Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Smart animation introduces African-American inventor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Garrett's Gift
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Garrett Morgan had his head in the clouds when he was younger. He wasn't good at building things, and he was often clumsy. He couldn't lift heavy things, and he often almost hurt himself by not thinking clearly while he was daydreaming. He felt useless, but eventually Garrett realized, with his parents' encouragement, that a great, questioning mind -- even one that meanders -- can produce brilliant ideas, and soon a near car crash would lead to one of the most famous inventions by an African-American.
Is It Any Good?
Narrated by Queen Latifah, this short movie is a great primer on the history of a famous African-American inventor and on the fascinating places where ideas originate. At only 20 minutes, it's the perfect length for young minds; even preschoolers will be engaged by the notion of daydreams leading to important discoveries and will appreciate the reassurance that even those of us who aren't sure what we're good at can find our own talents.
That would be enough to recommend this thoughtful, vividly animated foray into the genesis of ideas, but it goes one step further by looking at how important it is not only to find our gifts but to use them for good and to give back to the communities that nurture us. There's a lot packed into this information-filled short and plenty for discussion and inspiration afterward.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movies about inventions. Why do you think we love learning how inventions are conceived?
Have you ever invented anything? What was it? Did it work? Why, or why not? What would you do differently?
Have you ever been bad at something and realized it made you good at something else, the way Garrett did? What was it?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 7, 2007
- Cast : Queen Latifah
- Director : Karyn Parsons
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sweet Blackberry
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : History , STEM
- Run time : 20 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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