crystal_reading's review
4.0
I appreciated that the process of patents is explained. I also liked that this showed how some people are credited with an invention (like Edison) but they really improved upon something that was already in existence. It makes this more of an interesting story.
turrean's review
4.0
Easy and breezy. A nice introduction to inventions, patents, and business, and also to the way history gets rewritten. I thought the organization was s but lacking--it jumped from topic to topic--but kids should enjoy the ride.
amandabock's review
4.0
What's great about his book is that it explains both how a thing becomes "invented" and also (even more importantly) how the story of an invention becomes part of the collective memory and, eventually, considered history.
beecheralyson's review
4.0
As a former New Englander, I can appreciate the need for earmuffs. As a SoCal teacher, this is a bit hard to explain to kids in a place where the temperature rarely gets down low enough to need earmuffs.
heisereads's review
4.0
What I found most interesting about this non-fiction picture book about the invention of ear muffs is the honesty with which the author presents the fact that the person who is credited with inventing ear muffs, actually was not the first one to create a covering to keep the ears warm, even if he was the youngest. He did improve on previous designs though, and the way in which the book is written makes that clear to the reader in an engaging style. I especially appreciated the author's note at the end along with the additional information on the process for getting a patent.
muddypuddle's review
4.0
Excellent resource to teach kids about researching completely before writing informational/non-fiction. Chester Greenwood is known - and celebrated - as the INVENTOR OF THE EARMUFF. But his is not, not at all. In these 40 pages we learn a little about Chester Greenwood and his life, about the history of earmuffs, about how history became "changed," about inventions and getting a patent for them, and then, by reading the excellent 2-page afterword ("A Note about This Book), how much research went into correctly chronicling this history. Includes extensive bibliography and acknowledgements.
yapha's review
4.0
This engaging picture book about the "inventor" of the earmuffs tells the history of earmuffs and how Chester Greenwood, who improved upon their design, is credited with inventing them. It includes an age-appropriate discussion of how patents work and how the people we find credited for inventions may not have been the ones who thought up the idea, but rather who improved it into what we actually use today.It finishes by explaining how history chose to remember Chester Greenwood. Recommended for grades 1-4.
abigailbat's review
4.0
So, upon first glance, this looks like a book about the guy who invented earmuffs. Fun! And it is that. But it's so much more. What makes this book truly special is McCarthy's discussions about the nature of invention and her reflections on why history remembers some and forgets others. The subtitle says it all: Chester Greenwood became known as the inventor of earmuffs, but his actual patent is for "improvement" on ear mufflers. Yet, although Greenwood "only" made useful improvements to inventions that already existed, history remembers him as the inventor of earmuffs, so much so that Maine celebrates Chester Greenwood Day!
This would be a great addition to units on invention or history - it's sure to spark a discussion of who is remembered in history and who is not, and how we find that out.
This would be a great addition to units on invention or history - it's sure to spark a discussion of who is remembered in history and who is not, and how we find that out.
stenaros's review
2.0
Read for librarian book group
I found the story to be interesting, the telling of the story rather random and chaotic and the illustrations to be sub-par. "Man," I thought to myself, "If I had written this and THIS was the illustrator they pared me with, I wouldn't be too happy." But the author seems to also be the illustrator, so I guess she's happy with her work.
I found the story to be interesting, the telling of the story rather random and chaotic and the illustrations to be sub-par. "Man," I thought to myself, "If I had written this and THIS was the illustrator they pared me with, I wouldn't be too happy." But the author seems to also be the illustrator, so I guess she's happy with her work.