A Compendium of Curious Contraptions
A Guessing Game About History's Most Unusual Artefacts
$52.33
- Hardcover
64 pages
- Release Date
26 August 2025
Summary
The book features mystery items from the past, with a set of clues as to what each one was used for. Readers can take a guess before unfolding a giant flap to reveal the answer. Without giving too much away, the book contains Inuit snow goggles, designed to protect eyes from the blinding glare of the ice, an ancient Chinese earthquake detector featuring several metal frogs, and err.. the Royal fistula - an item used to perform delicate surgery on the rear end of King Louis XIV of France.
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781916745032 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1916745032 |
| Author: | Anna Goldfield, Paula Zamudio, Neon Squid |
| Publisher: | Priddy Books |
| Imprint: | Priddy Books |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 64 |
| Release Date: | 26 August 2025 |
| Weight: | 680g |
| Dimensions: | 18mm x 236mm x 288mm |
| Audience Age: | 8-10 |
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Critics Review
“Young readers can practise being archaeologists with this collection of enigmatic objects from history… Once they’ve made their guess, readers can lift a flap to find the answer, such as an ancient Roman oil lamp or an ancient Chinese earthquake detector. This interactive nonfiction offering turns STEM into high-interest detective work.” * Booklist *
Drawing on historical objects from a range of places and times, this lift-the-flap exploration of history’s mysteries is a quirky, engaging read… For those who enjoy random facts, bite-sized information, and occasionally gross history, this book will offer them even more fuel for their curiosity… A must-purchase text for history sleuths as well as for general use in schools or in classroom library reference collection. * School Library Journal *
The selection of items is excellent, and the information about them expansive. We’re never too old for guessing games or lift-the-flap books, and here we also enter vividly into the realm of global cultures… An absorbing trip through an eclectic, fascinating museum of mostly ancient inventions. * Kirkus *
It made history exciting, like a treasure hunt of inventions. It also made me want to build something myself. The writing is easy to understand, and the drawings make everything come alive. * Press Association *
Anna Goldfield
Anna Goldfield is a podcaster, science writer, illustrator, and archaeologist. Anna works on the kids’ science podcast Brains On! and presents the popular archaeology podcast The Dirt. Anna is also the author of The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions by Neon Squid.
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