The Invention of Velcro

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

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

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

Page 1

Mateo sat on a moss-covered rooftop, gazing at the tangle of plants reclaiming the skyscrapers. "How do these climbers even stick?" he wondered aloud, picking…
Mateo sat on a moss-covered rooftop, gazing at the tangle of plants reclaiming the skyscrapers. "How do these climbers even stick?" he wondered aloud, picking at a stubborn vine clinging to the glass. His older sister, Isla, chuckled, adjusting her goggles. "Everything connects somehow, Mateo. Even plants."

Mateo sat on a moss-covered rooftop, gazing at the tangle of plants reclaiming the skyscrapers. "How do these climbers even stick?" he wondered aloud, picking at a stubborn vine clinging to the glass. His older sister, Isla, chuckled, adjusting her goggles. "Everything connects somehow, Mateo. Even plants."

Page 2

Mateo, always eager for answers, scrambled down the ladder to his room. He raced to his bookshelf, pulling out a large, glowing book.
Mateo, always eager for answers, scrambled down the ladder to his room. He raced to his bookshelf, pulling out a large, glowing book. "I bet the Invention Encyclopedia knows!" As he opened the book, a swirling vortex of light enveloped the room.

Mateo, always eager for answers, scrambled down the ladder to his room. He raced to his bookshelf, pulling out a large, glowing book. "I bet the Invention Encyclopedia knows!" As he opened the book, a swirling vortex of light enveloped the room.

Page 3

The swirling light deposited Mateo in a field of wildflowers. Burrs clung to his pants. "Ugh, what a nuisance!" he grumbled, picking them off.
The swirling light deposited Mateo in a field of wildflowers. Burrs clung to his pants. "Ugh, what a nuisance!" he grumbled, picking them off. A voice nearby called out, "Those burrs are more interesting than you think, young man!"

The swirling light deposited Mateo in a field of wildflowers. Burrs clung to his pants. "Ugh, what a nuisance!" he grumbled, picking them off. A voice nearby called out, "Those burrs are more interesting than you think, young man!"

Page 4

A man with a kind face and a tweed suit approached. "I'm George de Mestral," he said, kneeling down. "And these little clingers gave me a very big idea!" Mateo…
A man with a kind face and a tweed suit approached. "I'm George de Mestral," he said, kneeling down. "And these little clingers gave me a very big idea!" Mateo asked, "What kind of idea could come from sticky weeds?"

A man with a kind face and a tweed suit approached. "I'm George de Mestral," he said, kneeling down. "And these little clingers gave me a very big idea!" Mateo asked, "What kind of idea could come from sticky weeds?"

Page 5

"I was walking my dog in 1941 when I noticed how these burrs stuck to our fur. I looked at them under a microscope," George explained, pulling out a small lens.
"I was walking my dog in 1941 when I noticed how these burrs stuck to our fur. I looked at them under a microscope," George explained, pulling out a small lens. "The tiny hooks gave me an inspiration. Like Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Small things can accomplish great things'."

"I was walking my dog in 1941 when I noticed how these burrs stuck to our fur. I looked at them under a microscope," George explained, pulling out a small lens. "The tiny hooks gave me an inspiration. Like Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Small things can accomplish great things'."

Page 6

"It took me eight years, but I finally invented a fastener with two sides: one with hooks, one with loops. I called it Velcro!" George held up two strips of…
"It took me eight years, but I finally invented a fastener with two sides: one with hooks, one with loops. I called it Velcro!" George held up two strips of fabric that stuck together. "My first patent was in 1955. At first, people thought it was weird and not useful."

"It took me eight years, but I finally invented a fastener with two sides: one with hooks, one with loops. I called it Velcro!" George held up two strips of fabric that stuck together. "My first patent was in 1955. At first, people thought it was weird and not useful."

Page 7

"The key was to make the nylon loops and hooks strong enough. Then I needed special machines to make it on a large scale," George said.
"The key was to make the nylon loops and hooks strong enough. Then I needed special machines to make it on a large scale," George said. "By the 1960s, NASA started using Velcro in their spacesuits! And today the global market size for hook and loop fasteners exceeds 15 billion!

"The key was to make the nylon loops and hooks strong enough. Then I needed special machines to make it on a large scale," George said. "By the 1960s, NASA started using Velcro in their spacesuits! And today the global market size for hook and loop fasteners exceeds 15 billion!

Page 8

Suddenly, the wildflowers blurred. Mateo felt a familiar tug, like being pulled through a fast-moving stream. "Thank you, George!" he shouted as the field…
Suddenly, the wildflowers blurred. Mateo felt a familiar tug, like being pulled through a fast-moving stream. "Thank you, George!" he shouted as the field dissolved into a swirling vortex of light once more. He knew exactly how he'd use Velcro back in his own time!

Suddenly, the wildflowers blurred. Mateo felt a familiar tug, like being pulled through a fast-moving stream. "Thank you, George!" he shouted as the field dissolved into a swirling vortex of light once more. He knew exactly how he'd use Velcro back in his own time!

Page 9

Back in his room, Mateo grabbed his climbing gear. "Isla!" he yelled, racing outside. "I need some Velcro!" She raised an eyebrow. "Why?
Back in his room, Mateo grabbed his climbing gear. "Isla!" he yelled, racing outside. "I need some Velcro!" She raised an eyebrow. "Why? Did those pesky vines finally get the best of you?"

Back in his room, Mateo grabbed his climbing gear. "Isla!" he yelled, racing outside. "I need some Velcro!" She raised an eyebrow. "Why? Did those pesky vines finally get the best of you?"

Page 10

"I need to reinforce my climbing gloves, so I can climb those vines without slipping," Mateo explained, holding up his worn gloves. Isla grinned.
"I need to reinforce my climbing gloves, so I can climb those vines without slipping," Mateo explained, holding up his worn gloves. Isla grinned. "Clever!" With reinforced gloves, Mateo scaled the buildings, connecting the city, one vine at a time. "Everything is connected!"

"I need to reinforce my climbing gloves, so I can climb those vines without slipping," Mateo explained, holding up his worn gloves. Isla grinned. "Clever!" With reinforced gloves, Mateo scaled the buildings, connecting the city, one vine at a time. "Everything is connected!"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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