cbr13bingo Machinery
I wanted to do another book for Machinery (an interesting interpretation actually) but stumbled on this book by accident. I had an opportunity to read and enjoy.
The definition of machinery is the parts of a non-organic/non-living item all having their place and job to do and are not organic in the way my other pick was. And Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions is the perfect definition. Inspired by an activity Chris Barton did at a conference (you learn of this and other goodies in the afterwards), Barton found an inventor that did not fit the “Albert Einstein” stereotype. He found a man who even as a child had a goal and went for it. Even if there was a failure or mistake, he kept on trying.
Whoosh! is a delightful book about one man and his journey to not give up. Johnson’s path would toss bumps and probably a few bruises his way, but he let nothing stand in his way: not accidents, lack of space to work, lack of parts, the political climate, lack of funds or his coworkers’ doubts. Johnson’s contributions to NASA are grand, but there is probably no kid from the 1980s that wouldn’t agree that his greatest invention was the Super-Soaker!
This book is not only educational but a blast as well. And Don Tate adds the perfect touch with some far out, awesomely colored, detailed illustrations. The cover says it all. The illustrations are both comforting and have the feel of action. There is an electric quality to them. The child aged 5 and up is probably the best audience, but find a way to let the over 8 crowd enjoy the book too, or find a more age appropriate book/article as Johnson is an inventor we all need to know.