Inventions

Robinson, James. Inventions. Kingfisher: 2006. ISBN: 9780753459737. Ages 9 and up.

Inventions by James Robinson tells the history of everyday technology that we find around us today. Many of the greatest inventions started from humble beginnings and a small "Eureka!" Our sleek Mp3 players and cell phones started as brick sized objects, and the first digital computer took up an entire room. Robinson uses elaborate methods and excellent descriptions to present information so anyone can understand it. Larger than life photographs tell a story themselves and combine with detailed captions to support the text around them. Occasional cross-sections take important inventions apart piece by piece. Packing days of Discovery Channel into a single volume, Robinson combines history with science and a little bit of humor to produce a work both entertaining and informative. Who says history and science can't be fun?

Reviewed by M. L., 8th grade, Van Buren Elementary