Merry Christmas!

Join the Invention Hunters as they travel the globe in their flying museum collecting the world’s greatest inventions.

For Curious Young Minds 5 and Up

The Invention Hunters Discover How Machines Work

Today the Invention Hunters have landed in a construction zone.

With a kid as their guide, these silly scientists learn how simple machines like pulleys, cranks, and levers are used to engineer tools ranging from jackhammers to dump trucks . . . and even toilets!

This book’s cover caught my attention in the following ways; 1) the bright blue cover, 2) the drawing style, and 3) the toilet.

Classic ‘wacky adults while the kids are the smart ones’ type of story.

While the Invention Hunters make random guesses on an object’s purpose, the kid explains how the object or the machine works using simple explanations, diagrams, and humorous illustrations. Not only do we learn how these machines work, but we also learn when the invention was originally created and how it’s improved over time.

We take so many things for granted, but we never really think about their inner workings. Kids will especially get a kick out of learning how toilets work. I sure did.

Featured Inventions: Wheelbarrow, jackhammer, crane, dump truck, toilet

The Invention Hunters Discover How Electricity Works

In this adventure, the Invention Hunters have landed in a kid’s backyard.

With a kid as their guide, these silly scientists learn how electricity and magnetism power lamps, batteries, and even toasters!

This book is more advance than the first one. The explanations of how electricity, electrons, and atoms work might go over younger kids’ heads.

I personally enjoyed learning how a toaster works. Bread toasting technology has really come a long way since the 1910s.

Featured Inventions: Lamp, battery, toaster, magnets, hand-crank flashlight

The Invention Hunters Discover How Light Works

In this adventure, the Invention Hunters have landed at an elementary school’s science lab.

With a kid as their guide, these silly scientists learn how prisms, magnifying glasses, cameras, and TV screens use light to work!

I really liked this book and enjoyed learning how color comes from light and how camera technology has developed over time. It reminded me of the Magic School Bus episode about light, except this book is more informative and understandable.

You might have to read over some explanations multiple times to understand them.

Featured Inventions: Prisms, magnifying glass, lens, crayons, cameras, TV screens

The Invention Hunters Discover How Sound Works

In this adventure, the Invention Hunters have landed at a music store.

With a kid as their guide, these silly scientists learn how musical instruments, microphones, and records produce sounds.

It took me a year of searching to find this book. I had to go to a different library district to get my hands on it.

I had to read the part that explains vibrations and sound waves a few times before I understood it. Sound is complicated.

I enjoyed learning about pianos and records the most. I think it’s important for kids to learn how people of the past listened to music before you could download it off the internet. I still have fond memories of listening to books on tape on my old cassette player.

Featured Inventions: drums, guitars, pianos, microphones, records

 

My nephew would have loved this series as a kid. He wanted to know how everything works, cords and pipes especially. He’s 20 years old now and studying to become an electrical engineer, but I still remember him as the chubby-cheeked little kid who loved sitting in a pile of cords.

Remember, this is a work of informational fiction. Everything you learn from the child’s character is accurate. Almost nothing the Invention Hunters say or do is wise, correct, or even possible. Contrary to popular belief, most adults aren’t this clueless.

If you are interested in learning more about the author of this series, click on the link to his website below:

http://korwinbriggs.com

Well, that’s it for 2021! See you all next year!