Emma Lilian Todd’s mind was always soaring–she loved to solve problems. Lilian tinkered and fiddled with all sorts of objects, turning dreams into useful inventions. As a child, she took apart and reassembled clocks to figure out how they worked. As an adult, typing up patents at the U.S. Patent Office, Lilian built the inventions in her mind, including many designs for flying machines. However, they all seemed too impractical. Lilian knew she could design one that worked. She took inspiration from both nature and her many failures, driving herself to perfect the design that would eventually successfully fly.
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from Calkins Creek Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
March is National Women’s Months and I am so excited to share this amazing biography story about Emma Lilian Todd. Debut author Kirsten W. Larson did an excellent job of providing historical context in a really accessible way. Before reading this book, I had never heard of Lilian Todd and was instantly drawn into the story of her life. The book follows Lilian Todd from her childhood as a curious thinker to a woman who invented planes. Lilian couldn’t imagine a life without tools or wires she fixed her eyes on the future of flight. Her goal was to create a plane that was practical in design, not just fantastical. She worked to create a different type of plane and after many failed attempts, Lillian achieved her dreams. The text is written with figurative language that draws readers into the story. I loved the added quotes from Lilian Todd that are placed within the story. The illustrations by Tracy Subisak are charming and show readers detailed images of the planes that Lilian spent her life creating. The back matter is extensive and shares more information about Lilian, as well as photos of the planes. This is an excellent historical STEM book that opens readers’ eyes to an unknown inventor and thinker.
Ages 6 and up
48 Pages
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