Izzy Gizmo - by Pip Jones

About the Book

Izzy Gizmo loves to invent but gets frustrated when her inventions fail to work properly. So when she finds a crow with a broken wing her grandfather urges her to persist until she finds a way to help. A feisty tale of determination, ingenuity, and friendship. Full color.

Book Synopsis

A young Black girl builds confidence in her engineering skills as she helps an injured crow fly again in this vibrant, STEAM-infused tale of determination, ingenuity, and friendship.

Izzy Gizmo's inventions are marvelous, magnificent...and often malfunction. Despite the fact that she loves to invent, it never seems to work out in her favor. But when she finds a crow with a broken wing, she has to help!

Izzy tries again and again to build the crow a new pair of wings, but nothing is working. Can Izzy overcome her failures? Or is her friend destined to live as a crow who can't fly?

Author Pip Jones tells an inspiring story of creativity and perseverance in the face of failure while spotlighting friendship and intergenerational relationships. Bright, zany art from the acclaimed Sara Ogilvie adds to the zeal.

Review Quotes

"The bright pops of color make the artwork vivid and appealing. The text is full of challenging new words for young readers and the text rhymes, which allows the story to flow in a fun, inventive way. The theme of not giving up after a first, second, and third failure will resonate with readers of all ages. This book will inspire kids to get out there and to try new things."--School Library Journal

"This story of a girl engineer is sorely needed and has potential to develop and nourish readers' interest in STEAM subjects. Additionally, themes of creativity and tenacity, together with the portrayal of a girl who's allowed to show anger and frustration, make this a worthwhile read. Fun, with depth.""--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Pip Jones spent her childhood gobbling up books and dreaming about being an author. At nineteen, she began a career in journalism, and in 2014, she published her first book. Pip is most often found writing, staring at the contents of the fridge, or herding her two children. She lives in England.

Sara Ogilvie studied illustration and printmaking at Edinburgh College of Art. In addition to illustrating children's books, Sara exhibits across the UK and abroad and creates images for editorial, design, and advertising. She lives in England.