{"id":3598313287,"title":"Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions","handle":"whoosh-lonnie-johnsons-super-soaking-stream-of-inventions","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan size=\"4\" style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003eWhoosh!\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eLonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"Author Chris Barton\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/chris-barton\"\u003eChris Barton\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"Illustrator Don Tate\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/don-tate\"\u003eDon Tate\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA cool idea with a big splash!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou know the Super Soaker. It's one of the top twenty toys of all time. And it was an accidental discovery that brought it into being. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity were present in Lonnie Johnson's early life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, Lonnie demonstrated persistence and a passion for problem solving that became the cornerstone of his career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is Lonnie's invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made the most memorable splash in popular culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingbooks.net\/qlabtfk\" target=\"new\"\u003eChris Barton tells\u003c\/a\u003e the story behind the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"The Day-Glo Brothers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-day-glo-brothers\"\u003eThe Day-Glo Brothers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"The Inventor's Secret\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-inventors-secret-what-thomas-edison-told-henry-ford\"\u003eThe Inventor's Secret\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dream-big-little-scientists\"\u003eDream Big, Little Scientists\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-spread.jpg?16320803808032000253\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Barton, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChris Barton is the best-selling author of several books for children, including \u003ci\u003eShark vs. Train\u003c\/i\u003e (Little, Brown)and \u003ci\u003eThe Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in Austin, Texas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about \u003ca title=\"Author Chris Barton\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/chris-barton\"\u003eChris Barton\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDon Tate, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDon Tate is the illustrator of \u003ci\u003eThe Cart That Carried Martin\u003c\/i\u003e. He is also both author and illustrator of \u003ci\u003eIt Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw \u003c\/i\u003e(Lee \u0026amp; Low) as well as \u003ci\u003ePoet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton\u003c\/i\u003e (Peachtree). He lives in Austin, Texas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about \u003ca title=\"Illustrator Don Tate\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/don-tate\"\u003eDon Tate\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2017 Cook Prize for Bank Street College of Education Finalist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA tinkering African-American boy grows up to become the inventor of a very popular toy. Lonnie Johnson always tinkered with something. As a kid, he built rockets and launched them in the park amid a crowd of friends. (He even made the rocket's fuel, which once caught fire in the kitchen. Oops.) As an adult he worked for NASA and helped to power the spacecraft Galileo as it explored Jupiter. But nothing is as memorable in the minds of kids as his most famous invention (to date): the Super-Soaker. While testing out a new cooling method for refrigerators, Johnson accidentally sprayed his entire bathroom, and the idea was born. However, the high-powered water gun was not an instant success. Barton shows the tenacity and dedication (and, sometimes, plain good timing) needed to prove ideas. From the initial blast of water that splashes the word \"WHOOSH\" across the page (and many pages after) to the gatefold that transforms into the Larami toy executives' reactions—\"WOW!\"—Tate plays up the pressurized-water imagery to the hilt. In a thoughtful author's note, Barton explains how Johnson challenges the stereotypical white, Einstein-like vision of a scientist. A delightfully child-friendly and painfully necessary diversification of the science field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePublishers Weekly,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHomemade robots, space probes, pressurized water rifles—the story of African-American inventor Lonnie Johnson is tailor-made for a young audience, and Barton and Tate do it justice in this inspiring account of a man driven toward innovation against the odds. Johnson's interest in engineering blossomed at an early age, and he went on to work on NASA's Galileo project and design what would become the popular Super Soaker water gun. Barton makes clear how Johnson struggled in his unconventional line of work, and also shows the rewards of his persistence. Tate's inviting digital illustrations bring an appropriately playful air to the pages, especially in a foldout spread showing the Super Soaker's blast in all of its glory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis picture book biography tells the story of Lonnie Johnson, kid rocket launcher, teen robot builder, adult NASA engineer, and inventor of the Super Soaker water toy. The story documents his perseverance in overcoming obstacles, some stemming from being African American--a school aptitude test that indicated he was not cut out to be an engineer, the prejudice he and his high-school team experienced while winning the 1968 University of Alabama science fair, and professional doubts concerning his abilities. The narrative also covers his initial failure at becoming a self-employed entrepreneur, remedied only by the hard-won success of the Super Soaker. The text emphasizes the continuing support he received from his family, and the vibrant illustrations are especially effective at capturing expressions and mannerisms that bring Johnson to life (as when Johnson and his fellow Tuskegee Institute students party to a sound and light system