Around the World in 80 Inventions
CHOCKS AWAY! Take off on a marvellous journey of discovery as you explore 80 incredible world-changing inventions from around the globe!
From the wheel to the space rocket, the bow and arrow to the atom bomb, chocolate to toothpaste, and the battery to the quantum computer, find out about innovations from the ancient world right up to the twenty-first century. Read the fascinating story about how each one was developed, with bite-sized labels and captions. Spot the adventurous aviator, complete with goggles and flailing scarf, on each page, as they guide you through the book.
With bright, fun-filled illustrations by Robbie Cathro and 80 incredible entries, this invention compendium is sure to captivate STEM-mad readers 8 years and up for hours.
Matt Ralphs is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction books for children. His published works include Season of the Witch (Flying Eye), Secrets of the Dead, Transported and Beasts from the Deep (Nosy Crow), which won The Week Junior 2025 Award for Children's Book of the Year: Animals and Nature, Around the World in 80 Inventions (Templar Books), Norse Myths (DK Publishing), Spooky Celebrations Around the World (Phaidon) and Tales of the Damned along with Automotive, Nautical and Aviation (Big Picture Press). He has also written Fire Girl and Fire Witch (Macmillan) and Little Sure Shot (Anderson Press). Matt lives aboard a boat called Nostromo on the Grand Union Canal.
Robbie Cathro (Illustrator)
Robbie is an illustrator and storyteller living in Bristol, UK. He loves bright colours, limited palettes, atmospheric textures, and layered characters. His work is inspired by animation, folk tales, as well as the small stories he finds in his day-to-day life. He has worked with Airbnb, The Sunday Times, The Natural History Museum, Aquila Magazine, Anorak Magazine, Kingfisher and Little Bee Books.