About This Book
Reach for this book when you notice your child doodling impossible inventions in the margins of their homework or asking why cars can't fly. It is the perfect antidote for a kid who feels like they have outgrown standard picture books about trucks but still possesses a deep, engine-revving curiosity about how the world moves. Through forty-five short entries, Michael Hearst explores the fringes of engineering history, from ostrich-drawn carriages to motorized suitcases. The tone is humorous and witty, turning what could be a dry list of facts into an inspiring gallery of human creativity and persistence. It is an ideal choice for parents of 8 to 12-year-olds who want to encourage a growth mindset by showing that the path to innovation is often paved with weird, wild, and sometimes unsuccessful ideas.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
Secular and direct. There is occasional mention of failed inventions or the danger inherent in early aviation/engineering, but the focus is on the ingenuity rather than the peril.
