The Invention of the Wheel

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

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

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

Page 1

Vera was helping her mom in their miniature garden home, carefully watering the mushroom houses. "Mom, it's hard to move these heavy water droplets from the…
Vera was helping her mom in their miniature garden home, carefully watering the mushroom houses. "Mom, it's hard to move these heavy water droplets from the lily pond to the houses," she said, struggling to lift a large dewdrop. "I wish there was an easier way to transport things!" Her mom smiled, pausing her work of polishing a snail shell. "That's a great question, Vera! I wonder how our ancestors managed before we had... well, anything."

Vera was helping her mom in their miniature garden home, carefully watering the mushroom houses. "Mom, it's hard to move these heavy water droplets from the lily pond to the houses," she said, struggling to lift a large dewdrop. "I wish there was an easier way to transport things!" Her mom smiled, pausing her work of polishing a snail shell. "That's a great question, Vera! I wonder how our ancestors managed before we had... well, anything."

Page 2

Vera, remembering something, dashed inside their cozy dandelion home. "Wait here, Mom!" she called, disappearing into her room.
Vera, remembering something, dashed inside their cozy dandelion home. "Wait here, Mom!" she called, disappearing into her room. Her room was filled with science books and miniature inventions. She rushed to her bookshelf, her eyes sparkling as she spotted her prized possession: a glowing, ancient leather-bound book titled 'Invention Encyclopedia.'

Vera, remembering something, dashed inside their cozy dandelion home. "Wait here, Mom!" she called, disappearing into her room. Her room was filled with science books and miniature inventions. She rushed to her bookshelf, her eyes sparkling as she spotted her prized possession: a glowing, ancient leather-bound book titled 'Invention Encyclopedia.'

Page 3

As Vera opened the book, a swirl of golden light enveloped her. When the light cleared, she gasped, setting down her book. "Where am I?" she wondered aloud.
As Vera opened the book, a swirl of golden light enveloped her. When the light cleared, she gasped, setting down her book. "Where am I?" she wondered aloud. She noticed a woman struggling to move a massive stone slab across a field of tall grass.

As Vera opened the book, a swirl of golden light enveloped her. When the light cleared, she gasped, setting down her book. "Where am I?" she wondered aloud. She noticed a woman struggling to move a massive stone slab across a field of tall grass.

Page 4

"That looks like really hard work," Vera said, approaching the woman. The woman stopped, wiping sweat from her brow. "It is," the woman replied with a sigh.
"That looks like really hard work," Vera said, approaching the woman. The woman stopped, wiping sweat from her brow. "It is," the woman replied with a sigh. "If only there was a way to move this heavy stone easier."

"That looks like really hard work," Vera said, approaching the woman. The woman stopped, wiping sweat from her brow. "It is," the woman replied with a sigh. "If only there was a way to move this heavy stone easier."

Page 5

"My name is Winona," the woman said, introducing herself. "What's your name?" Vera replied, "I'm Vera. Maybe I can help!" Vera then remembers reading an article…
"My name is Winona," the woman said, introducing herself. "What's your name?" Vera replied, "I'm Vera. Maybe I can help!" Vera then remembers reading an article from her history book, "It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves," reminding herself of what Edmund Hillary had said about never giving up.

"My name is Winona," the woman said, introducing herself. "What's your name?" Vera replied, "I'm Vera. Maybe I can help!" Vera then remembers reading an article from her history book, "It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves," reminding herself of what Edmund Hillary had said about never giving up.

Page 6

Vera noticed some smooth, round logs nearby. "What if," Vera suggested, pointing to the logs, "we put the stone on top of those logs?" Winona looked puzzled…
Vera noticed some smooth, round logs nearby. "What if," Vera suggested, pointing to the logs, "we put the stone on top of those logs?" Winona looked puzzled, but decided to try it. Together, they managed to push the stone onto the logs.

Vera noticed some smooth, round logs nearby. "What if," Vera suggested, pointing to the logs, "we put the stone on top of those logs?" Winona looked puzzled, but decided to try it. Together, they managed to push the stone onto the logs.

Page 7

"Wow!" Winona exclaimed as the stone rolled easily across the logs. "It's so much easier this way!" But the logs kept falling out, then needing to be put at the…
"Wow!" Winona exclaimed as the stone rolled easily across the logs. "It's so much easier this way!" But the logs kept falling out, then needing to be put at the front again. "What if instead of logs," said Vera, "we can invent a circle that goes along with us."

"Wow!" Winona exclaimed as the stone rolled easily across the logs. "It's so much easier this way!" But the logs kept falling out, then needing to be put at the front again. "What if instead of logs," said Vera, "we can invent a circle that goes along with us."

Page 8

Winona spent many days experimenting, carving round shapes from stone and wood. Many broke, but finally, she created two sturdy circles.
Winona spent many days experimenting, carving round shapes from stone and wood. Many broke, but finally, she created two sturdy circles. She attached them to a platform and placed a smaller stone on it. "It works!" Winona cheered, as the wheeled platform rolled smoothly.

Winona spent many days experimenting, carving round shapes from stone and wood. Many broke, but finally, she created two sturdy circles. She attached them to a platform and placed a smaller stone on it. "It works!" Winona cheered, as the wheeled platform rolled smoothly.

Page 9

Suddenly, a bright light flashed. Vera found herself back in her dandelion home. "The wheel made such a big difference," she whispered, remembering the…
Suddenly, a bright light flashed. Vera found herself back in her dandelion home. "The wheel made such a big difference," she whispered, remembering the invention process. "The wheel not only helped move big stones, but allowed for travel and more importantly growth!"

Suddenly, a bright light flashed. Vera found herself back in her dandelion home. "The wheel made such a big difference," she whispered, remembering the invention process. "The wheel not only helped move big stones, but allowed for travel and more importantly growth!"

Page 10

Vera raced outside, grabbing a small acorn cap she had been saving. "Mom, look!" she exclaimed. "I'm going to make a tiny cart with wheels to carry the water!"…
Vera raced outside, grabbing a small acorn cap she had been saving. "Mom, look!" she exclaimed. "I'm going to make a tiny cart with wheels to carry the water!" She gathered twigs and pebbles, ready to build, inspired by Winona's ingenuity. "The invention of the wheel changed everything for our garden and the whole world!"

Vera raced outside, grabbing a small acorn cap she had been saving. "Mom, look!" she exclaimed. "I'm going to make a tiny cart with wheels to carry the water!" She gathered twigs and pebbles, ready to build, inspired by Winona's ingenuity. "The invention of the wheel changed everything for our garden and the whole world!"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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