Almost exactly one year ago I reviewed four picture books about inventors and their inventions — the light bulb, earmuffs, braille, and the steel plow. Today let’s think more about crayons, board games, and communications technology!

The Crayon Man: the True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019)

This picture book is a great introduction to the process of inventing something by trial and error. I love the emphasis on colour! Kids will enjoy the story and the illustrations as they learn about Edwin Binney (1866-1934). Unobtrusive sidebars provide more historical and scientific information for older kids. Another bonus is the explanation of how Crayola crayons are made today with ten colour photographs. You’ll also find a biographical sketch and photos of Binney at the end, along with a selected bibliography. Recommended for ages 5 to 10.

Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly Was Invented by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Steven Salerno (Henry Holt and Co., 2018)

This picture book is longer and more detailed than Crayon Man and would be most enjoyed by kids who have played Monopoly. It gives the historical context of the first iteration of the board game, which was invented by Lizzie Magie (1866-1948). Even though she got a patent for her “Landlord’s Game,” fans created their own versions. One day Charles Darrow learned how to play, then he made his own improvements, began selling the game, and eventually sold it to Parker Brothers. Pass Go and Collect $200 attempts to set the record straight and challenges kids to think about who deserves the credit for this unimaginably popular board game. Trivia, math problems, author’s note, and sources round out the book. Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark (Union Square Kids, 2019)

Another picture book biography for older children, this one covers the life of Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000) and especially her invention (with George Antheil) of “frequency hopping,” inspired by… pianos! Although they developed the idea as a secure torpedo guidance system, it was not implemented during WWII as they had hoped. However, it is the technology that “helps keep call phone calls and texts private. It’s the trick that allows secure wireless communications between computers and the Internet. And it makes it harder for people to hack drone aircraft.” Pretty amazing! Quotes from Lamarr are woven into the book and at the end are a timeline (including historical events), more information on the secret communication system, selected bibliography, and a list of Hedy Lamarr’s films. Recommended for ages 9 to 12.