Meet Samuel Todd When he wakes up, Samuel Todd looks in the mirror to make sure he's still Samuel Todd. The mirror is just the first of the great inventions that Samuel Todd celebrates every day. From the belt loops and Velcro that make it easier to get and stay dressed, to the training wheels that make four wheels twice as good as three, to one last check with the mirror before bedtime (yes, he's still Samuel Todd), his day is filled with important inventions that make his life better -- and more fun. Who but two-time Newbery Medalist E.L. Konigsburg could so perfectly capture a child's wonder at everyday miracles like step stools and french fries?

What's "Your" Favorite color? Samuel Todd likes colors, colors of all kinds. Colors are full of surprises: A pumpkin is all orange, but not all orange is a pumpkin. And if pink is supposed to be for little girls, why are boy flamingos just as pink as girl flamingos? Most surprising of all is that -- even though all colors are great -- some of the best things have no color at all. After all, what color is a hug or a song? As in "Samuel Todd"s Book of Great Inventions," two-time Newbery Medalist E. L. Konigsburg gets inside the mind and heart of a little boy marveling at the world he lives in, and creates a fresh and perceptive look at everyday things.