and be inspired to create.

In this book, you will find out about

• Did Coke started out as a painkiller?
• is the best thing since sliced bread?
• Who invented the Potato Chip?
• How a sewing kit led to a bright Idea?
• The Invention of the Internet
• And More....

Also, the book reminds us that we are all inventors, inventing new recipes, new gadgets, and new literature, and it encourages us to share our inventions with those around us.

If you like to inspire your child to be creative or be curious, get this book today!

Explore the mysteries of the night sky with the Junior Scientists series for kids ages 6 to 9

Scan the skies for 40 incredible sights with a book that shows budding scientists how to use a telescope for kids. You'll learn how to choose a telescope, set it up, and seek out the wonders of the Northern Hemisphere, from the Big Dipper to the Whirlpool Galaxy.

• Detailed visual guides--Illustrations of each star, planet, and more make them easier to spot-- and once you can identify the major ones, you can use them to find others with any telescope for kids.
• Outer space school--Discover what time of year it's easiest to see different objects in the sky, the life cycle of a star, how galaxies are cataloged, and more!
• Fun facts--Find out where the constellations get their names and why looking at the stars means you're actually looking back in time!

See what's happening out in the cosmos with this guide to making the most of a telescope for kids.

One day, a spring fell from the desk of Richard James, an engineer and a dreamer. Its coils took a walk...and so did Richard's imagination. He knew right away that he had stumbled onto something marvelous.

With the help of his wife, Betty, Richard took this ordinary spring and turned it into a plaything. But it wasn't just any old trinket--it was a Slinky, and it would become one of the most popular toys in American history.

Innovation starts with a problem whose solution sets in motion all kinds of unexpected discoveries. That's why you can draw a line from pendulums to punching the clock at a factory, from ice blocks to summer movie blockbusters, from clean water to computer chips.

In the lively storytelling style that has made him a popular, bestselling author, Steven Johnson looks at how accidental genius, brilliant mistakes, and unintended consequences shape the way we live in the modern world. Johnson's long zoom approach connects history, geography, politics, and scientific advances with the deep curiousity of inventors or quirky interests of tinkerers to show how innovation truly comes about.

His fascinating account is organized into six topics: glass, cold, sound, clean, time, light. Johnson's fresh exploration of these simple, single-syllable word concepts creates an endlessly absorbing story that moves from lightning strikes in the prehistoric desert to the herculean effort to literally raise up the city of Chicago to laser labs straight out of a sci-fi movie.

In other words, it's the story of how we got to now!