Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine

Josephine Cochrane's Bright Invention Makes a Splash

Illustrated by Sarah Green
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.
© Erielle Bakkum Photography
Kate Hannigan loves digging up stories about remarkable people forgotten by history. She is the author of The Detective's Assistant, the story of America's first woman detective, which won the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for best middle-grade fiction. She is also the author of the Cupcake Cousins series. Kate lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her family and dog. Visit katesbooks.com View titles by Kate Hannigan
Sarah Green is a RISD educated illustrator and designer born and based in San Francisco. She is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including FIGHT OF THE CENTURY by Barb Rosenstock, DOROTHEA LANGE by Carole Boston Weatherford, and ELIZABETH WARREN by Susan Wood.
Visit sarahgreenillustration.com. View titles by Sarah Green

About

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.

Author

© Erielle Bakkum Photography
Kate Hannigan loves digging up stories about remarkable people forgotten by history. She is the author of The Detective's Assistant, the story of America's first woman detective, which won the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for best middle-grade fiction. She is also the author of the Cupcake Cousins series. Kate lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her family and dog. Visit katesbooks.com View titles by Kate Hannigan
Sarah Green is a RISD educated illustrator and designer born and based in San Francisco. She is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including FIGHT OF THE CENTURY by Barb Rosenstock, DOROTHEA LANGE by Carole Boston Weatherford, and ELIZABETH WARREN by Susan Wood.
Visit sarahgreenillustration.com. View titles by Sarah Green