BEULAH HAS A HUNCH!: Inside the Colorful Mind of Master Inventor Beulah Louise Henry, by Katie Mazeika, Beach Lane Books, Oct. 17, 2023, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
Learn about one of the most prolific inventors in American history in Beulah Has a Hunch!: Inside the Colorful Mind of Master Inventor Beulah Louise Henry.
Growing up in the 1890s, when Beulah Louise Henry spotted a problem, she had to find a solution, turning it around and around in her mind until…aha! She had a hunch—what she called the inventions she came up with to solve the puzzles she saw all around her.
Beulah’s brain worked differently. She had hyperphantasia, which meant she saw things in extreme detail in her mind, as well as synesthesia, which caused words and numbers and even music notes to show up as different colors in her brain.
Beulah’s unique way of seeing the world helped her think up vivid solutions to problems—her hunches came to her fully formed with gears whirring and wheels spinning. She invented everything from a new and improved parasol to cuddly stuffed animals and from ice cream makers to factory machinery. Beulah’s inventions improved daily life in lots of ways, earning her the nickname “Lady Edison,” and she became one of the most prolific inventors in American history. —Synopsis provided by Beach Lane Books
I love a good picture book biography, and Beulah Has a Hunch! is a great one. There are so many aspects of Beulah’s life that kids will find amazing. Her ability to think in complex pictures; seeing sounds in color; and her ability to not only see a problem, but to work through it to find a solution will certainly resonate.
Author/illustrator Katie Mazeika’s writing is clear and conversational. She gets to the meat of the matter while remaining exciting. Her pacing is strong, hitting highlights while never rushing though. Her illustrations are bright and engaging. And her use of color and thought bubbles emphasize Beulah’s thought process.
An extensive note at the end of the book goes into more information about patents in general, schooling in the late 1800s, Beulah’s business, synesthesia, and hyperphantasia. Three photographs and illustrations of some of Beulah’s invention designs are also included.
Beulah Has a Hunch! is one of those books that kids, especially young girls, will be drawn to. It’s a fascinating read that is sure to inspire.
About the author/illustrator:
Katie Mazeika is an author and illustrator with a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design. When she isn’t in the studio, she likes to spend time at the theater, in her garden, or getting lost in a good book. She is the author-illustrator of picture book biographies including Annette Feels Free and Beulah Has a Hunch!. She lives in Ohio with her family and two dogs. To learn more, and download a free curriculum guide, visit her website at katiemazeika.com.
Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
