Brainstorm!: The Stories of Twenty American Kid Inventors

by Tom Tucker, Richard Loehle (Illustrator)

Overview

Inspiring young inventors, from ages 5 to 19

Of the thousands of inventions filed each year since 1790 with the United States Patent Office, some have come from enterprising kids, and not just those who have grown up to be famous adult inventors. Here are the stories of twenty ingenious young Americans. Among them are Chester Greenwood, creator of ear muffs; Ralph Samuelson, originator of water-skiing; Vanessa Hess and her colored car wax; and Jerrald Spencer, whose electronic gizmo has made a line of toys so popular that over five million of them have been sold!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374409289
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	09/25/1998
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,055,284
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.95(h) x 0.45(d)
Lexile:	1070L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Tom Tucker lives in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Brainstorm! is his first book.

Richard Loehle has illustrated many books, including The Great American Depression Book of Fun. He lives in Decatur, Georgia.

Editorial Reviews

A concluding section gives good, specific advice for young inventors (and their teachers).” —Booklist

“Enthusiastic, pleasantly specific, well-researched, and inspiring. Here's proof that serious inventors need not be adults, and that inventions need not be complex, expensive machines to be patentable, marketable, and, sometimes, lucrative.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Engaging and inspiring.” —Los Angeles Times

“A useful book for encouraging self-expression and the creative process.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Gr 5-9-Brainstorm features young inventors from colonial to modern times and includes women and minorities. The ideas range from a safety device for power looms to the Popsicle, invented by an 11-year-old boy in 1905. Many inventors in this book started their careers as children and some held patents while still in their teens. Others did not receive their first patent until they were older and were able to raise the money necessary to fund the patenting process. The last chapter explains that process and gives advice on ways to save money on searches. Black-and-white photographs and pen-and-ink drawings show the inventor and/or their inventions. A useful book for encouraging self-expression and the creative process.-Margaret M. Hagel, Norfolk Public Library System, VA

School Library Journal

"Engaging and inspiring."

Los Angeles Times