SUSAN MARY CASEY
Author

Susan Casey inspires audiences with stories and images of kid and women inventors based on her books Kids Inventing! A Handbook for Young Inventors (Wiley, 2005) and Women Invent! Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World (Chicago Review Press, 1997). Her interest in invention was sparked when her friend's father told her how he invented Bounce fabric softener. She soon began researching how other inventions were discovered.

After writing Women Invent! she visited schools, talked about women inventors, and also shared stories of girl inventors. When students wanted to know more about the inventions of both boys and girls,  she began working on Kids Inventing! A Handbook for Young Inventors.

Researching and writing nonfiction engages her because it allows her to constantly discover new information by interviewing people, visiting places, and reading.

As a journalist, she enjoys writing about topics ranging from outdoor activities to art, travel, construction and more. Her articles have appeared in Family Circle, Americana, USAir, Women's Sports, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Inventors Digest and Electrical Contractor. As a speaker she has appeared at Edufest, the Houston Forum, the Montana Educator's Conference, the UCLA Women's Leadership Conference,  the Los Angeles Public Library and of many schools.

Published Books

Kids Inventing! A Handbook for Young Inventors by Susan Casey Reading level: Ages 9-12 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Jossey-Bass (August 24, 2005)
ISBN: 0471660868
Have you ever seen inventors on TV or in the newspaper and thought, "That could be me!" Well, it certainly could—and this book shows you how. Kids Inventing! gives you easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for turning your ideas into realities for fun, competition, and even profit.

From finding an idea and creating a working model to patenting, manufacturing, and selling your invention, you get expert guidance in all the different stages of inventing. You'll see how to keep an inventor's log, present your ideas, and work as part of a team or with a mentor. You'll meet inspiring kids just like you who designed their own award-winning inventions. And you'll see how to prepare for the various state and national invention contests held each year, as well as international competitions and science fairs.

Editorial Reviews
--NSTA Recommends Inventions solve problems in daily life, and this nifty book solves the problems of how to go about inventing. From identifying a problem in your work to thinking about how to solve it, the information is broken down into small solvable parts.

So how do you come up with a problem? Hone your observational skills and look around. Stories of inventions developed by young scientists who responded to their own needs or those of their community provide the backbone and wonder of this inspirational book.

Some ideas come through observation, some through research, and some from searching for a use for something. Next, the inventor can turn to Journaling or model making or can learn with a mentor. For those really great ideas, the book discusses patenting, designing a trademark, and manufacturing and selling the product. There are many websites, programs, competitions, and camps found in the appendices.

Students can be great inventors because life is newer to them and they take less for granted. Awareness is the first step to discovery. What a wonderful little book for showing children other children as inventors... and they can learn how to become one themselves! Teri Cosentino, 3rd-6th grade science teacher 2/28/06

From Science News With a great idea, even a kid can be an inventor, according to this book. This educational paperback claims to provide all the know-how needed to bring an idea to fruition and offers dozens of examples of kids who have already done just that. Casey, an English teacher and author, begins with advice for developing ideas for new inventions. Casey's tips include keeping an inventor's log and writing reports, making models of ideas, and participating in competitions and science fairs. For kids with solid ideas for inventions, the book describes how anyone can search for patents on similar items, apply for a patent, and register for a trademark. Each chapter ends with activities to help kids put the tips into action. Throughout the book are profiles of young people who earned scholarships, recognition, and even wealth for their inventions, including a brake for runaway shopping carts, a spill-proof bowl, and a robot that can aid rescue teams. http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/books.asp

From Children's Lit Not only does this book tell amazing stories of successful young inventors, it explains the step-by-step process of how to invent something by one's self. The reader is asked to brainstorm possible solutions to everyday problems, since that is how most inventions start. Quotes in the margins from kids who have won competitions encourage the reader. The book is organized with a "Table of Contents" and "Appendices" for further reading and useful websites about numerous contests. Risk taking is encouraged because trial and error is necessary. Activities at the end of each chapter are intended to get the reader's feet wet in the invention process. Most helpful are explicit instructions on how and when to apply for patents and trademarks. This book would be a great preview to a Science Fair, Invention Convention, or simple exercises in problem solving. 2005, John Wiley & Sons, $14.95. Ages 7 to 16. Reviewer: Julie Schneggenburger (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-471-66086-8 Children's Literature http://www.childrenslit.com/th_inventions.html

From Idea Finder You'll meet inspiring kids just like you who designed their own award-winning inventions. Discover how exciting it can be to rethink the world around you, solve problems, and surprise and delight others with the results. Anything's possible with Kids Inventing! The Great Idea Finder http://www.ideafinder.com/resource/books/rpr-inventors.htm    http://www.ideafinder.com/features/classact/young.htm

From Oak Park Library You can become a real inventor! This book gives you easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for turning your ideas into realities for fun, competition, and even profit. You'll meet inspiring kids just like you who designed their own award-winning inventions. Oak Park Public Library

Women Invent!: Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World  by Susan Casey Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1997)
ISBN: 1556523173

These inspiring stories of women inventors take the reader through the process of inventing—from coming up with an idea to having it manufactured and sold.  Card catalog description
Uses short biographies of women inventors around the world to demonstrate how inventions come about.

