10 Books for Kid Inventors of All Ages

Rosie Revere, Engineer, by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
She may seem shy and unassuming, but don’t let Rosie fool you. By night, she’s a brilliant tinkerer, with dreams of someday becoming a great inventor. When Rosie’s great-great Aunt Rose (known to the rest of the world as “Rosie the Riveter”) expresses to her niece a dream of flying, Rosie sets about to make that dream come true. But when her contraption crashes, Rosie learns that failure is part of the path to brilliant inventing.  (Ages 4-8)

If I Built A Car, by Chris Van Dusen
Driving through the neighborhood with his dad, Jack is underwhelmed by the cars he sees. They’re okay, but if Jack were in charge things would be a little more exciting. What if the car had a fireplace? Or a swimming pool? What if it were driven by a robot chauffeur? The sky’s the limit in this rhyming picture book, and its companion, If I Built A House. (Ages 4-8)

The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires
The little girl featured in this story has a wonderful idea, a truly magnificent idea. She knows just what it will look like, just how it will work. But once she begins, this young inventor discovers taking her idea from imagination to reality is not as easy as she thought it would be. No matter what she does, this magnificent idea just won’t come together. So she does what every inventor has done at some point…she quits. But a little nudging from a four-legged pal has her trying one more time… (Ages 4-8)

Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet
How many children (and adults!) have cheered over the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons, without ever knowing their history? This is the story of Tony Sarg, master puppeteer-turned-balloon creator. From a childhood fascination with marionettes, to a job as a window decorator for Macy’s, to the big AHA! moment, Balloons Over Broadway describes the chain of events, and good ol’ fashioned hard work that led to the creation of the inflatables we enjoy today. (Ages 4-8)

Earmuffs for Everyone!: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs, by Meghan McCarthy
This book not only delves into the origin of a common object, but how over the course of history, facts can often become muddled. As the story goes, Chester Greenwood was suffering through a cold Maine winter when he came up with the idea for the earmuff. But was he really the first to come up with this idea? Is the story true? McCarthy explores these questions with both insight and humor in Earmuffs for Everyone! (Ages 4-8)

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel, by Kathryn Gibbs Davis and Gilbert Ford
The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair drew all sorts of inventors. One of them was George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., who won a contest to create an attraction unlike anything that had ever been seen before. Despite challenges and setbacks, frustration and naysayers, Ferris and his team ultimately unveiled their creation, to the delight of the fair’s crowds. The rest, as they say, is history. (Ages 4-8)

Ben Franklin’s Big Splash: The Mostly True Story of His First Invention, by Barb Rosenstock and S.D. Schindler
Okay, so Ben Franklin isn’t a new subject for a children’s book. Most kids will know his name, and even be able to tell you an invention or two. What makes this book unique is that the story focuses not on Franklin’s days as a printer, or the guy who flew a kite and unlocked the mystery to harnessing electricity. Nope, this is about a kid, a swimming hole, and an invention born out of pure childhood creativity. (Ages 4-8)

George Crum And The Saratoga Chip, by Gaylia Taylor and Frank Morrison
While the author’s note admits that this story is based loosely on facts, it’s nevertheless a fun tale about a snack just about every child will have experienced: the potato chip. George Crum was a chef at a Sarasota Springs, New York restaurant in 1853, when he encountered a particularly fussy customer. When the customer complained that the french fries were too thick, an annoyed Crum sliced the potatoes paper thin, and fried them. As it turns out, Crum’s little fit of temper was better received than he could have ever imagined. (Ages 6-10)

Hedy Lamarr and a Secret Communication System, by Trina Robbins and Cynthia Martin
For older readers and fans of graphic novels, Hedy Lamarr and a Secret Communication System delivers it all. In 1937, actress Hedwig Keisler is looking to escape both the Nazis, and her husband, a weapon maker for Hitler’s army. After her escape, she eventually finds her way to Hollywood, where she changes her name and meets musician George Anthiel. Together, the two patent an idea that, while not used at the time, is now common in today’s wireless technology, from cell phones to guided missiles. (Ages 8-14)

My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook: 50 Awesome Drawing Activities for Young Inventors, by Lisa Regan and Andrew Rae
Some of the craziest inventions turn out to be the biggest hits. This book for budding inventors explores ideas that seem too bizarre to be real. Some inventions never really got off the ground (a hamster-powered cell phone charger, anyone?), but others made it big (like M&Ms, which came about during the Spanish Civil War). The book also includes plenty of space and prompts for young inventors to explore their own imaginations. Who knows where those crazy ideas might lead? (Ages 8-12)