Sue Lawson and Karen Tayleur, What’s the Big Idea? Australian Inventions that Changed the World, Wild Dog, August 2022, 44 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781742036267
Australians are an inventive lot. From the innovative tools and equipment of our First Nations people to the pioneering solutions of colonial times and high-tech minds of today, Australians have risen to the challenge of problem solving. Also, Vegemite. We can’t explain that, but we love it anyway.
What’s the Big Idea? Australian Inventions that Changed the World is a fascinating look at some of the unique innovations that had their origins right here in our very own country. I was genuinely surprised at some of the things I learned within its pages! It’s a great idea for a non-fiction book and one that I can see becoming a valuable school resource.
The book provides details of a staggering number of inventions that we may find it hard to imagine life about, all of which were imagined and made reality by Australians. Divided into clear sections (i.e., Medicine, Technology, Communication, Transport, Food, etc.) Lawson and Tayleur take us on a detailed tour of this country’s history of thinking outside of the box – of seeing problems and figuring out ingenious ways of solving them.
The pictures and illustrations are bright and eye-catching, and the information is set out clearly and is easy to read. Not only that, but the way the book is written inspires the reader to go on to do further research and find out more about the inventions that captured their imaginations.
It’s definitely a book to keep handy for school projects, or even just some inspiring reading for the curious young Australian inventors of the future! Teaching notes are available at the publisher website.
Reviewed by Christian Price