constructed from leftover electronics). This upbeat tribute makes an engaging and inspiring addition to STEM collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs 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 \u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eGalileo\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat do a computer memory power backup system and a squirt gun on steroids have in common? Inventor Lonnie Johnson. An avid tinkerer since childhood, Johnson had become the only black high school student by 1968 to advance to the science-fair competition held at the University of Alabama, where his robot Linex took first place. After graduating from Tuskegee, he worked for NASA on the backup power system for the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and then went solo as an inventor. While working on a component for a refrigeration system, he serendipitously fashioned the power blaster that would, years later, become the Super Soaker. While that popular toy has become the public pinnacle of his career, Johnson is still very much in the invention game, currently developing an advanced solar-energy system. Johnson’s story is both delightful and inspiring, featuring a long-suffering family that tolerated his destructive, even explosive, experiments; the financial ups and downs of an entrepreneur; and his solo work and team work. Endpapers point toward a portfolio of inventions that range from “Seriously?” (a musical diaper) to “Wow!” (Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter). The text and author’s note, however, offer little more than an enthusiastic outline of a long career, with plenty of research holes left to fill. Why he left NASA to be self-employed, how he survived the financially rough years, and how his green technology work is coming along are all issues about which kids may reasonably ask. Digital artwork is serviceable and should stand up well for a group read aloud. Barton refers to a personal interview with Johnson, but no further source notes are included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom 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 decor 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eNSTA Recommends\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI loved this book, it has all the components of STEM combined with a contemporary story; young boy who persists in inventing, even when the odds seem against him. His parents are supportive (what saints they must have been!). His list of accomplishments is impressive—from designing and creating rockets from scrap material, to working with NASA on the Galileo orbiter and probe that studied Jupiter. Ironically, he seems to be better know for his \"mistake\". While trying to develop a new cooling system that didn't use a toxic chemical, he accidentally invented the Super Soaker.The story focuses on an unlikely character who is not privileged, but has a persistence and patience that will act as a role model for all young inventors. A great depiction of an inventor with the \"right stuff\"! Highly recommended for all ages!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis appealing, inspiring picture-book biography by Chris Barton (\u003cem\u003eShark vs. Train\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eThe Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch\u003c\/em\u003e), illustrated by Don Tate (\u003cem\u003ePoet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton\u003c\/em\u003e), explores the life of Lonnie Johnson, the African American rocket scientist who invented the Super Soaker water gun...by accident. Lonnie grew up in the 1950s with five siblings \"squeezed into their parents' small house in Mobile, Alabama.\" Forever tinkering with spare parts and junkyard scraps, he made rockets from scratch, and even built his own robot named Linex with jukebox switches and his little sister's walkie-talkie: \"Lonnie used a tape recorder to program Linex, and as a bonus the reels looked like eyes.\" (Linex won first place for Lonnie's team at a 1968 University of Alabama science fair.) Lonnie, \"a self-confident, insightful, creative thinker,\" went to college at Tuskegee Institute, then, as an engineer, worked for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At NASA, he created a lightweight backup system for the \u003cem\u003eGalileo\u003c\/em\u003e space probe that photographed Jupiter and its moons. At home one day, Lonnie was working on a new refrigerator and air-conditioning cooling system, using the faucet in his bathroom sink with a hose, pump and nozzle, when \"WHOOSH!\"--water sprayed out with such force he decided his contraption \"would make a great water gun.\" He approached toy company after toy company with his invention until finally, he struck gold. Barton's clean, lively prose and Tate's boldly composed, often comical illustrations--including a dramatic gatefold capturing the Super Soaker's mighty trajectory--make Lonnie Johnson's story of passion and persistence whoosh to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-cvr.jpg?16320803808032000253\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-hires.zip?5249965777004519005\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-discussion-activity-guide.pdf?2854875397757877270\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Discussion\/Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-297-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-298-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-640-1 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-60734-854-2 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7-10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-3, 7, 8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 4. Standards 1-5, 8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2015-11-28T20:17:00-05:00","created_at":"2015-11-28T19:44:10-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Diversity","Browse by Subject_History \u0026 Biography","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature"],"price":799,"price_min":799,"price_max":1695,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":10540442183,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"92971","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1695,"weight":454,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":13,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-58089-297-1","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":12239761408079,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"92988","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":799,"weight":454,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":6,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781580892988","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/whoosh-jkt-cover.jpg?v=1586807311"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/whoosh-jkt-cover.jpg?v=1586807311","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"Whoosh! book cover image","id":5805055049807,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.783,"height":766,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/whoosh-jkt-cover.jpg?v=1586807311"},"aspect_ratio":0.783,"height":766,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/whoosh-jkt-cover.jpg?v=1586807311","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan size=\"4\" style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003eWhoosh!