Illustrated by Kandy Radzinski

For every budding scientist who would like to think beyond the smoking volcano, diorama, and colored graphs of the typical school science fair. "I is for Idea" explores the development of bicycles, zippers, toilets, computers, and many other inventions that we now take for granted in our daily lives. Readers will learn about the inventors and the genesis behind these ever-present and useful items.

Curious kids will find plenty of inspiration as they discover the answers to their continuous questions. What is the basis for the phrase "the real McCoy"? What actually is the mother of invention? What kitchen appliance was developed after a scientist's candy bar suddenly melted?

Author Marcia Schonberg lives north of Columbus, Ohio. She is the author of more than a dozen books, including "B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet."

Illustrator Kandy Radzinski's first book with Sleeping Bear Press, "S is for Sooner: An Oklahoma Alphabet," was the Oklahoma Center for the Book Best Illustrated Book 2004. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.