The Invention of the Thermometer

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

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

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

Page 1

"Brrr! Pass me my mittens, please," Tane shivered, watching his breath puff out in the frigid air. Oscar chuckled, handing him the woolly gloves.
"Brrr! Pass me my mittens, please," Tane shivered, watching his breath puff out in the frigid air. Oscar chuckled, handing him the woolly gloves. "It's always like this near the glacier, Tane," she said, zipping up her parka. "I wonder how people survived before we had ways to measure how cold it is?"

"Brrr! Pass me my mittens, please," Tane shivered, watching his breath puff out in the frigid air. Oscar chuckled, handing him the woolly gloves. "It's always like this near the glacier, Tane," she said, zipping up her parka. "I wonder how people survived before we had ways to measure how cold it is?"

Page 2

Tane's eyes widened. "You're right! Who invented the thermometer?" He raced toward their cozy cabin, snow crunching under his boots.
Tane's eyes widened. "You're right! Who invented the thermometer?" He raced toward their cozy cabin, snow crunching under his boots. "My Invention Encyclopedia will know!" Inside, he scrambled to his bookshelf, a grin spreading across his face. He pulled down the ancient, leather-bound book, and a soft golden light filled the room.

Tane's eyes widened. "You're right! Who invented the thermometer?" He raced toward their cozy cabin, snow crunching under his boots. "My Invention Encyclopedia will know!" Inside, he scrambled to his bookshelf, a grin spreading across his face. He pulled down the ancient, leather-bound book, and a soft golden light filled the room.

Page 3

As he opened the Encyclopedia, the room dissolved into swirling colors. He clutched the book tightly. He felt a familiar tug as time and space twisted around…
As he opened the Encyclopedia, the room dissolved into swirling colors. He clutched the book tightly. He felt a familiar tug as time and space twisted around him. He braced himself for another adventure into the past.

As he opened the Encyclopedia, the room dissolved into swirling colors. He clutched the book tightly. He felt a familiar tug as time and space twisted around him. He braced himself for another adventure into the past.

Page 4

Tane stumbled, landing on cobblestones. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. A man in a long, dark robe hurried past, shivering. The air felt damp and chilly, and strange…
Tane stumbled, landing on cobblestones. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. A man in a long, dark robe hurried past, shivering. The air felt damp and chilly, and strange buildings lined the narrow street. "Where are we?" Tane wondered aloud.

Tane stumbled, landing on cobblestones. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. A man in a long, dark robe hurried past, shivering. The air felt damp and chilly, and strange buildings lined the narrow street. "Where are we?" Tane wondered aloud.

Page 5

"Florence, Italy, 1612," a voice boomed. Tane turned to see a stern-looking man with a pointed beard. "I am Santorio Santorio," the man declared, puffing out…
"Florence, Italy, 1612," a voice boomed. Tane turned to see a stern-looking man with a pointed beard. "I am Santorio Santorio," the man declared, puffing out his chest. "And I am trying to solve a very cold problem!" Santorio held up a strange glass device with a bulb at the top.

"Florence, Italy, 1612," a voice boomed. Tane turned to see a stern-looking man with a pointed beard. "I am Santorio Santorio," the man declared, puffing out his chest. "And I am trying to solve a very cold problem!" Santorio held up a strange glass device with a bulb at the top.

Page 6

"This is my thermoscope!" Santorio explained. "It shows changes in heat, but it's not very accurate. I'm trying to find a way to measure temperature precisely."…
"This is my thermoscope!" Santorio explained. "It shows changes in heat, but it's not very accurate. I'm trying to find a way to measure temperature precisely." Tane pointed to the device. "What's that liquid inside?" he asked. Santorio sighed. "Just water, for now. But I need something better."

"This is my thermoscope!" Santorio explained. "It shows changes in heat, but it's not very accurate. I'm trying to find a way to measure temperature precisely." Tane pointed to the device. "What's that liquid inside?" he asked. Santorio sighed. "Just water, for now. But I need something better."

Page 7

"You know," Tane said thoughtfully, "Oscar always says, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' I think that's what Lao Tzu said.
"You know," Tane said thoughtfully, "Oscar always says, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' I think that's what Lao Tzu said. Maybe you need to find a way to make the measurements more standard?" Santorio stroked his beard. "Standard... Hmm, an interesting idea."

"You know," Tane said thoughtfully, "Oscar always says, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' I think that's what Lao Tzu said. Maybe you need to find a way to make the measurements more standard?" Santorio stroked his beard. "Standard... Hmm, an interesting idea."

Page 8

Weeks later, Tane saw Santorio again. "I've done it!" Santorio exclaimed, holding up a new, improved thermoscope. "I've added a scale with markings!
Weeks later, Tane saw Santorio again. "I've done it!" Santorio exclaimed, holding up a new, improved thermoscope. "I've added a scale with markings! Now we can compare measurements consistently." Tane grinned. "That's amazing!"

Weeks later, Tane saw Santorio again. "I've done it!" Santorio exclaimed, holding up a new, improved thermoscope. "I've added a scale with markings! Now we can compare measurements consistently." Tane grinned. "That's amazing!"

Page 9

Suddenly, the workshop began to fade. Tane gasped. "I have to go! Thank you, Santorio!" He clutched his Encyclopedia as the swirling colors returned.
Suddenly, the workshop began to fade. Tane gasped. "I have to go! Thank you, Santorio!" He clutched his Encyclopedia as the swirling colors returned. He felt the familiar tug, pulling him back to his own time.

Suddenly, the workshop began to fade. Tane gasped. "I have to go! Thank you, Santorio!" He clutched his Encyclopedia as the swirling colors returned. He felt the familiar tug, pulling him back to his own time.

Page 10

Back in his cabin, Tane closed the Encyclopedia. "Oscar, I met Santorio Santorio!" he exclaimed. "He invented the thermometer!
Back in his cabin, Tane closed the Encyclopedia. "Oscar, I met Santorio Santorio!" he exclaimed. "He invented the thermometer! Now we can measure the temperature, not just guess!" He ran to show her a picture in his notebook. "Amazing!" Oscar said, looking at Tane. "And now the smartphone industry generates over 500 billion per year, measuring temperatures all the time!"

Back in his cabin, Tane closed the Encyclopedia. "Oscar, I met Santorio Santorio!" he exclaimed. "He invented the thermometer! Now we can measure the temperature, not just guess!" He ran to show her a picture in his notebook. "Amazing!" Oscar said, looking at Tane. "And now the smartphone industry generates over 500 billion per year, measuring temperatures all the time!"

About this story

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

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