Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor: questions to ask and activities to try
Leonora Bolt invents in secret, until she discovers a secret of her own. Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor is an adventure fizzing with inventions.
What age is it for? Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor is best for ages 7–10. Good for: A secret inventor and a secret society.
Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor (Lucy Brandt and Gladys Jose)
- Age
- 7-10
- Best for
- A secret inventor and a secret society
Read a chapter a night. Pause at each invention and ask how it might work.
What it helps with
- Invention and creativity
- Courage
- Family secrets
- Chapter books
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where does Leonora invent?”
- “Who is her uncle?”
- “What did she invent?”
- “What secret did she find?”
- “Who helped her?”
- “What would you invent?”
5-minute activities to try together
Invention sketch
Sketch an invention with labels.
Secret lab
Turn a cupboard into a secret lab for an afternoon.
Free printables: Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
Harley Hitch and the Iron Forest (Vashti Hardy and George Ermos)
- Best for
- A young inventor, her robot dog and a mystery
- Age
- 7-9
Izzy Gizmo (Pip Jones and Sara Ogilvie)
- Best for
- Inventions that go wrong, and not giving up
- Age
- 3-7
Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters (Andrea Beaty and David Roberts)
- Best for
- Flops, fails and persevering as an engineer
- Age
- 6-9
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.