NOTABLE BOOK - Chicago Tribune

Editorial Reviews
Women Invent! Top 10 Books for Girls 8-12 Women Invent: Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World by Susan Casey. Curious girls may be happy to know that there have been plenty of women in history who also asked questions and found solutions. Many of the women included are not well-known -- adults will likely find themselves sneaking a peek.

Look out, Thomas Edison How do inventors develop their ideas?   How do they get patents?  Women Invent!: Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World by Susan Casey answers these questions and more using short biographies of noted female inventors, which range from the quirky (Patty Brandetsas, who invented the Whirling Dart Board) to the heroic (Gertrude Elion, who developed drugs to treat childhood leukemia).  Illustrated with 20 b&w photographs and diagrams, the book concludes with “An Inventor’s Resource Guide,” which lists books, scholarships and places to visit. Publishers Weekly

“Casey’s main goal is to inspire young inventors, not to praise accomplished ones, so she has included stories about dozens of lesser-known inventions, as well as a comprehensive resource list to help would-be inventors develop and even profit from their own ideas  Los Angeles Times

Presentations

In her interactive presentations, Susan presents images and tells stories of women and kid inventors, demonstrates their inventions, leads the audience through the steps of invention-from idea, to patent, to market, shares information about invention contests and leads students thoughan activity as if they were judges at an invention fair.  At the same time, she demonstrates the skills of non-fiction writers-doing interviews, writing to describe and rewriting-and illustrates how writing is a way to interact with the world. She leaves audiences inspired about inventing and writing.

Slideshows and Workshops
"The presentation by Susan Casey was both engaging and enlightening. She inspired the inventor in us, illustrating how everyday innovations can be revolutionary. The audience thoroughly enjoyed her." Marsha Tucker, Executive Director The Houston Forum

Professional Groups/ Conferences
Invention As a Creative Activity - Susan demonstrates the connection between invention and creativity in a presentation that features men, women and young inventors. She describes programs and competitions open to individual students and teams.

Kid Inventors
Susan presents a slide show while telling the stories of dozens of kid inventors who range in age from 6 to 17, the basics of inventing and explains ways any kid can become involved in an invention project, program or competition.

Women Inventors in America
Susan narrates a slide show about the contributions of women inventors that illustrates the history of women in America from 1715 to the present.

"Susan Casey presented a truly fascinating presentation about women inventors. I strongly recommend Susan as an engaging and mind-expanding presenter." Victoria Curtin, Director, Women's Opportunities Center, University of California, Irvine, Extension

School Visits (Presentations can also be a combination of all three topics.)
Kids Inventing!
Susan explains the process of inventing, demonstrates a variety of inventions by kids and
explains how any kid can become an inventor.

Women Invent!
Susan narrates a slide show about America's women inventors and shows students how to read a patent, identify a trademark and more.

Non-Fiction Writing is Fun and Interesting!
As a photojournalist Susan has written and photographed for articles about a wide range of topics from foreign travel to adventure sports to art and architecture. Susan shows slides of her published stones and students learn that research for non-fiction writing involves on the spot experience and interviews with real people in addition to the traditional research done in books or on the internet.

"Susan Casey is an outstanding presenter who keeps her audiences spellbound." Joan Hanson, Founder and Chair, Author Festivals of the School Districts of Long Beach, Westminster, Newport Beach and Tustin, California

"The presentations Susan has given at the Los Angeles Public Library have been outstanding." Billie Connor-Dominguez, Los Angeles Public Library, Central Branch, Manager, Science, Technology and Patents Department

Teacher Workshops
Invention as an Interdisciplinary and Creative Activity
Inventing calls on skills and tasks that span the curriculum. Workshop participants go through the steps of invention and leave with a packet of student worksheets ready for classroom use.

"Susan offered a workshop for teachers that created excitement in having students participate in Invention Conventions and similar problem solving activities. I would encourage educators to consider Susan Casey as a presenter or keynote speaker at their next meeting or conference." Richard M. Jones, Past President, Montana Science Teachers Association.
Contact

Susan Mary Casey
PO Box 222
Venice, CA 90294

Phone (310)452-5318

mailto:susan@susancaseybooks.com

Website  http://www.susancaseybooks.com

To return to state page click HERE.                08/14/08 date last edited