"The woman of the future will have the memory of Josephine Garis Cochrane in grateful remembrance. It was she who invented the machine which has set woman free from the most slavish and disgusting task of housekeeping--dishwashing." - The Daily Picayune, April 2, 1892

Josephine was a modern woman who doesn't mind getting her hands dirty, but she wanted to be doing things other than washing endless dishes. It was a time of invention, and her father and grandfather had invented things themselves. She was convinced that there had to be another way. She measured, tinkered, tested, refined, and rethought until it started to work. Over time, she gets her patent, takes her invention to a world's fair, and started a factor. All along, when she encountered trouble, she would also say "there has to be a better way" and finds it to make the world a little better every day.

I love the highlights from other inventors. It talks about Thomas Edison and Alexander Grahm Bell, but it also highlights Margaret E. Knight and Sarah E. Goode, took women who, just like Josephine, aren't often remembered for their achievements. The historical quotes are small but lovely details that are added naturally, and the author's note at the end talks about the challenges Josephine would have faced as a woman in an environment where women were not permitted or welcome.

This positive book is a wonderful way to inspire young children to invent solutions, get things done, and never give up, no matter how hard things get.