\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eLonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"Author Chris Barton\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/chris-barton\"\u003eChris Barton\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"Illustrator Don Tate\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/don-tate\"\u003eDon Tate\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA cool idea with a big splash!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou know the Super Soaker. It's one of the top twenty toys of all time. And it was an accidental discovery that brought it into being. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity were present in Lonnie Johnson's early life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, Lonnie demonstrated persistence and a passion for problem solving that became the cornerstone of his career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is Lonnie's invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made the most memorable splash in popular culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingbooks.net\/qlabtfk\" target=\"new\"\u003eChris Barton tells\u003c\/a\u003e the story behind the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"The Day-Glo Brothers\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-day-glo-brothers\"\u003eThe Day-Glo Brothers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"The Inventor's Secret\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-inventors-secret-what-thomas-edison-told-henry-ford\"\u003eThe Inventor's Secret\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dream-big-little-scientists\"\u003eDream Big, Little Scientists\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-spread.jpg?16320803808032000253\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Barton, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChris Barton is the best-selling author of several books for children, including \u003ci\u003eShark vs. Train\u003c\/i\u003e (Little, Brown)and \u003ci\u003eThe Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in Austin, Texas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about \u003ca title=\"Author Chris Barton\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/chris-barton\"\u003eChris Barton\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDon Tate, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDon Tate is the illustrator of \u003ci\u003eThe Cart That Carried Martin\u003c\/i\u003e. He is also both author and illustrator of \u003ci\u003eIt Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw \u003c\/i\u003e(Lee \u0026amp; Low) as well as \u003ci\u003ePoet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton\u003c\/i\u003e (Peachtree). He lives in Austin, Texas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about \u003ca title=\"Illustrator Don Tate\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/don-tate\"\u003eDon Tate\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2017 Cook Prize for Bank Street College of Education Finalist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA tinkering African-American boy grows up to become the inventor of a very popular toy. Lonnie Johnson always tinkered with something. As a kid, he built rockets and launched them in the park amid a crowd of friends. (He even made the rocket's fuel, which once caught fire in the kitchen. Oops.) As an adult he worked for NASA and helped to power the spacecraft Galileo as it explored Jupiter. But nothing is as memorable in the minds of kids as his most famous invention (to date): the Super-Soaker. While testing out a new cooling method for refrigerators, Johnson accidentally sprayed his entire bathroom, and the idea was born. However, the high-powered water gun was not an instant success. Barton shows the tenacity and dedication (and, sometimes, plain good timing) needed to prove ideas. From the initial blast of water that splashes the word \"WHOOSH\" across the page (and many pages after) to the gatefold that transforms into the Larami toy executives' reactions—\"WOW!\"—Tate plays up the pressurized-water imagery to the hilt. In a thoughtful author's note, Barton explains how Johnson challenges the stereotypical white, Einstein-like vision of a scientist. A delightfully child-friendly and painfully necessary diversification of the science field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePublishers Weekly,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHomemade robots, space probes, pressurized water rifles—the story of African-American inventor Lonnie Johnson is tailor-made for a young audience, and Barton and Tate do it justice in this inspiring account of a man driven toward innovation against the odds. Johnson's interest in engineering blossomed at an early age, and he went on to work on NASA's Galileo project and design what would become the popular Super Soaker water gun. Barton makes clear how Johnson struggled in his unconventional line of work, and also shows the rewards of his persistence. Tate's inviting digital illustrations bring an appropriately playful air to the pages, especially in a foldout spread showing the Super Soaker's blast in all of its glory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis picture book biography tells the story of Lonnie Johnson, kid rocket launcher, teen robot builder, adult NASA engineer, and inventor of the Super Soaker water toy. The story documents his perseverance in overcoming obstacles, some stemming from being African American--a school