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    The Children's Book Review

    5 Picture Books That Will Inspire Tinkering and Creating

    Guest PostsBy Guest Posts5 Mins Read Ages 0-3 Ages 4-8 Art Best Kids Stories Book Lists Picture Books Science
    5 Picture Books That Will Inspire Tinkering and Creating
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    A list of thought-provoking picture books curated by Beth Anderson to inspire experimentation, tinkering, and creating.
    The Children’s Book Review

    5 Picture Books Featuring Joy and Inspiration at the Intersection of Science and Art

    As I worked on revising FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, I explored the intersection and interconnection of science and art. I was fascinated! And that’s where FRANZ’s story fit—a story of a person obsessed with tinkering and creating. His “World Machine” didn’t meet traditional expectations, but for those ready to embrace the wonder, it was a mesmerizing, inspiring, mechanical masterpiece.

    Here’s a bit about FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, along with more thought-provoking picture books to inspire experimentation, tinkering, and creating—and spark the maker in all of us. These books feature engaging stories matched with amazing and varied styles of illustration.

    Franzs Phantasmagorical Machine: Book Cover

    Franz’s Phantasmagorical Machine

    Written by Beth Anderson

    Illustrated by Caroline Hamel

    Ages 5+ | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Kids Can Press | ISBN-13: 9781525303258

    As soon as I viewed the whirling, blinking, magical machine constructed of discards, scraps, and flea market treasures, I had to know more. Franz Gsellmann’s story rang with the child I was, a basement tinkerer. I understood the joy he felt and loved how he persevered past critics and nay-sayers. This story is fun, quirky, and inspiring! And in the back matter, there’s a search and find activity identifying pieces of the machine.

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    Just Like Rube Goldberg- The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines

    Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines

    Written by Sarah Aronson

    Illustrated by Robert Neubecker

    Ages 3+ | 48 Pages

    Publisher: Beach Lane Books | ISBN-13: 9781481476683

    This biography shares how a boy with an interest in art, became a young man who studied engineering and eventually became a cartoonist who drew crazy, convoluted, ridiculous machines to accomplish mundane tasks. He drew his pictures to make people think and laugh.

    Like Franz, he followed his joy and challenged people to think differently.

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    The Most Magnificent Thing

    The Most Magnificent Thing

    Written and Illustrated by Ashley Spires

    Ages 3+ | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Kids Can Press | ISBN-13: 9781554537044

    Another long-time favorite, this story is the only one of my picks not based on a real person. It features a girl, her dog sidekick, and a plan to create…the most magnificent thing. She experiences a lot of disappointment and frustration in the process, but finally, after a walk, is able to see positive aspects of her attempts. And with this new perspective, she completes her project—and it is, indeed, magnificent! Like Franz’s story, this tale shares the ups and downs of the creative process, easily applicable to many things in life.

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    Dream Something Big- The Story of the Watts Towers: Book Cover

    Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers

    Written by Dianna Hutts Aston

    Illustrated by Susan L. Roth

    Ages 5+ | 40 Pages

    Publisher: Dial Books | ISBN-13: 9780803732452

    Dream Something Big has been one of my favorite picture books since I discovered it as a beginning author. Told in the first person, the narrator shares a childhood story of watching Simon Rodia, known to the neighborhood as Uncle Sam, build his towers. Like Franz, this mysterious man used discards to build his creation. “Some people called him crazy, but he wasn’t. He was a magician.” Another outside-the-box thinker, he found beauty in unexpected places and envisioned possibility. His creation still stands, over six stories tall, the Watts Towers. This book also has a great back matter activity, an art project to make your own “Watts Tower.”

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    It Jes’ Happened- When Bill Traylor Started to Draw: Book Cover

    It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw

    Written by Don Tate

    Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

    Ages 6+ | 32 Pages

    Publisher: Lee & Low Books | ISBN-13: 9781643790558

    As I worked on Franz’s story, I realized that what he had created would be called “outsider art” today. That reminded me of this book about a man who felt the urge from within (at age 81!) to create his own style of art and share his life experiences. He wasn’t trained, just naturally driven—like Franz—and Traylor’s work, too, challenged traditional thinking. While this book doesn’t feature science like the others I’ve mentioned, it combines art with social justice.

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    Kids will delight in how all these characters defied expectations, used what they had, and found a way to make their ideas happen. Though all of these books tap into the inner desire to create and share themes of perseverance, resilience, creative thinking, and resourcefulness, they are all very different stories. Enjoy!

    Beth Anderson: Author Headshot

    About Beth Anderson

    Beth Anderson, a former basement tinkerer and English as a Second Language teacher, has always marveled at the power of books. With curiosity and a love for words, she writes untold tales, hoping to inspire kids to laugh, ponder, and question. She’s the award-winning author of REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT, TAD LINCOLN’S RESTLESS WRIGGLE, “SMELLY” KELLY AND HIS SUPER SENSES, LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT!, and AN INCONVENIENT ALPHABET.

    Beth has more historical picture books on the way, including CLOAKED IN COURAGE: UNCOVERING DEBORAH SAMPSON, PATRIOT SOLDIER, now available for pre-order.

    For more information, visit https://bethandersonwriter.com/.

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    The booklist 5 Picture Books That Will Inspire Tinkering and Creating was curated by Beth Anderson. Follow along with our articles and reviews tagged with Art, Books About Machines, Creativity, Engineering Books, Imagination, Picture Books, and Science.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Best Selling Picture Books | October 2015
    2. Best Selling Picture Books | November 2015
    3. Best Selling Picture Books | April 2016
    4. Best New Picture Books | June 2017

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Art Ashley Spires Beach Lane Books Beth Anderson Bill Traylor Book List Books About Machines Caroline Hamel Creativity Dial books Dianna Hutts Aston Don Tate Engineering Books featured Imagination Kids Can Press Lee & Low Books Picture Books R. Gregory Christie Robert Neubecker Rube Goldberg Sarah Aronson Science STEM Susan L. Roth
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    The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is a resource devoted to children’s literacy. We publish reviews and book lists of the best books for kids of all ages. We also produce author and illustrator interviews and share literacy based articles that help parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians to grow readers. This article was written and provided by a guest author.

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