 |
Interested in Ordering Kids' Books for Your Store? Click Here:
 |
Bibbity,
Bobbity, Bang Bang: Inventive Children’s Books
By Karen Mendez Smith
May 1, 2003
Inventive
thinkers have always had a hold on our imaginations, and children,
unlike those of us who think we know how a TV or microwave works,
can easily find fascination in stories of how both ordinary and
extraordinary inventions came to be.
The
Genius of Leonardo |
The
Mystery of History
Imaginative
Inventions: The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of Roller
Skates, Potato Chips, Marbles, and Pie (and More!) |
ANCIENT
INVENTIONS by Peter James (Ballantine, 1999) gives an overview
of applied science from pre-history to 1492. Told through the eyes
of his assistant, THE GENIUS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI
by Guido Visconti (Barefoot Books, 2002) examines the magnificent
work of this famous inventor and artist. Ever wonder how Silly Putty
was invented? TOYS! AMAZING STORIES BEHIND SOME GREAT INVENTIONS
by Don Wulffson (Henry Holt, 2000) describes how a variety of toys
and games came to be. IMAGINATIVE INVENTIONS: THE WHO, WHAT,
WHERE, WHEN AND WHY OF ROLLER SKATES, POTATO CHIPS, MARBLES AND
PIE (AND MORE) by Charise Merille Harper (Little, Brown,
2001) puts a creative spin on ordinary objects, while David McCauley’s
revised THE NEW WAY THINGS WORK (Houghton-Mifflin,
1998) graphically illustrates 12 new machines and 70 new pages of
innovations in addition to previous favorites.
Brainstorm!
The Stories of Twenty American Kid Inventors |
Baby
Geniuses
Kids
are sure to be spellbound by BRAINSTORM: THE STORIES OF
TWENTY KID INVENTORS by Tom Tucker (Farrar, Straus, Giroux,
1995), which encourages aspiring inventors while providing practical
advice. EUREKA! THE ENTREPRENEURIAL INVENTOR’S GUIDE
TO DEVELOPING, PROTECTING AND PROFITING FROM YOUR IDEAS
by Robert Gold (Prentice-Hall, 1994) gives the nuts and bolts of
brainstorming, research and documenting original ideas. For a look
at the big picture, consult THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INVENTIONS
by Jessica Snyder Sachs (Franklin Watts, 2001) with full color illustrations
and photographs of the world’s greatest devices.
Girls
Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women |
Pioneers
of Invention
The
trials and tribulations of female innovators are expertly documented
in GIRLS THINK OF EVERYTHING: STORIES OF INGENIOUS INVENTIONS
BY WOMEN by Catherine Thimmesh (Houghton-Mifflin, 2000).
The lives of five African-American inventors from the 18th century
to modern times are profiled in AFRICAN AMERICAN INVENTORS
by Otha Sullivan (John Wiley, 1998).
Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang |
You've
Seen the Movie. . .
Every budding scientist occasionally needs a dose of fun and fantasy.
What better way to escape reality than with Ian Fleming’s
classic CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (Buccaneer, 1995),
in which two children and their inventor father restore an old car
that turns out to be pure magic!
Writer's
Bio: Karen Mendez Smith has been involved in children's
media for over twenty years as a literary agent, writer, and creator
of animated television and film. Co-founder of Satori Organics and
M/Path Press, she is a parent to eight children and five incredible
grandchildren (and counting).
|
|
