Lerner Interactive Books Series Spotlight: Awesome Inventions You Use Every Day

Lerner Interactive Books are amazing for tons of reasons, but here are the top two: 1. They help readers of all levels improve their literacy skills. 2. Readers are exposed to engaging and educational Lerner content! You may be aware of our iBooks, but are you aware of all of the great content they feature? This week’s spotlight is shining on the new Awesome Inventions You Use Every Day series.

What would you do without deodorant, Band-Aids, or flushable toilets? Can you imagine living in a world with no television, and no microwave popcorn to eat while you watch it? We might take these items for granted now, but they haven’t always been around. Some were centuries in the making. Others were created purely by accident. This fun series reveals the mistakes, coincidences, controversies, and sheet craziness that brought us our modern conveniences and everyday essentials—from your basic sanitary needs to the latest gadget.

Tremendous Technology Inventions Interactive Book

Brilliant Beauty Inventions Can you believe that the paint used on cars inspired the invention of nail polish in the 1920s? Or that people have been making hair dyes for thousands of years, using everything from boiled walnuts to gold powder? Get ready to learn the strange stories behind inventions you use every day. From the woman who invented “kissproof” lipstick to the role toothpicks played in the creation of Q-tips, you’ll find out how we got the beauty inventions that help us look great.

Exciting Entertainment Inventions Can you believe that the first tennis balls didn’t bounce? Or that the world’s first basketball hoop was a peach crate? Get ready to learn the amazing stories behind inventions you use every day. From the Minnesota teen who invented water skis to the Missouri mechanic who came up with the idea of driving over cars with his monster pickup truck, you’ll find out how we got some of our favorite entertainment inventions.

Fabulous Fashion Inventions Did you realize that swimming suits used to weigh 22 pounds (about 10 kilograms)? Or that the first people to wear high heels were French royalty (even the king!) in the 1500s? Get ready to learn the amazing stories behind inventions you use every day. From the society woman who invented bras to the Swiss inventor who came up with the idea for Velcro, you’ll find out how we got some of our favorite fashion inventions.

Fun Food Inventions Do you know what happened when a kid forgot his glass of soda with a stir stick in it outside on a freezing cold night? Popsicles were invented! And did you know ancient people loved to chew on gum, just like we do? Get ready to learn the strange stories behind inventions you use every day. From the guy who thought white-flour snacks were evil so he invented graham crackers to the evolution of ketchup, you’ll be amazed how we got the food inventions we enjoy today.

Marvelous Medical Inventions Did you know that a scientist discovered X-rays by accident? Or that people have been taking pain medicine for more than 5,000 years? Get ready to learn the strange stories behind inventions you use every day. From the Roman warrior with a famous false hand to the Boy Scouts who made Band-Aids a big deal, you’ll find out how we got the medical wonders that help us heal faster and feel better.
Stinky Sanitation Inventions Did you know that people with rakes used to do the work of garbage trucks? Or that porta-potties were put on ships to keep workers from running to shore for bathroom breaks? Get ready to learn the odd stories behind inventions you use every day. From the T.P. of Chinese emperors to the landfills of ancient Greece, you’ll find out how we got the sanitation inventions that keep us healthy and keep the world smelling fresh.

Terrific Transportation Inventions Did you know that the world’s first submarine traveled the Thames River in England way back in 1615? Or that early cars had three wheels instead of four? Get ready to learn the fascinating stories behind inventions you use every day. From the motorcycle inventor who died while riding his creation to the engineers who figured out a better way to launch humans into space, you’ll find out how we got the transportation inventions that get us where we’re going.

Tremendous Technology Inventions Did you know that President Thomas Jefferson used a copier? Or that one of the world’s fastest computers is the size of a two-story house? Get ready to learn the strange stories behind technology inventions you use every day. From the teenager who first imagined the television to a $900 smartphone named Simon, you’ll find out how we got the technological wonders that help us connect, create, and keep up.