Did you know that bubblewrap started life as a new type of wallpaper that didn't catch on?! Or that Lonnie Johnson invented the Nerf Super Soaker while working on a NASA mission to Saturn?
Blue Peter Award-winner Mike Barfield tells the fascinating true stories behind an amazing range of inventions and innovations. From bubblewrap to the barcode, from pizza to post-its, from trainers to the teddy bear! The story of each invention is told in a lively comic-strip format, and we meet the colourful cast of characters involved in these light-bulb moments which changed the world in big or tiny ways.
An irresistible way into science and technology with a dash of history, from the brilliant Mike Barfield, author of A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You which won the 2021 Blue Peter Award for a Book With Facts.
An irresistible way into science and technology with a dash of history from the brilliant Mike Barfield, author of A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You, winner of the 2021 Blue Peter Award for a Book With Facts. Mike's books have sold in over 40 territories.Featuring the greatest inventions in architecture, travel, the home, food, fashion, toys, sports, technology and more, this book is packed with facts for curious minds. Includes tops tips on sending in a patent and profiles of young inventors alongside greats such as Diebedo Kere, Bertha Benz, Percy Spencer, Momofuku Ando, Kano Jigoro and Jawed Karim.The World's First Human Cannonball: and Other Incredible Jobs! will follow in April 2025 and The World's Last Dodo and Other Missing Marvels in April 2026.Fun non-fiction edutainment for a younger age-range illustrated by the brilliant Franziska Höllbacher!Mike Barfield is an award-winning author: Winner of the Blue Peter Award; Shortlisted for Sainsbury's Award; Shortlisted for Royal Society Young People's Book Prize; Shortlisted for the Association of Science Education prize AND MORE! 
