Inventors (A Library of Congress Book) [Paperback]

Martin W. Sandler (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The Library of Congress, located in Washington, DC, is often called "the storehouse of our national memory," and is home to the largest collection of knowledge on earth. Illustrated with over 100 vintage photographs, posters, and paintings from its archives, the Library of Congress Books offer readers a fascinating look at some of the most important events in our country's history.

Americans have been characterized by their inventive spirit since the days of Benjamin Franklin, but the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries proved especially fruitful in groundbreaking discoveries that revolutionized life as we know it. This richly illustrated book presents the evolution of these inventions as it has never been seen before--and celebrates the spirit of the great American inventors who let loose their imaginations and changed the world forever.

Notable Children's Trade Books in Social Studies, 1997 (NCSS/CBC)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin W. Sandler is the author of many books, including The Story of American Photography, which was a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book. He has been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize, and is one of America's most respected television producers, with five Emmy Awards to his credit. He is the author of five other Library of Congress Books: Pioneers, Cowboys, Immigrants, Presidents, and Civil War. Mr. Sandler and his wife, Carol, live in Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064467465
• ISBN-13: 978-0064467469
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 9.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Inventions & Inventors

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If it were not for inventors like Mr.Crapper, we wouldn't have today what take for granted., March 30, 2009

By 

Jake Smithers "The Five Ws and H." (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inventors (A Library of Congress Book) (Paperback)

Have you ever had the desire to become an inventor, but felt discouraged and too inferior to excel in something that you felt was over your head? Don't be. If you were to look into the lives of inventors, both great and small, you would probably be encouraged. Why? Because you would see that they did not walk on flower strewn roads to success, that their lives were riddled with challenge and difficulty (Robert Kearns, anyone?) and were not an instant success, but usually were of humble beginning. The success stories of inventors today only exist because of the perseverance, determination, ingenuity, diligence, God's blessing, and plain old hard work of all them. By looking back on their lives and example, we have a good head start.

Allow me to start off by saying that this book is an introduction into the subject of inventors, so it's rather simple. That is not to say that it wasn't good, because it was a good book, but if you're looking for something that is of great depth, you should look elsewhere.
The illustrations, photos, and paintings in the book are very good in helping to set an intriguing atmosphere of learning and getting a feel for the past. The book was written well and accompanies the illustrations well.

One of the biggest complaints I have is not with the book, per say, but with publishers. This book, which mainly centers on American inventors, was not printed in this land that we live in, but was outsourced and printed in Mexico! I don't know what your reactions and thoughts about this are, but I was angered and slightly disgusted. To me, it shows at least an indifferent and uncaring attitude toward working Americans and the welfare of our nation.

With all this being said, I wouldn't really recommend to you to buy it (unless you really want it), but instead if you can, I recommend you take it out of your local library.

And with that, this review comes to an end.

-Jake Smithers

P.S.: Oh, and by the way. The invention that Mr. Crapper was responsible for inventing was the early version of the toilet. Thank the Lord for him!