The Invention of the Submarine

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

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

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

Page 1

"Pass me the phone, Elise," Daria called from the kitchen, her voice echoing slightly. Elise, engrossed in a book about deep-sea exploration, looked up, setting…
"Pass me the phone, Elise," Daria called from the kitchen, her voice echoing slightly. Elise, engrossed in a book about deep-sea exploration, looked up, setting down her book. "Wait a second," Elise asked, her brow furrowing, "who even invented phones? How did people send messages across long distances before them?" She raced to her room, a whirlwind of curiosity propelling her toward the familiar, glowing spine of her magical Invention Encyclopedia, a faint hum emanating…

"Pass me the phone, Elise," Daria called from the kitchen, her voice echoing slightly. Elise, engrossed in a book about deep-sea exploration, looked up, setting down her book. "Wait a second," Elise asked, her brow furrowing, "who even invented phones? How did people send messages across long distances before them?" She raced to her room, a whirlwind of curiosity propelling her toward the familiar, glowing spine of her magical Invention Encyclopedia, a faint hum emanating from its leather cover.

Page 2

The room shimmered, the familiar scent of old paper and salt filling Elise's senses, swirling colors engulfed her as she reached for the book.
The room shimmered, the familiar scent of old paper and salt filling Elise's senses, swirling colors engulfed her as she reached for the book. When the light cleared, she found herself on a bustling 17th-century harbor, the air thick with the smells of tar, fish, and brine. "Where are we?" Elise whispered, clutching her worn notebook. Daria shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight, her gaze sweeping across the crowded scene of sailors, merchants, and towering wooden ships.

The room shimmered, the familiar scent of old paper and salt filling Elise's senses, swirling colors engulfed her as she reached for the book. When the light cleared, she found herself on a bustling 17th-century harbor, the air thick with the smells of tar, fish, and brine. "Where are we?" Elise whispered, clutching her worn notebook. Daria shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight, her gaze sweeping across the crowded scene of sailors, merchants, and towering wooden ships.

Page 3

"Look!" Daria exclaimed, pointing towards a man tinkering with a strange-looking contraption near the water's edge. A small crowd had gathered around him…
"Look!" Daria exclaimed, pointing towards a man tinkering with a strange-looking contraption near the water's edge. A small crowd had gathered around him, murmuring with curiosity. "That must be Cornelius Drebbel!" Elise exclaimed, scribbling in her notebook. "I read that he was one of the first people to build a navigable submarine, back in 1620!" She gripped her notebook tightly, excitement radiating from her face.

"Look!" Daria exclaimed, pointing towards a man tinkering with a strange-looking contraption near the water's edge. A small crowd had gathered around him, murmuring with curiosity. "That must be Cornelius Drebbel!" Elise exclaimed, scribbling in her notebook. "I read that he was one of the first people to build a navigable submarine, back in 1620!" She gripped her notebook tightly, excitement radiating from her face.

Page 4

They pushed through the crowd, Elise leading the way with her notebook held high. "Excuse me, Master Drebbel?" she called out, her voice barely audible above…
They pushed through the crowd, Elise leading the way with her notebook held high. "Excuse me, Master Drebbel?" she called out, her voice barely audible above the clamor. Cornelius Drebbel, a man with a neatly trimmed beard and spectacles perched on his nose, looked up from his work, wiping grease from his hands with a rag. "Yes, young lady? What can I do for you?" he asked, his voice gruff but kind.

They pushed through the crowd, Elise leading the way with her notebook held high. "Excuse me, Master Drebbel?" she called out, her voice barely audible above the clamor. Cornelius Drebbel, a man with a neatly trimmed beard and spectacles perched on his nose, looked up from his work, wiping grease from his hands with a rag. "Yes, young lady? What can I do for you?" he asked, his voice gruff but kind.

Page 5

"We're very interested in your... submarine!" Elise said, gesturing towards the strange craft. "How did you even come up with the idea?" Drebbel chuckled, a…
"We're very interested in your... submarine!" Elise said, gesturing towards the strange craft. "How did you even come up with the idea?" Drebbel chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Necessity, my dear! The Dutch navy needed a way to surprise their enemies. As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.' I wanted to find a way to go beneath the waves, where no one expected us," he explained with a glint in his eye.

