Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine: Josephine Cochrane's Bright Invention Makes a Splash

by Kate Hannigan, Sarah Green (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrate the inventor of the dishwasher in this inspiring STEM/STEAM picture book biography about Josephine Garis Cochrane, the brains behind one of the world's most-used kitchen appliances.

Many Americans have a dishwasher in their kitchen. But who invented it?

Meet Josephine Garis Cochrane: entrepreneur, innovator, girlboss. Washing dishes is a pain—it leaves Josephine's cups cracked, her dishes dinged, and her chowder bowls chipped. She’d rather be picking flowers, frosting cakes, or playing piano than dealing with cracked crockery. What to do about a chore that’s icky, destructive, and time-consuming? Josephine tackles this task the modern way: she makes a machine to do it for her! She tinkers and tests, and perseveres through fizzles and flops—until she has a government patent for her invention, and there are whirring, whizzing, bubbling dishwashers making a splash across America.

This charming tale includes an author’s note, a list of notable women inventors, a timeline of fascinating inventions, and a list of sources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635926217
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	03/14/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	367,660
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	810L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Chicago children's author Kate Hannigan writes fiction and nonfiction for young readers. A former newspaper journalist, she is the author of numerous children’s books, including A Lady Has the Floor and Nellie vs. Elizabeth.


Sarah Green is a RISD-educated illustrator and designer from San Francisco. She is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including Fight of the Century by Barb Rosenstock and Born Hungry by Alex Prud’homme.

Editorial Reviews

Winner, 2024 Colonial Dames Award
A 2024 NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book
A Bank Street Best Children's Book

"Though Cochrane’s may not be a household name, Hannigan seeks to change that, presenting the events chronologically and factually, interspersing the narration with quotes and information about other inventors of the period, women included. Green’s bright digital illustrations capture Josephine’s determination and emotions and enhance the text with diagrams, sketches, and charming homey details, including dishes and tools floating by. A wonderfully realized introduction to a fascinating, long-overlooked woman." —Kirkus Reviews

"Hannigan portrays Cochrane as astrong-minded woman who succeeded despite legal and social constraints on women’s actions, while Green’s colorful digital illustrations provide appropriate character portrayals, period settings, and clothing for the story. The informative back matter offers introductions to 16 other women inventors as well as more information on Cochrane and her company. A picture book celebrating a little-known inventor."—Booklist

From the Publisher

2022-11-29
Josephine Cochrane saw a need and overcame obstacles to find a solution.

She resented the time that was taken by the job of hand-washing stacks of dishes. Josephine’s mantra became “There must be a better way!” and, stirred to create a device that would end this onerous task, she studied past attempts, sketched, measured, calculated, tinkered, and designed, and began building the hand-cranked machine with the aid of George Butters, a mechanic and, later, her business partner. Her husband’s death called a halt for a long time as she slowly paid off debts. She then returned to her efforts and finally received a patent in 1886. Further difficulties ensued as Josephine attempted to start a manufacturing business, as investors would not back a woman. But when her dishwashing machine won first prize at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, she was on her way to great success supplying dishwashers to hotels, restaurants, schools, and hospitals, always improving with more patents. Though Cochrane’s may not be a household name, Hannigan seeks to change that, presenting the events chronologically and factually, interspersing the narration with quotes and information about other inventors of the period, women included. Green’s bright digital illustrations capture Josephine’s determination and emotions and enhance the text with diagrams, sketches, and charming homey details, including dishes and tools floating by. Cochrane was White; some background characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A wonderfully realized introduction to a fascinating, long-overlooked woman. (author’s note, copy of patent, notable women inventors, photos, timeline of fascinating inventions, sources, picture credits) (Informational picture book. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews