Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women

1. Bibliography

Thimmesh, Catherine. 2000. Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395937442

2. Plot Summary

From Mary Anderson and the windshield wipers to Grace Murray Hopper and the computer compiler, Girls Think of Everything shows the reader the power of women and their inventions that have changed the world. Each story begins with the inventors recognizing a need and taking matters into their own hand. Some inventions were happy accidents while others were deliberate in order to help the world. Coupled with illustrations showing the initial blueprints of the inventions, this book highlights and celebrates women inventors. 

3. Critical Analysis

The book is simply laid out with each inventor getting two or three pages, coupled with a small illustration of the inventor and a page dedicated to an illustration of their invention. The illustrations are bright and colorful and highlight the inventor's invention and their thought process as they sketched the windshield wiper or the space bumper. While the placement of the illustrations may hinder readability at times, the design allows for the subject matter to come through clearly and effectively. There are direct quotes from the authors themselves that highlights their curiosity and determination to succeed in their craft. 

If the reader wants to read about a certain inventor, they can find an index at the end of the book. The author also has a bibliography where all of her sources are documented. She also has a "Your Turn" section at the end of the book that encourages readers to research information about patents and lists small contests and organizations for inventors. With this, the author is encouraging critical thinking and encouraging future inventors to research and start to think about their own inventions that could help the world.

4. Review Excerpts

From Publishers Weekly: "...an inspired ode to women inventors."
From School Library Journal: "In a growing marketplace of works about women transforming the world, this title holds its own." 

5. Connections

Have students think of something that they would want to invent. 
Enjoy another work about women inventors, such as:

• Maggs, Sam. Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers. ISBN 9781594749254