Henry Ford and the Assembly Line

Gr 5–8—Combining biography and history, these books explore inventor and invention to understand an individual's impact on the world. These texts are not comprehensive biographies; instead, they concentrate on how each inventor's early interests led to his often prolonged efforts to make his invention viable and profitable. Each title traces the steps in the development of invention, explains how it worked, and analyzes its impact. Inventors are called by their first names throughout the books, lending a familiarity uncommon in series nonfiction. Descriptions of the inventions and the underlying principles of their operation are sometimes quite complex, with either missing or inadequate visual information. Illustrations are largely period photos and drawings of people and the inventions. Quotes in "The Word Is" sidebars aren't documented.