My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook: 50 Awesome Drawing Activities for Young Inventors

I was so excited about this book, and how it could help kids explore their creative, innovative selves. It had such powerful potential! But then I looked at the illustrations and realized that while it may do that for kids who are boys and are white, not so much for others.There are exactly two people who are black in this book: a man playing basketball and a man using a pole to push an Egyptian barge that's carrying a woman who appears to be an Egyptian queen (and appears to be white). That's it. And there are no other men, women, boys, or girls with any other skin color, other than white/very light (they all are the same).And while there are 37 white men or boys in the book's illustrations, there are just 10 women or girls. The women and girls never are in pictures like the one of the boy looking up at the sky, with words asking what you can invent. Besides the (white) Egyptian queen, one young woman is in a bikini sipping a drink; another is in a sports bra top with bikini bottoms playing volleyball. Another is waterskiing. Four are in one page showing a "car wash for people" (operated by a man). That leaves 2 others.I want to believe that the book's creators were oblivious to the negative messages their book sends to children. All of us need to examine beliefs that we don't even know we hold, when they reveal themselves. I hope the author/illustrator put out a new edition of the book -- a version that reinforces the reality that ALL kids have creative, innovative ideas that need to be nurtured, and any of those could well yield the next iPhone or other life-changing invention. As it is, I need to return the book.

My 6 yr old loves this. She can put her imagined ideas on paper and we can talk together about the prompts and included drawings. It’s a great, no- mess way to let her create.

I can’t say enough about this awesome book. A must if your kids love inventors and inventing. It talks about inventions, famous and failed. Then your child has to create their own by drawing them. It’s a good lesson while engaging the child’s creativity. Thank you.

Bought this twice; once for my son and once for my nephew the next year!

Nephew loved this creative book. He enjoys the starters to get his ideas rolling. Great activity book that keeps kids off of the computer and helps them tap into their creativity.

My son loved this book!

My 6 year old loves this book! There are plenty of activities that keep him occupied and encourage creativity.

Got this for my 8 year old nephew for Christmas to keep him occupied during his annual road trip. He loves it and it kept him busy!

It makes my mind go crazy because ideas explode!! I have used it lots of times. It is special to me. (Written by Clem whose birthday present the book was [aged 7]).

Great book to encourage children to be imaginative and creative. Perfect for a gift for 6-13 year olds. Great layout and reasonably priced

I thought this was quite expensive but my son is 7 and wants to be an inventor. He loves this! It is really good ideas, interactive and perfect for passing the time. It has fired his imagination. Also, the book is nicely bound so can survive lots of travel etc. And would make a nice present rather than just being a standard activity book.

Ok

Lovely book