Kid-ventors: 35 Real Kids and their Amazing Inventions

by Kailei Pew, Shannon Wright (Illustrator)

Overview

What do swim fins, Popsicles®, Infection-Detecting Stitches, the Braille alphabet, and Taco vs. Burrito all have in common? They were all invented by kids!

When Remya Jose had to spend many hours washing her family’s laundry by hand, she invented a pedal powered washing machine that could finish the chore in only 20 minutes! When Tripp Phillips’ Lego creations kept falling apart, he developed a glue strong enough to hold his creations together that would wash off when he was ready to build something new! And when Fatima Al Kaabi didn’t have anyone willing to teach her about robotics, she turned to the internet to teach herself all the skills she needed—and created multiple crowd-pleasing robots in the process!

From Popsicles® and swim fins to robots and glitter shooting prosthetics, Kailei Pew's middle grade nonfiction debut is full of fun and inspiring stories, illustrated by Shannon Wright, about real kid inventors who proved that even the youngest people can change the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250836021
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	04/23/2024
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	309,443
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kailei Pew believes in the power of books. As a former school mentor and reading coach, she loved seeing the spark of excitement in students when she introduced them to the perfect story. She hopes her own books will inspire the next generation. When she isn’t writing or reading, you can find her spending time with her husband and kiddos, jogging through the Arizona desert, and baking anything with extra chocolate. Kid-Ventors is her debut middle grade title.

Shannon Wright is an illustrator and cartoonist based out of Richmond, Virginia. She is the author of the graphic novel Twins, and specializes in personal and original stories invoking nostalgia, but ultimately loves capturing joyous moments.

Editorial Reviews

"Accessible and inspirational, Kid-Ventors is an absolute delight of a book, sure to spark young readers' curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit." — Kate Messner, author of the History Smashers series

"A captivating exploration of the ingenuity of young people who defied norms and persevered to see their inventions through....will inspire and delight reluctant and avid readers alike." —Kirkus

"What shines through each story is the young person’s passion and determination to pursue their interests. ... An absolutely vital purchase for libraries that want to inspire and inform kids about their power to make a difference." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Young aspiring inventors will be inspired by this fun and informative book." — Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 03/01/2024

Gr 4–8—This book provides brief descriptions of 35 kids and the inventions they developed. Referencing YouTube videos, TEDx talks, magazine and newspaper articles, and in some cases, interviews, the author shares in very readable language the remarkable contributions these young people have made at an early age. Divided into categories, such as "Inventions to Solve Daily Problems," and "Inventions to Help Others," each vignette highlights the individual, shares what inspired their invention, and gives a brief overview of the creation process and what the inventor subsequently chose to do with it. Each kid faced numerous challenges, ranging from less-than-encouraging parents to experts who scoffed at their efforts, or even lack of supplies and training. What shines through each story is the young person's passion and determination to pursue their interests. In addition to the profiles, practical information about the invention process guides young readers. Topics include patents and trademarks, prototypes, production and marketing, STEM communities, and tips for becoming an inventor. The technical parts are explained as simply as possible with a glossary included in the extensive back matter. While there are no photographs, Wright's black-and-white illustrations provide a very kid-friendly look at each invention. A quote and sidebars highlighting topics specific to each invention add value. VERDICT An absolutely vital purchase for libraries that want to inspire and inform kids about their power to make a difference.—Heidi Grange

School Library Journal

2024-02-03
A captivating exploration of the ingenuity of young people who defied norms and persevered to see their inventions through.

The book profiles kids ranging in ages from 6 to 16, detailing the challenges they faced and their paths to delivering breakthrough inventions or developing and improving on existing ones. The book is divided into five sections covering inventions that solve daily problems, assist others, advance technology, help the environment, or are just for fun. Readers will encounter famous names like Benjamin Franklin (who invented swim fins at age 11), Louis Braille (who developed the Braille alphabet when he was 15), and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (who at 13 created an adder/subtractor). Pew also features lesser-known young inventors, including Remya Jose from India, who invented a pedal-powered washing machine in 2003, when she was 14, and Guatemalan boy Ken Lou Castillo, who, seeking a solution to both deforestation and his own smoke allergies, created eco-friendly and hypoallergenic fire logs he named Mr. Fuego when he was 9. The book, which highlights a broadly diverse group of subjects, also includes sidebars with additional context and inspirational quotes. Brief informational sections interspersed between the profiles explain patents, trademarks, and prototypes; introduce types of STEM communities young people can join; and list concrete steps on the path to becoming an inventor. Wright’s cheerful illustrations add touches of fun.

Celebrates young people’s ingenuity; will inspire and delight reluctant and avid readers alike. (glossary, sources) (Nonfiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews