The latest book in the hit Zig Zag Series for readers 8-12

Eugénie is a girl full of ideas. In second grade she made an unrhyming machine: insert a poem at one end, and it comes out scrambled at the other. The next year she designed shoes with tiny cleats to spare ants from being squashed. And in fourth grade she conceived a noise sieve: a helmet to shut out loud sounds. For three years now, Eugénie has won the Great Invention Competition founded by her teacher Mr. Diop. But this year she’s run out of ideas.

Mr. Diop entrusts to her care a new student, Malinka. When Eugénie sees Malinka’s father, a sculptor, welding in his studio, and is then treated to Malinka’s own contraptions, she knows she’s found not only a kindred spirit but her partner for this year’s contest. Through a gallery of imaginative characters, author Vignal raises questions about creativity, originality, and cooperation.