Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions
By:
Illustrator: Don Tate
Lonnie Johnson was testing an invention idea when he discovered a pump and nozzle combination that “would make a great water gun.” But for a long time, toy companies disagreed. Author’s note. Full-color digital illustrations.
ISBN: 9781580892971
JLG Release: Aug 2016
Sensitive Areas:
No sensitive areas
Topics:
Lonnie Johnson (1949–, )
, African American inventors
, Alabama
, U
,S
, inventors
, Biography
, Inventions
, Super Soaker water gun
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Awards & Honors
ALA Notable Books for Children Nominee–Summer 2016, Nonfiction
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016, Picture Books
New York Public Library 2016 Best Books for Kids, Picture Books
NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books 2017
NSTA Best STEM Books for Students K–12: 2017
2017 Cook Prize Finalist
CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2017, K–2
The Nonfiction Detectives, 2016 Best Nonfiction Books for Children
CSMCL Best Multicultural Books of 2016
ILA Children’s Choices 2017 Reading List
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Book List, The Horn Book Magazine, The Horn Book Guide^, Kirkus Reviews*, Publishers Weekly*, School Library Journal
School Library Journal
As a child, Lonnie Johnson was a “tinkerer,” or an avid collector of pieces and parts—all things that were considered scrap but that to Johnson were perfectly ripe for new applications. Early projects included rockets, a robot, and a powerful sound system for parties. Johnson’s engineering degree took him to NASA, where he w As a child, Lonnie Johnson was a “tinkerer,” or an avid collector of pieces and parts—all things that were considered scrap but that to Johnson were perfectly ripe for new applications. Early projects included rockets, a robot, and a powerful sound system for parties. Johnson’s engineering degree took him to NASA, where he worked on the Galileo orbiter and probe. What Johnson really wanted to do, however, was build his own inventions. When trying to find an environmentally friendly solution to refrigerator and air-conditioning cooling systems, he stumbled upon what would eventually become his opus, the Super Soaker. Readers follow the many obstacles and setbacks Johnson experienced as he tirelessly worked to launch his invention. The narrative—based primarily on personal interviews the author had with Johnson—adeptly captures the passion and dedication necessary to be an engineer. The cartoonlike illustrations, rendered digitally with Manga Studio, combine child appeal with enough realism to accurately convey various scientific elements. Great care is taken to portray the institutional racism Johnson experienced, such as school tests that tried to dissuade his interest in engineering and his competing in a 1968 science fair in the newly desegregated but unwelcoming University of Alabama. The author’s note explains Barton’s mission to diversify common perceptions of what scientists and engineers look like and who they can be. This engaging and informative picture book exploration of Johnson’s life succeeds in that right. VERDICT Highly recommended for STEM and maker collections.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA
Horn Book
From childhood, African American inventor Johnson was a tinkerer: “Lonnie
loved building and creating. Ideas for inventions just kept on flowing.” We learn
about how young Lonnie made model rockets—and rocket fuel (“When it caught
fire in the kitchen, Lonnie’s mom didn’t make him stop. She just sent him to work
o From childhood, African American inventor Johnson was a tinkerer: “Lonnie
loved building and creating. Ideas for inventions just kept on flowing.” We learn
about how young Lonnie made model rockets—and rocket fuel (“When it caught
fire in the kitchen, Lonnie’s mom didn’t make him stop. She just sent him to work
outside”)—and how in 1968 the robot he built won first place at a science fair
held at the University of Alabama, “where only five years earlier, African American
students hadn’t even been allowed.” We learn of his college life at Tuskegee
Institute (he was known to study even during his own parties, complete with
a light-and-sound system he created); his breakthrough engineering work for
NASA; and his development of a super-blast water gun. Barton describes Johnson’s
ups and downs before he finally sold his Super Soaker to a toy company, but
the straightforward text has a generally upbeat, you-can-do-it attitude. Tate’s clear
digital illustrations, with their time-period-appropriate details in décor and clothing
(from pegged jeans to bell-bottoms to cut-off shorts with knee socks) help
situate readers; there’s no timeline provided (or even a birth year for Johnson).
An appended note discusses Barton’s inspiration—to draw attention to diversity
within the scientific community—and encourages readers to “put this book down,
step away from the computer screen, and get permission to take something apart.”
Terrific front and back endpapers provide simple schematics of some of Lonnie
Johnson’s inventions. elissa gershowitz
Book Details
ISBN
9781580892971
First Release
August 2016
Genre
Nonfic
Dewey Classification
Trim Size
Page Count
32
Accelerated Reader
Level 4.7; Points: 0.5;
Scholastic Reading Counts
Level 5.4; Points: 2;
Lexile
Level 820L
Format
Print Book
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Charlesbridge
Potentially Sensitive Areas
No sensitive areas
Topics
Lonnie Johnson (1949–, ), African American inventors, Alabama, U,S, inventors, Biography, Inventions, Super Soaker water gun,
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