"We're very interested in your... submarine!" Elise said, gesturing towards the strange craft. "How did you even come up with the idea?" Drebbel chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Necessity, my dear! The Dutch navy needed a way to surprise their enemies. As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.' I wanted to find a way to go beneath the waves, where no one expected us," he explained with a glint in his eye.

Page 6

"But how does it work?" Daria asked, tilting her head. Drebbel pointed to a series of leather bags attached to the bottom of the vessel.
"But how does it work?" Daria asked, tilting her head. Drebbel pointed to a series of leather bags attached to the bottom of the vessel. "These are for ballast," he explained. "When we want to submerge, we fill them with water. To rise, we squeeze the water out using levers. And to keep the air fresh, I use a special chemical mixture – the exact recipe is a secret!" he winked, gesturing with the spanner he held in his hand.

"But how does it work?" Daria asked, tilting her head. Drebbel pointed to a series of leather bags attached to the bottom of the vessel. "These are for ballast," he explained. "When we want to submerge, we fill them with water. To rise, we squeeze the water out using levers. And to keep the air fresh, I use a special chemical mixture – the exact recipe is a secret!" he winked, gesturing with the spanner he held in his hand.

Page 7

"I've heard it wasn't always successful," Elise stated, flipping to a new page in her notebook. Drebbel sighed. "Indeed.
"I've heard it wasn't always successful," Elise stated, flipping to a new page in her notebook. Drebbel sighed. "Indeed. The first version leaked terribly!" He shuddered, remembering. "It took many tries, and a lot of support from King James of England, to get it right. He even took a ride in it himself! Imagine – the King of England, underwater in my invention! It cost the King 200 pounds sterling just for the experiment!"

"I've heard it wasn't always successful," Elise stated, flipping to a new page in her notebook. Drebbel sighed. "Indeed. The first version leaked terribly!" He shuddered, remembering. "It took many tries, and a lot of support from King James of England, to get it right. He even took a ride in it himself! Imagine – the King of England, underwater in my invention! It cost the King 200 pounds sterling just for the experiment!"

Page 8

Suddenly, a shout rang out from the harbor! "Intruders!" A group of armed men stormed towards them. "We have to go!" Daria cried, grabbing Elise's hand.
Suddenly, a shout rang out from the harbor! "Intruders!" A group of armed men stormed towards them. "We have to go!" Daria cried, grabbing Elise's hand. Elise quickly remembered something she had read about Drebbel's submarine: "He could navigate using a compass underwater! That's how he knew where he was going!" she stated quickly. "Master Drebbel, can we use your invention to escape?"

Suddenly, a shout rang out from the harbor! "Intruders!" A group of armed men stormed towards them. "We have to go!" Daria cried, grabbing Elise's hand. Elise quickly remembered something she had read about Drebbel's submarine: "He could navigate using a compass underwater! That's how he knew where he was going!" she stated quickly. "Master Drebbel, can we use your invention to escape?"

Page 9

Drebbel, startled but resolute, nodded. "Quickly, inside!" he yelled, ushering them aboard. The submarine creaked and groaned as it submerged, plunging them…
Drebbel, startled but resolute, nodded. "Quickly, inside!" he yelled, ushering them aboard. The submarine creaked and groaned as it submerged, plunging them into a world of twilight. Elise, peering through a small porthole, saw the harbor lights fade above them. "We did it!" she breathed, a relieved smile spreading across her face.

Drebbel, startled but resolute, nodded. "Quickly, inside!" he yelled, ushering them aboard. The submarine creaked and groaned as it submerged, plunging them into a world of twilight. Elise, peering through a small porthole, saw the harbor lights fade above them. "We did it!" she breathed, a relieved smile spreading across her face.

Page 10

Back in her room, the Invention Encyclopedia closed with a soft thud. Elise grabbed her phone from the counter where Daria had put it.
Back in her room, the Invention Encyclopedia closed with a soft thud. Elise grabbed her phone from the counter where Daria had put it. "You know, Daria," Elise said, "today, the submarine industry is worth billions! Nuclear submarines can stay submerged for months!" She smiled, the gears already turning in her mind. "Maybe we should read about airplanes next!"

Back in her room, the Invention Encyclopedia closed with a soft thud. Elise grabbed her phone from the counter where Daria had put it. "You know, Daria," Elise said, "today, the submarine industry is worth billions! Nuclear submarines can stay submerged for months!" She smiled, the gears already turning in her mind. "Maybe we should read about airplanes next!"

About this story

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

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