Awesome Achievers in Technology: Super and Strange Facts about 12 Almost Famous History Makers (Awesome Achievers)

Gr 3-7—This slight paperback outlines the achievements of 12 inventors who did not receive much attention throughout history. While not widely acknowledged, their advances in technology are commonly used today, or acted as a springboard for other leaps of ingenuity to occur. Examples include the inventors of video games (like Pong), the seat belt, the remote control, and the microwave. These contributions are discussed with short introductions about the inventor, the circumstances surrounding their inventions, and anecdotal additions from Katz such as silly poems, jokes, and drawings. The precise chapters, black-and-white illustrations, and humorous content will attract and hold the attention of readers hesitant to pick up nonfiction titles. Portions of the book invite readers to take a pop quiz, complete a maze, and review a notes section; the interactive pieces may deter some libraries from purchasing. However, the succinct and easy-to-digest format will interest readers of the "Who Was?" series and other young readers looking to amp up their nonfiction booklists. VERDICT This is a good purchase for school libraries and children's nonfiction collections with the understanding that the paperback format and consumable portions may give it a shorter shelf life than some other titles.—Mandy Simon, State Library of Ohio