Inspiring African-American Inventors

Young, Jeff C. Inspiring African-American Inventors
Enslow 2009 128p 33.27 978-1-59845-080-4 ms/hs
Great Scientists and Famous Inventors-myreportlinks.com (Enslow)
Offers brief biographical profiles of influential African-American inventors, describing the challenges they faced, their efforts to make the world a better place, and their influence on history. Nine African Americans inventors are profiled in this detailed, factual collective biography. Five of the inventors are well known, and additional information on Latimer, Matzeliger, Woods, Carver, Walker and Morgan is always needed, particularly for research assignments. Three lesser known inventors are included: Percy Lavon Julian, Patricia Era Bath and Lonnie G. Johnson and this is beneficial in that it provides students with new topics and inventions for research. This title is not only useful for research but for pleasure reading as well. The text is detailed but written in an entertaining fashion. Primary source quotes are interwoven with the secondary text to provide an insight into the lives of the inventors. The need met by the invention and the technology of how the invention works is integral to the study of inventors and each invention is placed within the context of the times. In addition, the reader learns a bit about science as well. Diagrams and prototypes of the inventions illustrate the process of invention. The layout is visually appealing. Each chapter is introduced using a brightly colored two page spread and remaining pages in the chapter are pale yellow pages bordered by red, green and orange. Screen shots of web pages for further information encourage readers to seek additional facts. Black and white photos, either full one page or two page spreads, add to the visual appeal of this title. Includes a Table of Contents, MyReportLinks, a glossary, information for further reading and an index. This title is one sure to be used as a starting point for History Day 2010 research. Zajko, Rosanne