Impossible Inventions: Ideas That Shouldn't Work

Gr 3–7—This book describes a collection of inventions that don't quite work and don't seem to be taken too seriously either. The content is not arranged in any particular order—not chronologically or thematically. An invention from 1709 is followed by one from 2012, which is followed by one from the third century BCE. Each invention is first presented in a spread with text and illustrations and then followed by another spread showing people's responses to the invention. These responses are cartoonlike and contain speech bubbles that often poke fun at the invention. The entry on the personal cloud maker shows people on the beach and plays their body size for laughs ("They don't make beach towels like they used to" remarks a large woman on a small towel). While the book opens with a short discussion of what motivates people to invent—namely creativity, passion, and dedication—the main text does not significantly develop this idea.