What Color Is My World?

“Get ready to have your mind blown with this fun book.” — The Washington Post

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, champions a lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Offering profiles with fast facts and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a tribute to black inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter.
Back matter includes an authors’ note and sources.

“It's an entertaining and often surprising exploration of lesser-known innovators, past and present. -Publishers Weekly In his first foray into writing for children, basketball superstar Abdul-Jabbar teams with Obstfeld to introduce 16 mostly lesser-known African American inventors through a fictional story told by young twins, who learn that many items in a typical house and used by a majority of Americans were invented or developed by African Americans. -Booklist”

A purposeful but appealing presentation of information about accomplished lives.
—Kirkus Reviews

It's an entertaining and often surprising exploration of lesser-known innovators, past and present.
—Publishers Weekly

Young Herbie and Ella are disappointed with the dilapidated state of their new house, and cranky with the didactic handyman, Mr. Mital, who seems intent on instructing them in African-American history. "There's more to our history than slavery, jazz, sports and civil rights marches," he insists. But he quickly gains their attention with stories of little-known inventors, which appear around them in foldout pages, with notes and peanut-gallery remarks penciled in by the kids. Some developments were life-changing, like open-heart surgery or food preservation, and some pure fun.
—Newsday

Filled with great illustrations, the book features fascinating profiles of subjects ranging from a pioneer of open-heart surgery to the inventor of the Super Soaker water gun.
—Sports Illustrated Kids

A playful history.
—USA Today

Get ready to have your mind blown with this fun book. It tells the story of twins who discover the amazing stories of African American inventors whose creations changed your world...The book has lift flaps and fast facts that makes learning so quick and easy.
—Washington Post

A highly readable tale full of fun facts about creators of color.
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

An inspiring book that broadens the definition of "inventor" and shines a light on many talented African-Americans throughout history.
—San Francisco Book Review

This introduction to lesser-known African American inventors just might inspire kids to create their own history-changing inventions.
—Instructor Magazine

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.