Inventions to Count On: A Celebration of Black Inventors

From forgotten innovators like Anna M. Mangin to well-known inventors like James West, this picture book is a celebration of Black history and inventors with a unique counting rhyme

One heater keeps a family warm / Sheltered from the winter storm.
Two phones bridge a thousand miles / Bringing laughter, joy, and smiles.

From traffic lights to ice cream scoopers to fire trucks, there are so many different ways that Black inventors changed history. Follow a bustling modern-day family as they get ready for a beloved family member’s 100th birthday. Woven into their activities are ten inventions that positively impact their daily lives as they prepare for the celebration.

With simple, rhyming text and charming art, Inventions to Count On: A Celebration of Black Inventors shines a light on forgotten pioneers, including Alice H. Parker, Garrett Morgan, Anna M. Mangin, Joseph Winters, Alfred L. Cralle, Sarah Boone, Jan Ernst Matzeliger, and Alexander Miles, as well as honoring celebrated inventors like James West, who developed the tiny microphone still used in cell phones today, and Granville T. Woods, who invented third rail technology for trains.