The Invention of the Mirror
The Invention of the Mirror — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.
Page 1
Hiro bounced on the sofa, nearly knocking over his older brother's meticulously arranged card castle. "Rohan, pass me the remote!" Hiro exclaimed. Rohan sighed, carefully placing another card. "Why do you always want to watch television, Hiro?" he asked, handing over the remote. "Wait," Hiro said, pausing with the remote in mid-air. "Who invented the TV? And how did people ever know what was going on without it?
Page 2
Hiro raced to his room, a whirlwind of energy. His room was a chaotic explosion of science posters and half-finished engineering projects. He yanked a large, leather-bound book from his bookshelf, its edges glowing faintly. "The Invention Encyclopedia!" he shouted. As he opened the book, a swirl of light filled the room.
Page 3
The swirling light subsided, leaving Hiro blinking in the sudden chill. He stood on a vast, icy plain, the wind whipping at his clothes. A small cluster of figures huddled around a fire in the distance. A young girl, no older than himself, shivered as she looked towards Hiro. A man stood nearby, his face etched with frustration.
Page 4
Hiro cautiously approached the fire. "Hello?" he called out, his voice barely audible above the wind. The man turned, his eyes wary. "Who are you, little one?" he asked gruffly. A girl peered from behind the man, her eyes full of curiosity. "Papa, he looks lost."
Page 5
"I am Hiro. I want to ask you about that mirror you're trying to build," Hiro asked. Onak sighed, gesturing at a piece of polished obsidian. "This? It's not working! My daughter, Ishani, wants to see her face clearly, not a blurry reflection.". Ishani nodded vigorously. "I want to see myself!" she exclaimed.
Page 6
"Obsidian is too rough," Hiro observed, picking up a handful of sand. "What about sand? It's made of silica, and if you heat it enough, it can become glass." Onak raised an eyebrow. "Glass? I've heard tales of it, but how can we make it? We barely have enough wood for fire!", Ishani pointed toward the mountains. "There are rocks that shine like the sun there, Papa!"
Page 7
"Those rocks contain copper ore," Hiro explained. "Melting copper needs even higher temperatures than glass itself. If you use a kiln it will work," Hiro said. Onak thought for a moment. "Well as Leonardo da Vinci said 'every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.' Perhaps a break is what we need to figure this out."
Page 8
Days turned into weeks. With Hiro's guidance, they constructed a crude kiln from clay and stones. They gathered wood and copper ore from the mountains. Finally, after countless failed attempts, they poured the molten copper onto the sand and created a mirror.
Page 9
Ishani gasped as she gazed at her reflection. Her eyes widened in wonder as she saw her own face, perhaps for the first time. "I can see myself!" she exclaimed, touching the surface of the mirror. Onak smiled, his heart filled with pride. "You are beautiful, my daughter."
Page 10
Suddenly, Hiro found himself back in his room, the Invention Encyclopedia closed on his lap. He ran to Rohan, a polished mirror he'd just constructed for his bedroom. "Did you know that the process of creating mirrors has changed, and that the global mirror and glass industry now generates over 70 billion annually?" he exclaimed. Rohan smiled. "That's fascinating, Hiro. And now, perhaps you can reflect on the importance of finishing your homework first!"
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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