53 1/2 Things That Changed the World and Some That Didn'T! - Hardcover

Grade 3-6?A book that's chronologically organized and punctuated with lighthearted cartoons that add humor and reinforce the text. Its main strength is the first section, "Before History Began," which sets an easy tone and presents inventions, such as tools, clothes, and the wheel, that were pivotal in forming early society. The second section discusses how toilets, clocks, the printing press, and a variety of other increasingly sophisticated inventions have changed the ways people live. Parker winds up with the atomic bomb and fusion power. The third section is extraneous: useful things that haven't really changed the course of history, such as chess, napkins, and umbrellas. Children will be attracted to the author's chatty, questioning style. While inventions and not inventors are the focus here, women appear to be underrepresented in both the text and pictures. Less intimidating than Small Inventions That Make a Big Difference (National Geographic Society, 1984) and historically broader than Charlotte Jones's Mistakes That Worked (Doubleday, 1994), this title adds some spark to learning about everyday things. It's a good introduction to inventions, their basic principles, and why we use them.?Joan Soulliere, Wenham Public Library, MA
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