Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World by Roma Agrawal

These “Seven Small Inventions” are often overlooked, but where would we be without them?

Seven Small Inventions that Changed the World by Roma Agrawal, illustrated by Jisu Choi. Lawrence King (UK), 2024, 63 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8

Recommended for: ages 8-12

“Do not despise the day of small things,” says Zechariah. These inventions are so small we can’t track “the day” (or more like the era) when they entered human history, but our modern world would be impossible without them. What about nails? And wheels? And springs? All three had their origins in ancient times, were difficult to manufacture, and contributed greatly to the birth of technology. The power of magnetism, first observed in lodestones, was a more recent discovery, but now facilitate everything from household thermostats to the Large Hadron Collider. Lenses first enabled Van Leeuwenhoek and Galileo to see Close Up & Far Out, and subsequent development takes us even closer and further. Fabrics, rope, and cable began with the humble string (the first of trace of which was found in a cave system in France). Finally, simple pumps were first used to move water, but now move warm and cold air, oxygen, sewage, oil, gasoline . . .

This is a “young reader” edition of the author’s earlier book for adults, titled Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions that Changed the World (In a Big Way). In this oversize picture-book format for kids, each invention receives a double-page history followed by several pages showing the development of the many ways each is used. In the pump chapter, I was puzzled that the text doesn’t mention steam power (first used to pump water out of Newcastle mines), a glaring omission that made me wonder what else might have been overlooked. What’s there is instructive, with simple, stylistic illustrations that help make the concepts clear. The concluding pages encourage readers to observe and think about the everyday objects surrounding them. “Stop.. Think. Question. Reuse. And if you can (and it’s safe to do so) repair!” In other words, break expendable objects apart (with a parent’s permission) and try to fix them—“you might just make amazing discoveries and inventions of your own.”

Bottom Line: A browsable compendium of how ordinary objects make extraordinary discoveries possible.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: More everyday inventions include Concrete, Bicycles, and Super-soakers.
• Review: Ponder ten Impossible Inventions that the world might not have needed anyway.
• Review: In Calling All Minds, Temple Grandin challenges readers to think like an inventor.

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