Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World

By: Barbara Hall
Publication Date: November 24, 2024
ISBN: 979-8301058011
Reviewed by: Lily Andrews
Review Date: December 18, 2024

"Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the foundation of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.” This quote by J.K. Rowling sums up Barbara Hall's quietly powerful sparkling book, Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World.

Do you like your morning or evening tea? Ever wondered how the world transitioned from carrying bulky metal coins to paper money? Or the role that ancient Chinese inventors played in science and technology? How about the person behind the invention of the compass, which made it easy for explorers and sailors alike to travel and navigate the waters with ease? This incredible book answers these and many other questions as it takes young readers on an exciting and illuminative journey back into history to seek out Chinese inventions that still impact our world today.

Here, curious minds will have a fun time making all types of discoveries centered on Chinese civilization that dates back to two thousand years ago. An example is the invention of the umbrella, which the Chinese made from bamboo and oiled paper to keep dry in the rain. Readers will also discover that they also made contributions to space travel, inventing the rocket a thousand years ago, powered by gunpowder to launch astronauts into the sky. In yet another, the author explores the long line of creativity in meteorology, with the invention of a seismograph, a device used to detect earthquakes by Zhang Heng, a Chinese scientist.

Barbara Hall understands the power of vibrant and colorful illustrations and their aesthetic role in conveying the message in the book and employs this deftly. Also, these illustrations provide contextual clues that accentuate the stories within the pages. The brevity of the stories and the accessible language used are artistic elements that the intended audience will instantly respond to, and which will encourage their appreciation for the Asian culture and the contributors of this region in making transformative inventions. Further, kids will learn the importance of hard work and resilience, as well as boost their creative spirit.

The author's background as a teacher, librarian, and content creator presents the perfect backdrop for this richly detailed gem. Her signature medley of eloquent writing and graceful prose is perhaps the book's main strength, elevating it above books of its genre. The brief but impactful introduction of the book is largely composed of rhetorical questions, which are sure to grab the attention of both attentive and disinterested kids to the pages that follow.

Quill says: A fun and educational read, Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World by Barbara Hall is an intriguing text that deserves a special place on the book shelves of early readers. It can also serve as an intermediate class reader in a history lesson.

For more information on Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed The World, please visit the author's website at: www.barbarahall.ca