Dana Marie Miroballi
children's book author
Reviews
"Each of the first 10 spreads features a rhyming couplet that pays homage to a single invention. With brief text and full-bleed illustrations of a joyful Black family in a variety of familiar scenes, this section will work well for story hours with toddlers and young preschoolers."―School Library Journal
“The author’s closing observation that these men and women are worth celebrating for the way they pressed on in the face of systemic discrimination and other obstacles is well taken. An effective pep talk.”―Kirkus Reviews
Inventions to Count On:
A Celebration of Black Inventors
by Dana Marie Miroballi
illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
Abrams Books, Spring 2025
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From forgotten innovators like Anna M. Mangin to well-known inventors like James West, this picture book is a celebration of Black history and inventors with a unique counting rhyme.
From traffic lights to ice cream scoopers to fire truck ladders, there are so many different ways that Black inventors changed history. Follow a bustling modern-day family as they get ready for a beloved family member's 100th birthday. Woven into their activities are ten inventions that positively impact their daily lives as they prepare for the celebration. With simple, rhyming text and counting, Inventions to Count On: A Celebration of Black Inventors shines a light on forgotten pioneers and modern inventors who defied racial stereotypes and dared to dream big. Back matter provides information about the inventors and their patents and challenges children to consider how they could improve the world by becoming inventors themselves.
