The Invention of the Seed Vault

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

The Invention of the Seed Vault — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

The Invention of the Seed Vault — book cover — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of the Seed Vault — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Yasmin sat at the base of a giant, moss-covered oak, its branches laden with squirrels wearing tiny spectacles and reading miniature books.
Yasmin sat at the base of a giant, moss-covered oak, its branches laden with squirrels wearing tiny spectacles and reading miniature books. "This world is so strange and beautiful," she thought, sketching a particularly studious squirrel in her worn leather notebook. Her older brother, Jabari, strolled by, munching on an apple.

Yasmin sat at the base of a giant, moss-covered oak, its branches laden with squirrels wearing tiny spectacles and reading miniature books. "This world is so strange and beautiful," she thought, sketching a particularly studious squirrel in her worn leather notebook. Her older brother, Jabari, strolled by, munching on an apple.

Page 2

"Hey, Yasmin," Jabari called out, tossing the apple core into a compost bin being meticulously sorted by a badger wearing librarian glasses.
"Hey, Yasmin," Jabari called out, tossing the apple core into a compost bin being meticulously sorted by a badger wearing librarian glasses. "Mom wants us inside. Dinner's almost ready. She's making that bean stew you love."

"Hey, Yasmin," Jabari called out, tossing the apple core into a compost bin being meticulously sorted by a badger wearing librarian glasses. "Mom wants us inside. Dinner's almost ready. She's making that bean stew you love."

Page 3

"Bean stew?" Yasmin asked, wrinkling her nose. "Where do all the beans come from? What if something happened and we couldn't grow any more?" Jabari shrugged.
"Bean stew?" Yasmin asked, wrinkling her nose. "Where do all the beans come from? What if something happened and we couldn't grow any more?" Jabari shrugged. "Don't worry so much. Mom's got everything under control," he said, but Yasmin was already sprinting toward her room. "Not if I can help it!" she yelled back, her copper hair bouncing.

"Bean stew?" Yasmin asked, wrinkling her nose. "Where do all the beans come from? What if something happened and we couldn't grow any more?" Jabari shrugged. "Don't worry so much. Mom's got everything under control," he said, but Yasmin was already sprinting toward her room. "Not if I can help it!" she yelled back, her copper hair bouncing.

Page 4

In her room, filled with science posters and a telescope, Yasmin grabbed her glowing Invention Encyclopedia from the shelf.
In her room, filled with science posters and a telescope, Yasmin grabbed her glowing Invention Encyclopedia from the shelf. As the room dissolved into swirling light, she said, "Time to find out about protecting our food!" With a poof, the world transformed.

In her room, filled with science posters and a telescope, Yasmin grabbed her glowing Invention Encyclopedia from the shelf. As the room dissolved into swirling light, she said, "Time to find out about protecting our food!" With a poof, the world transformed.

Page 5

She landed with a thump in a snowy landscape. A man in his early 40s with deep brown skin and curly black hair kept close to the head, wearing a thick parka…
She landed with a thump in a snowy landscape. A man in his early 40s with deep brown skin and curly black hair kept close to the head, wearing a thick parka, was shoveling snow. "Excuse me!" Yasmin called, notebook in hand. "Where am I?"

She landed with a thump in a snowy landscape. A man in his early 40s with deep brown skin and curly black hair kept close to the head, wearing a thick parka, was shoveling snow. "Excuse me!" Yasmin called, notebook in hand. "Where am I?"

Page 6

The man stopped shoveling. "You're at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault," Hassan replied, wiping his brow. "And it's cold! What brings you all the way up here?"
The man stopped shoveling. "You're at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault," Hassan replied, wiping his brow. "And it's cold! What brings you all the way up here?"

The man stopped shoveling. "You're at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault," Hassan replied, wiping his brow. "And it's cold! What brings you all the way up here?"

Page 7

"I'm here to learn about seed vaults!" Yasmin exclaimed. "Why do we need one?" Hassan smiled kindly. "Well, Yasmin, as the Roman philosopher Seneca said, 'Every…
"I'm here to learn about seed vaults!" Yasmin exclaimed. "Why do we need one?" Hassan smiled kindly. "Well, Yasmin, as the Roman philosopher Seneca said, 'Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.' We need this vault to protect our crops. It is the ultimate insurance policy for the world's food supply."

"I'm here to learn about seed vaults!" Yasmin exclaimed. "Why do we need one?" Hassan smiled kindly. "Well, Yasmin, as the Roman philosopher Seneca said, 'Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.' We need this vault to protect our crops. It is the ultimate insurance policy for the world's food supply."

Page 8

"Insurance?" Yasmin asked. Hassan explained, "Think of it this way: In 2008, we started storing seeds here – over 4.5 million varieties!
"Insurance?" Yasmin asked. Hassan explained, "Think of it this way: In 2008, we started storing seeds here – over 4.5 million varieties! If there's a disaster, like a war, a flood, or a disease that wipes out a crop, countries can request their seeds back from this vault to restart farming."

"Insurance?" Yasmin asked. Hassan explained, "Think of it this way: In 2008, we started storing seeds here – over 4.5 million varieties! If there's a disaster, like a war, a flood, or a disease that wipes out a crop, countries can request their seeds back from this vault to restart farming."

Page 9

Yasmin scribbled furiously in her notebook. "That's amazing!" she said. "It's like...a library for food! What if something happens to the world, and the only…
Yasmin scribbled furiously in her notebook. "That's amazing!" she said. "It's like...a library for food! What if something happens to the world, and the only beans left are the ones in this vault? We'd be saved!" Hassan smiled. "Exactly! Our seeds can last for centuries even in a frozen environment!"

Yasmin scribbled furiously in her notebook. "That's amazing!" she said. "It's like...a library for food! What if something happens to the world, and the only beans left are the ones in this vault? We'd be saved!" Hassan smiled. "Exactly! Our seeds can last for centuries even in a frozen environment!"

Page 10

Back in her room, the glowing Encyclopedia winked shut. Yasmin raced downstairs. "Jabari! Mom!" she shouted. "Did you know there's a seed vault that could save…
Back in her room, the glowing Encyclopedia winked shut. Yasmin raced downstairs. "Jabari! Mom!" she shouted. "Did you know there's a seed vault that could save us all? It's like Noah's Ark for plants!" She thought for a second, adding, "Now, I am hungry for that stew!"

Back in her room, the glowing Encyclopedia winked shut. Yasmin raced downstairs. "Jabari! Mom!" she shouted. "Did you know there's a seed vault that could save us all? It's like Noah's Ark for plants!" She thought for a second, adding, "Now, I am hungry for that stew!"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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