Book Review: The World's First Rollercoaster and Other Amazing Inventions by Mike Barfield

Today, I bring you another book review but this time it's for a non-fiction children's book. Well, I say it's for children but I've learned so much from it! Read on to find out more...

Here is the synopsis for the book:

Did you know that bubble wrap started life as a new type of wallpaper that didn't catch on? Or that Lonnie Johnson invented the Nerf Super Soaker while working on a NASA mission to Saturn?

Look closely and you'll see that the world is full of amazing inventions! Rollercoasters, instant noodles, drones, supermarkets... but how did they get here and why do we have them?

Blue Peter Award-winner Mike Barfield tells the fascinating true stories behind an amazing range of inventions and innovations: From bubble wrap to the barcode, from pizza to post-its, from trainers to the teddy bear! The story of each invention is told in a lively comic-strip format, and we meet the colourful cast of characters involved in these light-bulb moments which changed the world in big or tiny ways.

An irresistible way into science and technology with a dash of history, from the brilliant Mike Barfield. Jump on board to find out the funniest, most fascinating facts about the world's wackiest, weirdest and wildest inventions and how they came to be!

Here are a few examples of the pages, with just a few of the incredible facts and topics included in this book:

I love how colourful and eye-catching this entire book is - especially the cover. Illustrator Franziska Hollbacher has done a fantastic job with this book. Every page is alive with colour, excitement and humour.

The information within the pages is just as exciting! Amazing facts about many different topics fill the pages. From skyscrapers and wind turbines (see above) to video games and smartphones - and everything in between. The sections of House and Home and Food and Drink were particular favourites of mine. Other sections include information on games, clothing and transport - including the bullet train page above.

There is so much to learn in this book and it is done in such a fun, simplistic way. The facts are broken down into small chunks, making the reading manageable and interesting to younger readers. The information is set out with pictures, some in the style of comic strips and comedic speech bubbles, to accompany it in a visual way.

I love that it's a book that you can pick up and open on any page to learn something new. It's one that I will definitely be taking into school to share with my class; I already know it will be a hit with many of them! I would also highly recommend it to any young readers who love learning about the world around them. It really is a brilliant book!