aptitude test that indicated he was not cut out to be an engineer, the prejudice he and his high-school team experienced while winning the 1968 University of Alabama science fair, and professional doubts concerning his abilities. The narrative also covers his initial failure at becoming a self-employed entrepreneur, remedied only by the hard-won success of the Super Soaker. The text emphasizes the continuing support he received from his family, and the vibrant illustrations are especially effective at capturing expressions and mannerisms that bring Johnson to life (as when Johnson and his fellow Tuskegee Institute students party to a sound and light system constructed from leftover electronics). This upbeat tribute makes an engaging and inspiring addition to STEM collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs 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 \u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eGalileo\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat do a computer memory power backup system and a squirt gun on steroids have in common? Inventor Lonnie Johnson. An avid tinkerer since childhood, Johnson had become the only black high school student by 1968 to advance to the science-fair competition held at the University of Alabama, where his robot Linex took first place. After graduating from Tuskegee, he worked for NASA on the backup power system for the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and then went solo as an inventor. While working on a component for a refrigeration system, he serendipitously fashioned the power blaster that would, years later, become the Super Soaker. While that popular toy has become the public pinnacle of his career, Johnson is still very much in the invention game, currently developing an advanced solar-energy system. Johnson’s story is both delightful and inspiring, featuring a long-suffering family that tolerated his destructive, even explosive, experiments; the financial ups and downs of an entrepreneur; and his solo work and team work. Endpapers point toward a portfolio of inventions that range from “Seriously?” (a musical diaper) to “Wow!” (Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter). The text and author’s note, however, offer little more than an enthusiastic outline of a long career, with plenty of research holes left to fill. Why he left NASA to be self-employed, how he survived the financially rough years, and how his green technology work is coming along are all issues about which kids may reasonably ask. Digital artwork is serviceable and should stand up well for a group read aloud. Barton refers to a personal interview with Johnson, but no further source notes are included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom 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 decor 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eNSTA Recommends\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI loved this book, it has all the components of STEM combined with a contemporary story; young boy who persists in inventing, even when the odds seem against him. His parents are supportive (what saints they must have been!). His list of accomplishments is impressive—from designing and creating rockets from scrap material, to working with NASA on the Galileo orbiter and probe that studied Jupiter. Ironically, he seems to be better know for his \"mistake\". While trying to develop a new cooling system that didn't use a toxic chemical, he accidentally invented the Super Soaker.The story focuses on an unlikely character who is not privileged, but has a persistence and patience that will act as a role model for all young inventors. A great depiction of an inventor with the \"right stuff\"! Highly recommended for all ages!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis appealing, inspiring picture-book biography by Chris Barton (\u003cem\u003eShark vs. Train\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eThe Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch\u003c\/em\u003e), illustrated by Don Tate (\u003cem\u003ePoet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton\u003c\/em\u003e), explores the life of Lonnie Johnson, the African American rocket scientist who invented the Super Soaker water gun...by accident. Lonnie grew up in the 1950s with five siblings \"squeezed into their parents' small house in Mobile, Alabama.\" Forever tinkering with spare parts and junkyard scraps, he made rockets from scratch, and even built his own robot named Linex with jukebox switches and his little sister's walkie-talkie: \"Lonnie used a tape recorder to program Linex, and as a bonus the reels looked like eyes.\" (Linex won first place for Lonnie's team at a 1968 University of Alabama science fair.) Lonnie, \"a self-confident, insightful, creative thinker,\" went to college at Tuskegee Institute, then, as an engineer, worked for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At NASA, he created a lightweight backup system for the \u003cem\u003eGalileo\u003c\/em\u003e space probe that photographed Jupiter and its moons. At home one day, Lonnie was working on a new refrigerator and air-conditioning cooling system, using the faucet in his bathroom sink with a hose, pump and nozzle, when \"WHOOSH!\"--water sprayed out with such force he decided his contraption \"would make a great water gun.\" He approached toy company after toy company with his invention until finally, he struck gold. Barton's clean, lively prose and Tate's boldly composed, often comical illustrations--including a dramatic gatefold capturing the Super Soaker's mighty trajectory--make Lonnie Johnson's story of passion and persistence whoosh to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-cvr.jpg?16320803808032000253\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-hires.zip?5249965777004519005\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/whoosh-discussion-activity-guide.pdf?2854875397757877270\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Discussion\/Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-297-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-298-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-640-1 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-60734-854-2 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7-10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-3, 7, 8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 4. Standards 1-5, 8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

