Although the compass was first invented by the Chinese about 2,500 years ago, it's gone on to help give direction to the entire world! The introduction of the compass lead to many other advancements in science and navigation, including reliable maps, the system of latitude and longitude, and GPS. You may even have a compass app on your phone! Readers will travel to ancient China to witness the invention of the compass as a fortune-telling item and learn how it eventually became used as a navigational tool. The text also explains how the compass spread to the rest of the world, and how it has helped shape our modern lives.