What Color Is My World?: The Lost History Of African-American Inventors Read Free Books and Download eBooks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA's alltime leading scorer, champions a lineupof little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book.Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people's pain? These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in this dynamic look at several unsung heroes who shared a desire to improve people's lives. Offering profiles with fast facts on flaps and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a nod to the minds behind the gamma electric cell and the ice-cream scoop, improvements to traffic lights, open-heart surgery, and more - inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter.
Lexile Measure: 880L (What's this?)
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Reprint edition (December 10, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763664421
ISBN-13: 978-0763664428
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.2 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (130 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #18,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #6 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Inventions & Inventors #16 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Moving #22 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Science & Technology
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Hard-working inventors have faced numerous difficulties in the past, including insufficient financial resources and poor access to information and communication channels as they designed new products, medicines, equipment, and gadgets. Black Americans faced additional obstacles in the form of discrimination and legal restrictions by race as they tried to bring their innovative plans to fruition. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar carefully documents the challenges and accomplishments experienced by a number of relatively unknown black American inventors as they made influential contributions in the past two centuries.Abdul-Jabbar has done an excellent job writing about the personal backgrounds of these pioneers in science, medicine, and industry. With its clear presentation, fun facts on the side, and a parallel story, young readers will gain a new understanding of the impact that these innovations have had on scientific progress and on our everyday lives. The book offers a good opportunity to introduce readers to the concept of innovation and the idea that new inventions play an important role in improving societal well-being.
Not only is this book beautifully written and illustrated, it shines a light on many deserving inventors whose important contributors may have been overlooked by the history books. I hope it will inspire young and old readers to continue to dream, and lead them to many other ideas and innovations! What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors
This book (What Color is my World, by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)will be used as a teaching tool.I am a teacher for 5th graders and this book will be well read by my students.It is beautifully illustrated, nicely designed with fold out pages and many fun facts about inventors.I would recommend this book to everyone- young and old.
This book should be the first of many subsequent books on the subject. I tutor at a mostly Black Boys and Girls Club and was delighted to raise their knowledge of these important people. The format was appropriate for all ages and the club is buying its own copy. This book demonstrates that anyone can achieve anything if s/he is willing to work hard enough. BTW: I am not black.
This isn't your typical "black history" book. First and foremost, it's a story for tweens, pre-tweens, savvy elementary school readers or parents who want their kids to learn about about some really smart inventors past and present, who just happen to be African-American.The book is colorful, eliciting an "Oh, look how beautiful," from my 7-year old (truly an advanced reader), and was interesting enough to grasp her attention from the first page. There's the story, and then there are the fold-outs, featuring great tidbits about the featured inventor.Frankly, I wasn't sure how much of a children's book I'd get by a "former basketball star," but Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and his co-authors have produced a well researched, well written product that makes learning history fun. Again, it's colorful, there's a great story to link it all together, and it's a fantastic reference book that will get and hold their attention.Certainly, buy the book if you're African-American, but buy it first and foremost to teach your children that there were and still are great American inventors who have created extraordinary things that we use in everyday life. You'll be glad you did. What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors
I love this book. I bought it for myself to put in my library, but after reading the book. I felt it was important to share. I gave this book as a gift to my mentee and bought 12 more for my nephews and nieces.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar helps explain some of the contributions of African Americans in science and invention. Too many folks are unaware of these wonderful people who have helped make our world what it is today. African Americans are not merely entertainers or athletes, we are scientists, inventors, and folks who use our brains for the good of all mankind. This book is written for children to start the message early. It is great as a gift for African American children but really is good for any child, the story is the same. I would rather have my children have heros in science than entertainment and sports.
This book was purchased as a gift. It appeals to young and old alike. The illustrations are superb and the little known facts about the inventors are worth reading and rereading before telling others about the book. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has stated that if not for a career in professional basketball, he would have become a history teacher. He has managed to become that teacher who is capable of introducing the readers to brilliant people. In my opinion, he has managed to become a respected teacher and historian for children and adults.
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