Inventions make the world go round and allow technology to evolve. This book list not only highlights such remarkable inventions (including those made by children), but also encourages critical thought. By fostering an analytic mind that enables one to understand how things work and how problems can be solved, readers can inspire to make their own inventions.
Kid-ventors: 35 Real Kids and their Amazing Inventions
Written by Kailei Pew & illustrated by Shannon Wright
This is an especially inspiring book because it chronicles a slew of inventors who are children, proving that even the youngest people can change the world. From Popsicles® to swim fins to robots and glitter shooting prosthetics, sometimes, it takes the imagination of a child to create something new.
Invent It! 
Written by Rob Beattie
This fun and informative guide walks readers through the entire invention process, from brainstorming and prototyping all the way through production and marketing. Kids can follow along with their own ideas, learning practical tips along the way while being inspired by some of history’s best breakthroughs…and biggest flops!
Engineered!: Engineering Design at Work
Written by Shannon Hunt & illustrated by James Gulliver Hancock
This book is eye-opening because it shows young readers that engineering can solve many problems, from how to land a rover on Mars to saving a herd of caribou from potential extinction. A helpful seven-step flowchart of the engineering design process is also featured, encouraging future engineers.
How to Become an Accidental Genius
Written by Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky, & illustrated by Jenn Playford
Structured as a how-to guide for would-be inventors, this fun book cultivates the mindsets needed for innovation. The chapters are organized to highlight the role that experimentation, failure, and coincidences can play in the engineering process and the importance of being open to new possibilities. The inventor profiles feature a mix of well-known pioneers, like George Washington Carver; lesser-known historical figures, like Hedy Lamarr; and contemporary young people, like Hayley Todesco.
Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor
Written by Temple Grandin
This book was voted as a Teacher’s Pick on Amazon. Not surprising, as it’s written by world-renowned autism spokesperson, scientist, and inventor Temple Grandin. She successfully chronicles personal stories, inventions, and facts in a way that both educates and inspires. She encourages young readers to ask questions and follow up by researching the answers.
How Things Work: Discover Secrets and Science Behind Bounce Houses, Hovercraft, Robotics, and Everything in Between
Written by T. J. Resler
This book encourages critical thought, with the simple question of “how does it work” as the perfect springboard. The book includes true stories, biographies of real scientists and engineers, diagrams and illustrations, accessible explanations, trivia, and fun features. Sometimes, you just need to take something apart to figure out how it works!
The Science and Technology of Leonardo da Vinci
Written by Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan & illustrated by Micah Rauch
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the world’s most captivating and enduring inventors. This book chronicles his achievements in art, engineering, anatomy, mathematics, astronomy, and aeronautics, while weaving in important scientific and historical context. Each chapter includes hands-on activities, which allow readers to follow in da Vinci’s footsteps using a homemade “inventor kit.”
Inventions and Discoveries series by Capstone Press
Various authors and illustrators
Eye-popping images and engaging, short, snappy text allow these inventions to come to life in this graphic novel series. Some books focus on classic moments in history, like how the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, while others focus on lesser known figures, like how the Z-Boys skateboarding team influenced modern skateboarding.
Black Inventors: 15 Inventions that Changed the World
by Kathy Trusty
This biography compilation chronicles the journeys of 15 incredible inventors who changed the world with products like hair brushes, traffic lights, and home security systems. Each chapter includes a short biography of an inventor, information about the significance of their invention, and follow-up questions for reflection and further investigation.
1001 Inventions and Awesome Facts from Muslim Civilization
by NatGeo Kids
This book was created as a companion to the award-winning “1001 Inventions” exhibit, which has traveled the globe to raise awareness about the golden age of Arabic science. Each spread is packed full of eye-catching photographs and fascinating facts about everything from pottery to architecture to the elephant water clock. It features female innovators prominently, who contributed to the development of mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and the arts, among others. Find the teacher guide at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/pdf/1001-muslim-inventions-ed-guide.pdf.
This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:
Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023), which is a Crystal Kite winner, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and Cybils Award nominee. A science enthusiast from a young age, she now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.
Callie Dean is a researcher, writer, and musician living in Shreveport, LA. She writes stories that spark curiosity and encourage kids to explore their world. Her first picture book will be published in 2026. For more information, please visit https://calliebdean.com.
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