Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton and Don Tate- ESSENTIAL

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton, illustrated by Don Tate. Charlesbridge, 2016. $16.95 PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION

This is the story of inventor Lonnie Johnson, who started out with a love for tinkering and the support of his parents. He faced many setbacks throughout his life but never gave up and became an engineer for NASA, an inventor of the Super-Soaker, and continues to work today to help create more environmentally friendly electricity. The illustrations are large and bright and feature a fun foldout page for added effect.

This is a fantastic book!  It brings diversity into the Einstein inventor stereotype, as Lonnie is African American. His life shows determination, intelligence, persistence, creativity, resilience, and a sense of fun! Students will love that he invented rockets and super soakers! The illustrations can easily be shared with a classroom full of students. Great curriculum connection to inventors and inventions. 

EL (K-3), EL  -ESSENTIAL  

Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

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