The Invention of the Computer Mouse

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

The Invention of the Computer Mouse — an illustrated inventions story, set in Global. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

The Invention of the Computer Mouse — book cover — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of the Computer Mouse — an illustrated inventions story, set in Global. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Amadi watched bubbles float past the porthole of their classroom, a sunken pirate ship teeming with colorful coral. "Another math lesson, really?" he sighed.
Amadi watched bubbles float past the porthole of their classroom, a sunken pirate ship teeming with colorful coral. "Another math lesson, really?" he sighed. Pavel, tinkering with a robotic seahorse, grinned. "Come on, Amadi. What else are we going to do? Besides, it's not like we can just wish for a new invention to help us learn faster."

Amadi watched bubbles float past the porthole of their classroom, a sunken pirate ship teeming with colorful coral. "Another math lesson, really?" he sighed. Pavel, tinkering with a robotic seahorse, grinned. "Come on, Amadi. What else are we going to do? Besides, it's not like we can just wish for a new invention to help us learn faster."

Page 2

Sven, who was sitting behind them, piped up. "My grandma says people used to draw with...rocks!" Amadi shuddered dramatically. "Gross!
Sven, who was sitting behind them, piped up. "My grandma says people used to draw with...rocks!" Amadi shuddered dramatically. "Gross! Think about all the paper we'd waste!" He pulled out his worn leather notebook, flipping through sketches of inventions he hoped to one day create. "There has to be a better way! I wonder who invented the perfect tool to navigate the computer screen."

Sven, who was sitting behind them, piped up. "My grandma says people used to draw with...rocks!" Amadi shuddered dramatically. "Gross! Think about all the paper we'd waste!" He pulled out his worn leather notebook, flipping through sketches of inventions he hoped to one day create. "There has to be a better way! I wonder who invented the perfect tool to navigate the computer screen."

Page 3

Amadi rushed to his room, which was a cozy grotto carved into the reef, and pulled the ancient, glowing Invention Encyclopedia from his shelf.
Amadi rushed to his room, which was a cozy grotto carved into the reef, and pulled the ancient, glowing Invention Encyclopedia from his shelf. He opened it, the pages shimmering with underwater light. "Let's see who made the mouse that roared!" he exclaimed, a thrill of anticipation in his voice as the room began to dissolve around him.

Amadi rushed to his room, which was a cozy grotto carved into the reef, and pulled the ancient, glowing Invention Encyclopedia from his shelf. He opened it, the pages shimmering with underwater light. "Let's see who made the mouse that roared!" he exclaimed, a thrill of anticipation in his voice as the room began to dissolve around him.

Page 4

Suddenly, Amadi found himself in a brightly lit workshop, the air buzzing with the sound of drills and saws. "Whoa! Where am I?" A man in a lab coat looked up…
Suddenly, Amadi found himself in a brightly lit workshop, the air buzzing with the sound of drills and saws. "Whoa! Where am I?" A man in a lab coat looked up from his workbench, covered in wires, circuits, and strange wooden contraptions. "Welcome! I'm Douglas Engelbart. You've arrived at the Stanford Research Institute in 1964."

Suddenly, Amadi found himself in a brightly lit workshop, the air buzzing with the sound of drills and saws. "Whoa! Where am I?" A man in a lab coat looked up from his workbench, covered in wires, circuits, and strange wooden contraptions. "Welcome! I'm Douglas Engelbart. You've arrived at the Stanford Research Institute in 1964."

Page 5

"Engelbart?" Amadi scribbled furiously in his notebook. "You're... you're inventing something? What is it?" Engelbart held up a small wooden block with two…
"Engelbart?" Amadi scribbled furiously in his notebook. "You're... you're inventing something? What is it?" Engelbart held up a small wooden block with two metal wheels. "This, my young friend, is a prototype. I call it a 'mouse.' It helps you navigate a computer screen more easily." He demonstrated, clumsily moving a cursor on a large, boxy computer display.

"Engelbart?" Amadi scribbled furiously in his notebook. "You're... you're inventing something? What is it?" Engelbart held up a small wooden block with two metal wheels. "This, my young friend, is a prototype. I call it a 'mouse.' It helps you navigate a computer screen more easily." He demonstrated, clumsily moving a cursor on a large, boxy computer display.

Page 6

Amadi frowned. "But... it's so clunky!" Engelbart chuckled. "Indeed! It's not perfect. We tried all sorts of things. Did you know that the first version had a…
Amadi frowned. "But... it's so clunky!" Engelbart chuckled. "Indeed! It's not perfect. We tried all sorts of things. Did you know that the first version had a wheel on the bottom, but that didn't work well? But remember what Leonardo da Vinci said: 'Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses - especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.'"

Amadi frowned. "But... it's so clunky!" Engelbart chuckled. "Indeed! It's not perfect. We tried all sorts of things. Did you know that the first version had a wheel on the bottom, but that didn't work well? But remember what Leonardo da Vinci said: 'Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses - especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.'"

Page 7

"Wow, everything does connect," Amadi exclaimed. "So, how did this... mouse... become what we use today?" Engelbart smiled.
"Wow, everything does connect," Amadi exclaimed. "So, how did this... mouse... become what we use today?" Engelbart smiled. "It took time, many minds, and lots of improvements. Companies like Xerox and Apple refined the design and made it smaller, faster, and more user-friendly. It took years of refinements by many dedicated engineers!"

"Wow, everything does connect," Amadi exclaimed. "So, how did this... mouse... become what we use today?" Engelbart smiled. "It took time, many minds, and lots of improvements. Companies like Xerox and Apple refined the design and made it smaller, faster, and more user-friendly. It took years of refinements by many dedicated engineers!"

Page 8

The Invention of the Computer Mouse — page 8 illustration — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of the Computer Mouse — page 8 illustration — Wonder Inventions

Page 9

With a flash, Amadi was back in his grotto, the Invention Encyclopedia closed in his lap. He knew exactly what to do. He raced out to find Pavel. \"Pavel!
With a flash, Amadi was back in his grotto, the Invention Encyclopedia closed in his lap. He knew exactly what to do. He raced out to find Pavel. \"Pavel! I know how we can make learning faster and more fun!\"

With a flash, Amadi was back in his grotto, the Invention Encyclopedia closed in his lap. He knew exactly what to do. He raced out to find Pavel. \"Pavel! I know how we can make learning faster and more fun!\"

Page 10

Amadi explained, "We can build a smaller, faster version of the robotic seahorse controller, connect it to the classroom computers, and make lessons more…
Amadi explained, "We can build a smaller, faster version of the robotic seahorse controller, connect it to the classroom computers, and make lessons more interactive!" Pavel grinned. "That's brilliant, Amadi!" He grabbed his tools, ready to start building. Who knew what other inventions awaited them?

Amadi explained, "We can build a smaller, faster version of the robotic seahorse controller, connect it to the classroom computers, and make lessons more interactive!" Pavel grinned. "That's brilliant, Amadi!" He grabbed his tools, ready to start building. Who knew what other inventions awaited them?

About this story

  • Location: Global
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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