I have long-thought about writing a series of books for kids on inspiring founders and innovators so this is good inspiration/motivation! Thanks for sharing these finds.
The Story of Inventions by Michael J. McHugh and Frank P. Bachman has been one of my kids' favorite "school" books. It does a great job not only explaining many of western civilization's major inventions, but also in detailing biographically what it took for each inventor to get to the point of something that worked. It shows throughout how every great invention we take for granted today was initially met with cultural/societal resistance. It is published by Christian Liberty Press but religious references are minor.
Le Livre des Progres comes from a ten book series. A Greek publisher translated them here during the 80s (they are old books) Got it off the shelf and on the back pages there is a copyright from Falcon Books USA.
We collected them from book fairs and bookshops, I remember going through them multiple times during elementary school years fascinated by the illustrations and the short but actually serious and not at all condescending text. That series and two others later on aimed at young teens (How it Works and Today's World) have probably influenced me significantly at that age, got me to enjoy reading, learn new things, spark curiosity and much much more.
The theme is loosely about progress: it firmly expects that the future of 40 years from now (2020 as seen from the late 1970s) will be materially quite different, and better, than the present.
"First published in 1979, the Usborne Book of the Future is a fondly-remembered book from a time when people dreamed of the future as a place filled with wonder and amazing new technology. After more than 40 years of science fiction focussing on dystopias and doom, it's time to remind readers young and old that, in fact, the Future is STILL a place that holds hope and excitement."
I think the issue is that you are being switched automatically to Usborne USA, which was sold to a third party and doesn't carry that book. Usborne Canada (the ca_en element of the URL) still carries it
Any thoughts on books, magazines, and/or podcasts for older kids? My 13yo enjoys Oyla magazine and Kurzgesagt and Veritasium videos for general science learning, but those aren't as industrial literacy focused as I would like, though a lot of what Kurzgesagt does is quite aligned with the general progress studies spirit. He *loves* Mike Duncan's podcasts, though (History of Rome, Revolutions), and I'd be very interested to find something with similarly inspiring and detailed storytelling around tales of engineering achievement.
I think most of them are aimed at maybe 6–8? But I was able to read them to my daughter at age 3 or 4 by kind of simplifying the language in real time, retelling the story in my own words using the pictures. The “We Were There” series is for older kids, not sure, maybe age 9–12
Isn’t that setting up a skewed picture of what the progress is, potentially for child’s whole future life. Those things are progress from 50+ years ago. By this logic, it should include masonry, iron smelting, a wheel - those were progress of their time.
I have long-thought about writing a series of books for kids on inspiring founders and innovators so this is good inspiration/motivation! Thanks for sharing these finds.
I learned a LOT about industrial progress playing the game Civilization II as a kid.
The Story of Inventions by Michael J. McHugh and Frank P. Bachman has been one of my kids' favorite "school" books. It does a great job not only explaining many of western civilization's major inventions, but also in detailing biographically what it took for each inventor to get to the point of something that worked. It shows throughout how every great invention we take for granted today was initially met with cultural/societal resistance. It is published by Christian Liberty Press but religious references are minor.
Thanks, I'll check it out!
Le Livre des Progres comes from a ten book series. A Greek publisher translated them here during the 80s (they are old books) Got it off the shelf and on the back pages there is a copyright from Falcon Books USA.
The whole series is:
1) Earth 2) Life 3) Explorations 4) Nature 5) Inventions 6) Travels 7) Professions 8) Progress
9) Discoveries 10) History
We collected them from book fairs and bookshops, I remember going through them multiple times during elementary school years fascinated by the illustrations and the short but actually serious and not at all condescending text. That series and two others later on aimed at young teens (How it Works and Today's World) have probably influenced me significantly at that age, got me to enjoy reading, learn new things, spark curiosity and much much more.
Richard Scarry books are great: https://www.richardscarry.com/
Which ones are most relevant?
I think “what do people do all day”
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9c9e650808d94abc1ffcf3/1571307006246-XTIBNO8FTIRMIHIPYY7J/what+do+people+do+all+day.png?format=1500w
Le Livre des Progrès looks great. Translating it and getting it published in English sounds like it could be a RPI
project.
I've long felt sentimental about this one: https://2warpstoneptune.com/2014/03/04/usborne-publishing-the-world-of-the-future-future-cities-1979/
The theme is loosely about progress: it firmly expects that the future of 40 years from now (2020 as seen from the late 1970s) will be materially quite different, and better, than the present.
I see that Usborne has brought the companion book, The Usborne Book of the Future, back into print today!
https://usborne.com/ca_en/book-of-the-future-9781803709543
From the blurb:
"First published in 1979, the Usborne Book of the Future is a fondly-remembered book from a time when people dreamed of the future as a place filled with wonder and amazing new technology. After more than 40 years of science fiction focussing on dystopias and doom, it's time to remind readers young and old that, in fact, the Future is STILL a place that holds hope and excitement."
I couldn't agree more!
That link is broken for me? Says “Sorry, we can’t find that page”
Here's a 2023 version, but now out of print / only available from third-party sellers? https://www.amazon.com/Book-of-the-Future/dp/1803709545
I think the issue is that you are being switched automatically to Usborne USA, which was sold to a third party and doesn't carry that book. Usborne Canada (the ca_en element of the URL) still carries it
Have you read the biography of Deere, "John Deere's Company"? Do you know if it's of any good?
I have not!
Any thoughts on books, magazines, and/or podcasts for older kids? My 13yo enjoys Oyla magazine and Kurzgesagt and Veritasium videos for general science learning, but those aren't as industrial literacy focused as I would like, though a lot of what Kurzgesagt does is quite aligned with the general progress studies spirit. He *loves* Mike Duncan's podcasts, though (History of Rome, Revolutions), and I'd be very interested to find something with similarly inspiring and detailed storytelling around tales of engineering achievement.
What ages are these books for?
I think most of them are aimed at maybe 6–8? But I was able to read them to my daughter at age 3 or 4 by kind of simplifying the language in real time, retelling the story in my own words using the pictures. The “We Were There” series is for older kids, not sure, maybe age 9–12
Isn’t that setting up a skewed picture of what the progress is, potentially for child’s whole future life. Those things are progress from 50+ years ago. By this logic, it should include masonry, iron smelting, a wheel - those were progress of their time.
Yes, it should include all those things! And modern things too