Wood, Wire, Wings
Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane
By: Kirsten W. Larson
About This Book
Meet self-taught engineer Emma Lilian Todd as she tackles one of the greatest challenges of the early 1900s: designing an airplane. 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.
AI Overview
Book Overview: "Wood, Wire, Wings" by Kirsten W. Larson
Plot Summary: "Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane" is a nonfiction picture book biography that tells the story of Emma Lilian Todd, a self-taught engineer who attempted to design and build an airplane in the early 1900s. The book follows Todd's journey from her childhood fascination with how things work, influenced by her inventor grandfather, to her work at the U.S. Patent Office, where she developed numerous designs for flying machines. Despite many failures and setbacks, Todd persevered, drawing inspiration from both nature and her experiences. The book chronicles her trials and errors in creating prototypes until she finally succeeded in designing a working plane.
Key Themes:
- Perseverance: The book highlights Todd's resilience and determination in the face of numerous failures, showcasing the importance of persistence in achieving one's goals.
- Inventions and STEM: The story celebrates Todd's contributions to the field of aeronautics and STEM education, encouraging readers to explore their own inventive potential.
- Problem-Solving: Todd's approach to solving problems is a central theme, demonstrating how curiosity and tinkering can lead to innovative solutions.
Critical Reception:
- Kirkus Reviews: The book is praised for its "energetic, thoughtful text" and "inventive, warmly outlined full-color illustrations" by illustrator Tracy Subisak. The review notes that the book celebrates Todd's resilience as much as her contributions to STEM and aeronautics.
- Educational Value: The classroom guide provided by the author suggests that the book is suitable for students in first through fifth grade, offering a structured approach to reading and discussing the biography.
Author and Illustrator:
- Author: Kirsten W. Larson is the author of "Wood, Wire, Wings." Her writing style is described as engaging and informative, making complex historical figures accessible to young readers.
- Illustrator: Tracy Subisak is the illustrator of the book. Her artwork brings Todd's story to life with vibrant and detailed illustrations that complement Larson's narrative.
Publication Details:
- Title: Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane
- Author: Kirsten W. Larson
- Illustrator: Tracy Subisak
- ISBN: 1629799386
- Publication Date: February 25, 2020
- Publisher: Calkins Creek
- Recommended Age: 6-9 years old