Books in We Thought of It series

Everyone knows that moccasins, canoes and toboggans were invented by the Aboriginal people of North America, but did you know that they also developed their own sign language, syringe needles and a secret ingredient in soda pop? Depending on where they lived, Aboriginal communities relied on their ingenuity to harness the resources available to them. Some groups, such as the Iroquois, were particularly skilled at growing and harvesting food. From them, we get corn and wild rice, as well as maple syrup. Other groups, including the Sioux and Comanche of the plains, were exceptional hunters. Camouflage, fish hooks, and decoys were all developed to make the task of catching animals easier. And even games—lacrosse, hockey and volleyball—have Native American roots. Other clever inventions and innovations include the following: • Sunscreen • Surgical blades • Diapers • Asphalt • Megaphones • Hair conditioner With descriptive photos and information-packed text, this book explores eight different categories in which the creativity of First Nations peoples from across the continent led to remarkable inventions and innovations, many of which are still in use today.

Today’s Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak still retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. Andother ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (Inunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: • Dog sleds • Shelter • Clothing • Kids’ stuff • Food preservation • Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalogue of Inuit invention.

Ink-filled pens, mattresses, and bars of soap—these are only some of the inventions and innovations that have been passed down through the millennia from the peoples of Arab lands. Readers may be surprised to learn that they have also given us • the scalpel • planetariums • three-course meals As in the other titles in this series, The Arab World Thought of It uses stunning photos and well-researched information to provide an overview of contributions made in the fields of medicine, architecture, food, and education. Also included is a look at accomplishments in the areas of engineering, transportation, and oil production. Complete with maps, timeline, index, and a list of further reading, this book is an excellent starting point for the exploration of a thriving culture.

Travel from the ancient hidden city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes, past Mayan ruins over 2,000 years old, to the bustling modern cities of São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Learn about the vibrant cultures and innovations of Latin America—rodeo, carnival, chocolate, coffee, piñata, tango, and salsa, to name only a few. Many of these have become part of the daily lives of people all around the world. Latin Americans Thought of It features a rich array of photos along with informative text divided into sections, including: • Clothing • Architecture • Communication • Arts and Crafts • Sports This fifth book in the We Thought of It series describes the traditions and innovations that are the result of thousands of years of civilization in Latin America, across two continents and nearly 20 countries. Within the region, there are many similarities (for instance, except for Brazil, the countries are all Spanish-speaking) and also many differences: in the mountainous Andes region, terrace farming was invented so that crops could be planted on steep hillsides, while in the marshy areas of Mexico and Bolivia raised fields called chinampas were devised so that crops could flourish in lowlands.

Did you know that aloe vera—now found in countless products, including sunscreens and soaps—was first used by Africans? They ground it into powder and used it to treat burns and other skin conditions, and hunters used it to disguise their scent from animals. They also used the nutritious oil from the fruit of the oil palm tree in everything from cooking to medicines to wine. And the marimba, better known to us as the xylophone, is believed to have originated 700 years ago in Mali. Other unique African innovations include the technique of banana leaf art and using horns—and hairdos!—to communicate important messages. Africans Thought of It features descriptive photos and information-packed text that is divided into sections, including: • Agriculture • Food • Medicine • Music • Architecture • Games & Sports This fourth book in Annick’s successful We Thought of It series takes readers on a fascinating journey across the world’s second largest continent to discover how aspects of its culture have spread around the globe.

Did you know that aloe vera—now found in countless products, including sunscreens and soaps—was first used by Africans? They ground it into powder and used it to treat burns and other skin conditions, and hunters used it to disguise their scent from animals. They also used the nutritious oil from the fruit of the oil palm tree in everything from cooking to medicines to wine. And the marimba, better known to us as the xylophone, is believed to have originated 700 years ago in Mali. Other unique African innovations include the technique of banana leaf art and using horns—and hairdos!—to communicate important messages. Africans Thought of It features descriptive photos and information-packed text that is divided into sections, including: • Agriculture • Food • Medicine • Music • Architecture • Games & Sports This fourth book in Annick’s successful We Thought of It series takes readers on a fascinating journey across the world’s second largest continent to discover how aspects of its culture have spread around the globe.

Ink-filled pens, mattresses, and bars of soap—these are only some of the inventions and innovations that have been passed down through the millennia from the peoples of Arab lands. Readers may be surprised to learn that they have also given us • the scalpel • planetariums • three-course meals As in the other titles in this series, The Arab World Thought of It uses stunning photos and well-researched information to provide an overview of contributions made in the fields of medicine, architecture, food, and education. Also included is a look at accomplishments in the areas of engineering, transportation, and oil production. Complete with maps, timeline, index, and a list of further reading, this book is an excellent starting point for the exploration of a thriving culture.

Everyone knows that moccasins, canoes and toboggans were invented by the Aboriginal people of North America, but did you know that they also developed their own sign language, syringe needles and a secret ingredient in soda pop? Depending on where they lived, Aboriginal communities relied on their ingenuity to harness the resources available to them. Some groups, such as the Iroquois, were particularly skilled at growing and harvesting food. From them, we get corn and wild rice, as well as maple syrup. Other groups, including the Sioux and Comanche of the plains, were exceptional hunters. Camouflage, fish hooks, and decoys were all developed to make the task of catching animals easier. And even games—lacrosse, hockey and volleyball—have Native American roots. Other clever inventions and innovations include the following: • Sunscreen • Surgical blades • Diapers • Asphalt • Megaphones • Hair conditioner With descriptive photos and information-packed text, this book explores eight different categories in which the creativity of First Nations peoples from across the continent led to remarkable inventions and innovations, many of which are still in use today.

Today’s Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak still retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. Andother ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (Inunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: • Dog sleds • Shelter • Clothing • Kids’ stuff • Food preservation • Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalogue of Inuit invention.

This fifth book in Annick’s successful We Thought of It series describes the vibrant traditions and innovations that are the result of thousands of years of civilization in Latin America. Travel from the ancient hidden city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes, past Mayan ruins over 2,000 years old, to the bustling modern cities of São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Along the way, readers will learn about many of Latin America’s contributions to the world: rodeo, carnival, chocolate, coffee, piñata, tango, and salsa, to name only a few. Many of these have become part of the daily lives of people all around the world. Latin Americans Thought of It features a rich array of photos along with informative text divided into sections, including: • Clothing • Architecture • Communication • Arts and Crafts • Everyday Inventions • Sports. Kids with a Latin American heritage will look with pride at the numerous innovations that have come to us from that part of the world.

Travel from the ancient hidden city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes, past Mayan ruins over 2,000 years old, to the bustling modern cities of São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Learn about the vibrant cultures and innovations of Latin America—rodeo, carnival, chocolate, coffee, piñata, tango, and salsa, to name only a few. Many of these have become part of the daily lives of people all around the world. Latin Americans Thought of It features a rich array of photos along with informative text divided into sections, including: • Clothing • Architecture • Communication • Arts and Crafts • Sports This fifth book in the We Thought of It series describes the traditions and innovations that are the result of thousands of years of civilization in Latin America, across two continents and nearly 20 countries. Within the region, there are many similarities (for instance, except for Brazil, the countries are all Spanish-speaking) and also many differences: in the mountainous Andes region, terrace farming was invented so that crops could be planted on steep hillsides, while in the marshy areas of Mexico and Bolivia raised fields called chinampas were devised so that crops could flourish in lowlands.

"Dazzling inventions from the far north." Today's Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. And other ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (lnunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: Dog sleds Kids' stuff Shelter Food preservation Clothing Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalog of Inuit invention.