Whoosh!
Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

By: Chris Barton / Illustrated by: Don Tate

A cool idea with a big splash!

You know the Super Soaker. It's one of the top twenty toys of all time. And it was an accidental discovery that brought it into being. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.

A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity were present in Lonnie Johnson's early life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, Lonnie demonstrated persistence and a passion for problem solving that became the cornerstone of his career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is Lonnie's invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made the most memorable splash in popular culture.

Author Chris Barton tells the story behind the story.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Chris Barton, author

Chris Barton is the best-selling author of several books for children, including Shark vs. Train (Little, Brown)and The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Read more about Chris Barton.


Don Tate, illustrator

Don Tate is the illustrator of The Cart That Carried Martin. He is also both author and illustrator of It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw (Lee & Low) as well as Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton (Peachtree). He lives in Austin, Texas.

Read more about Don Tate.

  • 2017 Cook Prize for Bank Street College of Education Finalist

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A tinkering African-American boy grows up to become the inventor of a very popular toy. Lonnie Johnson always tinkered with something. As a kid, he built rockets and launched them in the park amid a crowd of friends. (He even made the rocket's fuel, which once caught fire in the kitchen. Oops.) As an adult he worked for NASA and helped to power the spacecraft Galileo as it explored Jupiter. But nothing is as memorable in the minds of kids as his most famous invention (to date): the Super-Soaker. While testing out a new cooling method for refrigerators, Johnson accidentally sprayed his entire bathroom, and the idea was born. However, the high-powered water gun was not an instant success. Barton shows the tenacity and dedication (and, sometimes, plain good timing) needed to prove ideas. From the initial blast of water that splashes the word "WHOOSH" across the page (and many pages after) to the gatefold that transforms into the Larami toy executives' reactions—"WOW!"—Tate plays up the pressurized-water imagery to the hilt. In a thoughtful author's note, Barton explains how Johnson challenges the stereotypical white, Einstein-like vision of a scientist. A delightfully child-friendly and painfully necessary diversification of the science field.

Publishers Weekly, starred review

Homemade robots, space probes, pressurized water rifles—the story of African-American inventor Lonnie Johnson is tailor-made for a young audience, and Barton and Tate do it justice in this inspiring account of a man driven toward innovation against the odds. Johnson's interest in engineering blossomed at an early age, and he went on to work on NASA's Galileo project and design what would become the popular Super Soaker water gun. Barton makes clear how Johnson struggled in his unconventional line of work, and also shows the rewards of his persistence. Tate's inviting digital illustrations bring an appropriately playful air to the pages, especially in a foldout spread showing the Super Soaker's blast in all of its glory.

Booklist

This picture book biography tells the story of Lonnie Johnson, kid rocket launcher, teen robot builder, adult NASA engineer, and inventor of the Super Soaker water toy. The story documents his perseverance in overcoming obstacles, some stemming from being African American--a school aptitude test that indicated he was not cut out to be an engineer, the prejudice he and his high-school team experienced while winning the 1968 University of Alabama science fair, and professional doubts concerning his abilities. The narrative also covers his initial failure at becoming a self-employed entrepreneur, remedied only by the hard-won success of the Super Soaker. The text emphasizes the continuing support he received from his family, and the vibrant illustrations are especially effective at capturing expressions and mannerisms that bring Johnson to life (as when Johnson and his fellow Tuskegee Institute students party to a sound and light system constructed from leftover electronics). This upbeat tribute makes an engaging and inspiring addition to STEM collections.

