About this item
In 1781, Thomas Paine came up with a model for a single-span bridge; in 1887, Adolf Eugen Fick made the first pair of contact lenses; and in 1907, Paul Cornu built the first helicopter. But Leonardo da Vinci thought of all these ideas more than five hundred years ago! At once an artist, inventor, engineer, and scientist, da Vinci wrote and drew detailed descriptions of what would later become hang gliders, automobiles, robots, and much more. Gene Barretta cleverly shows how Leonardo's ideas -- many inspired by his love of nature -- foreshadowed modern inventions, offering a window into the future.
About the Author
Gene Barretta is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. Among his honors are the Carolyn W. Field Award and the Bank Street Cook Prize Honor.His books include, "The Bat Can Bat: A Book of True Homonyms," "Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare," "Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin," "Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo Da Vinci," "Muhammad Ali: A Champion is Born," "Jack the Tripper," "Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones," "The Bass Plays The Bass and Other Homographs" and "Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives."Gene has contributed illustration and animation to Sesame Street and Between the Lions. He has also designed characters for The Jim Henson Company. He lives in Bryn Mawr, PA.For more information on Gene and his work, please visit: www.genebarretta.com
