“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.”—Thomas Alva Edison
What sparks inventors to create? One can say the ability for inventive thinking is not out of reach. Innovation flourishes when an individual possesses strong problem-solving skills, an active imagination, and has the ability to see possibilities. Additionally, success requires a great deal of patience, as trial and error are part of the process. Here is a sampling of books that encourage inventive and innovative thinking.
"Invention"
I’ve done it, I’ve done it!
Guess what I’ve done!
Invented a light that plugs into the sun.
The sun is bright enough,
The bulb is strong enough,
But, oh, there’s only one thing wrong…
The cord ain’t long enough.
"Invention" excerpted from the book Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein.
Books That Encourage Inventive and Innovative Thinking
Hedy Lamarr's Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor
What Color is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women
The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring: The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation
Whoosh!
I Can Be An Awesome Inventor
50 Wacky Inventions Throughout History
A Super Sticky Mistake