I read another book from this publisher that was really problematic (History Is Delicious), so my hopes weren't high for this one, but I was pleasantly surprised! This book feels a lot more age-appropriate and less culturally stereotyped. It doesn't shy away from the worse sides of history, though, such as the US invasion of Iraq and the looting of museums. The price point of the book is a bit high, and some of the inventors and inventions might be covered elsewhere in your child's curriculum, but overall, it's a solid book.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I wish this book had existed back when I was a young historian! It's refreshing to have the layers peeled back on history, specifically in this case the history of inventions, and learn the real origins. I'm hoping this trend continues and follows into school curriculums. Recommended!

Really enjoyed reading this book, with its many histories and interesting facts. From some famous ones we might already know, like the history of gunpowder, but also new ones like the first surgeon who recorded how we supposedly heal people through surgical method.

And even how Monopoly game was invented.

When you are curious about how stuffs were made, this book is one to pore over,

History is Inventive is an educational book for young readers that goes over the interesting origins of a variety of inventions from the past. Readers learn about the invention of surgery, books, high heels, and a variety of other interesting inventions that are a part of everyday life. The book also highlights a few famous inventors that are often overlooked in school. At the end, it includes directions on how to replicate a telescope.

The book makes learning fun. It's brightly colored and the illustrations are very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-Arc of History is Inventive.

This book is short enough and sectioned in a way to make it interesting for those with shorter attention spans. It is a great way to learn about different inventions through history. I could see this being a great way for students to choose different inventions and Knight includes interesting ways to get students thinking at the end of each invention.

I enjoyed reading through this book and it was a quick enough read for an adult. It gave lots of information and information that might challenge students understanding of certain inventions. I liked the fact that Knight didn't shy away from talking about how some inventors struggled with recognition for what they did and also gives thought provoking questions to either be answered or thought about at the end of each invention.

I think this would be a great addition to a library or classroom library.

Solidly organized. And I liked the emphasis on influential rather than obvious inventions as well as those with stories that we can learn from. A few more images might have helped draw the eye across the page but it's overall pretty decent.

History is enjoying a rare moment in the sun due to the controversy surrounding teaching the 1619 Project and critical race theory in American schools. Often considered one of the most dry subjects in school it rarely receives the attention it deserves and has increasingly been marginalized in primary and secondary education. In the 2018 National Assessment of Educational Progress, or Nation’s Report Card, American students scored lower on assessments of their knowledge of U.S. history compared to 2014.

The renewed interest in history is leading many education innovators and curriculum developers to begin publishing more history-focused materials. The Honest History franchise is dedicated to developing materials that help students “explore the past and re-discover stories of people, just like us, who changed the world.” There is an Honest History magazine and on August 10 the company will launch a series of history books entitled “History is…” The first two titles are History is Inventive and History is Delicious.

History is Inventive chronicles groundbreaking inventions developed throughout time. It begins with ancient innovations like surgeries and moves through various epochs in world history to more contemporary inventions like televisions, computers, and wi-fi. Readers can also learn about how to obtain a patent and other invention related topics. History is Delicious is a fun title that explores the cuisine and eating customs on different continents across the world. This includes the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The book also covers more generalized food topics like popular spices.

While neither of these books focuses on U.S. history alone, they would make a fun addition to any educational environment. They would be an excellent compliment to studies of world history as the content spans the globe in both books. Educators can read the books aloud in a homeschool or classroom while students enjoy the beautiful illustrations. The books are also very substantive and have a significant reading component for independent readers. At approximately 80 pages they would not make up the spine of a curriculum, but could be a great supplement.

This review is based on an advanced review copy. Visit the Honest History website linked above to find out more about the franchise and new titles.

Have you seen Honest History pop up on your Instagram feed? Their tagline is, "a magazine for young historians." I know that if this had existed when I was a kid, I would have read every issue cover to cover!