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 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.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

What do a computer memory power backup system and a squirt gun on steroids have in common? Inventor Lonnie Johnson. An avid tinkerer since childhood, Johnson had become the only black high school student by 1968 to advance to the science-fair competition held at the University of Alabama, where his robot Linex took first place. After graduating from Tuskegee, he worked for NASA on the backup power system for the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and then went solo as an inventor. While working on a component for a refrigeration system, he serendipitously fashioned the power blaster that would, years later, become the Super Soaker. While that popular toy has become the public pinnacle of his career, Johnson is still very much in the invention game, currently developing an advanced solar-energy system. Johnson’s story is both delightful and inspiring, featuring a long-suffering family that tolerated his destructive, even explosive, experiments; the financial ups and downs of an entrepreneur; and his solo work and team work. Endpapers point toward a portfolio of inventions that range from “Seriously?” (a musical diaper) to “Wow!” (Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter). The text and author’s note, however, offer little more than an enthusiastic outline of a long career, with plenty of research holes left to fill. Why he left NASA to be self-employed, how he survived the financially rough years, and how his green technology work is coming along are all issues about which kids may reasonably ask. Digital artwork is serviceable and should stand up well for a group read aloud. Barton refers to a personal interview with Johnson, but no further source notes are included.

The Horn Book Magazine

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 decor 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.

NSTA Recommends

I loved this book, it has all the components of STEM combined with a contemporary story; young boy who persists in inventing, even when the odds seem against him. His parents are supportive (what saints they must have been!). His list of accomplishments is impressive—from designing and creating rockets from scrap material, to working with NASA on the Galileo orbiter and probe that studied Jupiter. Ironically, he seems to be better know for his "mistake". While trying to develop a new cooling system that didn't use a toxic chemical, he accidentally invented the Super Soaker.The story focuses on an unlikely character who is not privileged, but has a persistence and patience that will act as a role model for all young inventors. A great depiction of an inventor with the "right stuff"! Highly recommended for all ages!

Shelf Awareness

This appealing, inspiring picture-book biography by Chris Barton (Shark vs. Train; The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch), illustrated by Don Tate (Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton), explores the life of Lonnie Johnson, the African American rocket scientist who invented the Super Soaker water gun...by accident. Lonnie grew up in the 1950s with five siblings "squeezed into their parents' small house in Mobile, Alabama." Forever tinkering with spare parts and junkyard scraps, he made rockets from scratch, and even built his own robot named Linex with jukebox switches and his little sister's walkie-talkie: "Lonnie used a tape recorder to program Linex, and as a bonus the reels looked like eyes." (Linex won first place for Lonnie's team at a 1968 University of Alabama science fair.) Lonnie, "a self-confident, insightful, creative thinker," went to college at Tuskegee Institute, then, as an engineer, worked for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At NASA, he created a lightweight backup system for the Galileo space probe that photographed Jupiter and its moons. At home one day, Lonnie was working on a new refrigerator and air-conditioning cooling system, using the faucet in his bathroom sink with a hose, pump and nozzle, when "WHOOSH!"--water sprayed out with such force he decided his contraption "would make a great water gun." He approached toy company after toy company with his invention until finally, he struck gold. Barton's clean, lively prose and Tate's boldly composed, often comical illustrations--including a dramatic gatefold capturing the Super Soaker's mighty trajectory--make Lonnie Johnson's story of passion and persistence whoosh to life.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-297-1

Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-58089-298-8

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-60734-640-1 EPUB
ISBN: 978-1-60734-854-2 PDF

Ages: 7-10
Page count: 32
8 1/2 x 11

Correlated to Common Core State Standards:
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-3, 7, 8, 10
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 4. Standards 1-5, 8, 10