It's National Inventors Month

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-3963-6
Paperback ISBN 978-1-4644-0130-5

Enslow has three series on inventors. The first one, I Like Inventors, is a new 2012 series for the elementary reader, and contains 6 books: Madam C. J. Walker created her own line of hair-care products; George Ferris invented the ferris wheel; Philo Farnsworth invented the television; Ralph Baer invented the home video game; James Naismith invented basketball; and Vivien Thomas was a doctor's assistant who invented a new surgery technique used on babies with heart problems.

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-2847-0

For the middle grade student, Genius at Work! Great Inventor Biographies has 13 titles perfect for those readers. This series features the inventors above, as well as Les Paul who created the electric guitar; Igor Sikorsky who created helicopters; W. K. Kellogg, the founder of the cereal company; Theodore Maiman who invented the laser; Samuel Colt, who invented a handgun that did not need to be reloaded; Thomas Gallaudet,  who created sign language; and Stephanie Kwolek, the inventor of the bullet-resistant vest.

Library ISBN 978-1-59845-050-7

Also for the middle grade student, Inventors Who Changed the World has 7 titles. These titles are longer in length than the other two series. Alexander Graham Bell, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Johannes Gutenberg, Louis Pasteur, Marconi and Tesla, Philo T. Farnsworth, and Thomas Edison are covered in this series.

All of these titles are available directly from Enslow or your preferred vendor.

On this date in 1903

Orville Wright piloted the first powered airplane twenty feet above a beach in North Carolina. The flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. Three more flights were made that day with Orville's brother Wilbur piloting the record flight lasting 59 seconds over a distance of 852 feet.

Written for middle schoolers, Wilbur and Orville Wright goes into detail about the numerous experiments and efforts in aerodynamics that propelled the Wright brothers to finish first in the race toward powered flight. Fun activities such as building a wind tunnel and anemometer are also included.

On this day in 1879

Thomas Edison invented a workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J.

That first workable electric light remained lit for over forty-five hours. Edison and some of his workers took turns staying awake to keep an eye on that light.
 
Interested in learning more about Thomas Edison? Click here.

Today would have been Henry Ford's birthday

Henry Ford Genius Behind the Affordable Car
Author: Jeff C. Young
ISBN-13: 978-1-59845-053-8

Publication Year: 2007
Interest Level: Grades 5-up
Page Count: 128

In this addition to the Inventors Who Changed the World series, author Jeff C. Young chronicles the life of Henry Ford—inventor, businessman, and philanthropist. Most well-known for his Model T automobile and the assembly line, readers soon learn that Ford's antiwar efforts during WWII almost landed him on the ballot for president.

On this day in 1903

The Ford Motor Company was incorporated.

To learn more about Henry Ford, click here.

Today would have been J. Robert Oppenheimer's birthday

J. Robert Oppenheimer The Brain Behind the Bomb
Author: Marty Fletcher, Glenn Scherer
ISBN-13: 978-1-59845-050-7

Publication Year: 2007
Interest Level: Grades 5-up
Page Count: 128

In this title in the Inventors Who Changed the World series, Glenn Scherer and Marty Fletcher offer a biography of the brilliant and enigmatic scientist who directed the development of the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer's tumultuous relationship with the United States government is also explored, including accusations that he was a Communist. Activities for young readers related to the topic can be found at the end of the book.

Today would have been Wilbur Wright's birthday

Author Jennifer Reed takes us on a flight through the lives of two revolutionary brothers who proved to the world that humans could fly. Recounted in detail are the numerous experiments and efforts in aerodynamics that propelled the Wright brothers to finish first in the race toward powered flight. Fun activities such as building a wind tunnel and anemometer are also included.

On this day in history

Henry Ford passed away at the age of 83 in 1947.

On this day in history ...

The first successful voice transmission over Alexander Graham Bell's telephone took place in Boston as his assistant heard Bell say, "Mr. Watson, come here."