When I saw that a book had been released by Honest History I immediately requested a preview. History is Inventive does a deeper dive into the stories of several of the famous inventors and really lays out the complexity of that invention. (Spoiler ______ invented the _______ is never the whole story.) Knight pulls from a wide breadth of history and picks topics that will interest a wide variety of children. Surgery? Makeup? The telescope? Alternating current? All are discussed and each passage includes unique details that I've not seen elsewhere. If anything, this book will make kids want to know more about many of the topics, and do some more investigation on their own!

I'm also a sucker for well done graphic design and the layout of this book is quite appealing also. This book is perfect for a curious kid.

This isn't quite a bad as History is Delicious, another book in this series, but it isn't great. For a book that claims to be talking about inventions through history, it seems most interested in inventions by white men. The writing is poor, and someone please call the 1970s and have them take their bad visual illustrations back.

This is a good read, but I didn’t care for it as much as the food book in this series.

I was hoping for a clearer organization of time periods and topics.

One thing I really loved is the Thinking It Over sections to spur critical thinking and discussion.

I received an advance e-copy from the publisher and NetGalley, and I am curious about the size and feel of the physical book. I suspect that might improve my reading experience.

With thanks to NetGalley and Honest History for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Overall, I liked this book. I teach a unit on inventors and inventions with my 4th grade class and this would be a helpful resource to offer my students. There was a wide range of inventions included which I think will appeal to a wide group of readers. I do think some of the information could have been a bit more specific. For example, the mentioned time periods could have included the actual years of those time periods for a better frame of reference. But overall, a helpful resource for kids interested in learning more about how things got there start.

I am a homeschooling mama of five and we love history!! This book is incredibly informative, beautiful and very interesting! It teaches us the history behind many popular inventions and their inventors. My children & I found that it was completely age-appropriate (geared for those ages 8 - 13). We loved the trivia scattered throughout the book and the “Thinking It Over” section was wonderful, as well.

If you and your children love history then you’ll love this book!

** Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review! **

#PamelaReads2021 #100BooksIn2021 #HistoryIsInventive #HonestHistory #NetGalley

Here are my pros and cons for History Is Inventive:

Pros
1. This book is full of great information about inventions that have changed or influenced the world in some way, including batteries, telescopes, gunpowder, cosmetics, pianos, light bulbs, microwaves, computers, wireless technology and more! Each invention is discussed in detail with great illustrations to help understand the information.
2. There are mini-biographies of some inventors you’ve probably never heard of included in the book.
3. There is extra (and fun!) information in the back of the book, including directions on how to build a homemade telescope.

Cons
1. There were references in the book to the “Sassanian period” and the “Parthian period” when referencing the possible age of the Bagdad Battery. I’m guessing most readers, including myself, have no idea what time period that actually references. I think including the actual years of those periods would have been more relatable information to young readers.

Summary
This book is incredibly detailed. There is a lot of technical information and history provided for each invention discussed. This level of detail may be daunting for younger readers, but I think kids who are particularly interested in inventions and technology will love it.

Thank you NetGalley and Honest History for a free eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This book comes to us from the Honest History publishing company, and it sure does live up to its name!
The content seeks to provide us with the honest history behind many popular inventions and the persons to whom these have been attributed. It proves the point that a single person cannot be considered an inventor as every invention relies partially or greatly on some earlier invention or thought. It offers a very different look at the past. The book covers many inventions from various historical periods, right up to the modern technological age. Considering that the book is aimed at middle-grade readers, the content seems quite age-appropriate. The content is a little text-heavy, so it might be better to read it in small doses rather than going for it cover to cover. The trivia scattered throughout the book helps in breaking the intensity. The “Thinking It Over” section is also a great addition as it contains thought-provoking questions related to the write-up for children to ponder over.
Thank you, NetGalley and Honest History, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cool book about lots of different inventions and inventors. This would be a fantastic reference for kids to read and refer back. It’s also a good book for kids who love to learn!