Whoosh!

It's something new, the illustrations are awesome, it's interesting, and it's narrative non-fiction. Perfect for my library and I can't wait to get a copy!

This portrait of Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the super-soaker water gun and other inventions describes him as a problem solver. As a young African American boy, Lonnie loved to invent, and dreamed of becoming an engineer. Despite the fact that exam results suggested that he would not be a good engineer, he went to Tuskegee Institute, graduated and worked as an engineer for NASA. The super-soaker was developed when Lonnie was working on a cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners that did not use a harmful chemical. As a dedicated problem solver and inventor, Lonnie Johnson's story is an inspiring one.

I really liked this picture book biography of Lonnie Johnson, a scientist and inventor who worked for NASA on the Jupiter rocket project AND Invented the Super Soaker. The illustrations are fun and inviting. I think my students will like learning about the scientist who invented the Super Soaker.

Whoosh! tells the story of Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker Water Gun. While his invention came about as an accident, Lonnie had always been an inventor. Beginning with childhood robots, Lonnie worked his way up to becoming an engineer for NASA.
Whoosh! does an excellent job making Lonnie Johnson’s life accessible to young children. The illustrations are bright and cheerful. The popularity of the Super Soaker gives readers something to familiar to build on as they read the book, and I think they will enjoy the story behind the toy. Lonnie Johnson is a great role model, he doesn’t give up and he doesn’t let his circumstances define him. He doesn’t fit our ‘mold’ of an inventor—it’s easy to think that things worth inventing were invented long ago. This is not the case and Lonnie shows readers that there is always something new to create. This might encourage readers to get out there and build something of their own (always a plus!).
Biographies can be daunting. Whoosh! is a great ‘first biography’ since it has familiar elements found in pictures books. My library is focusing a lot on STEAM right now, both in programs and in the books we offer our patrons. Lonnie Johnson’s story is the perfect book to include in such a library.

Whoosh! is the story of Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker Water Gun. Lonnie was always an inventor, even as a child. While he was told that he would not make an engineer based on tests he took in school, he did not give up. He worked hard to make his dream come true. Beginning with childhood robots, Lonnie worked his way up to becoming an engineer for NASA.
Whoosh! is Lonnie Johnson’s life accessible to young children. When he accidentally invented the Super Soaker Water Gun, he tried to sell it to toy companies. He had no success, but he did not give up. He quit his job as NASA and had to move his family out of the family home. He did not give up and eventually sold the water gun and made a lot of money from it.

The illustrations are bright and cheerful. I think children will enjoy the story behind the toy that most people are familiar with. Lonnie Johnson is a great role model, he doesn’t give up and he doesn’t let his circumstances define him. He doesn’t fit our ‘mold’ of an inventor. Lonnie shows readers that there is always something new to create. This might encourage readers to get out there and build something of their own. What a great book to read to children before a Science Fair or unit on creativity and inventions. Even though this is a biography, it is geared to children, easy to read and understand. Lonnie Johnson’s story is the perfect book to include in an elementary school or classroom library.

I never thought about who invented the Super Soaker. When I was a kid, I definitely wanted one. Reading about Lonnie Johnson’s journey was interesting and inspiring!

As a teacher and a parent, I love this book. Kids will be interested in the story of how one of their favorite toys was invented. Parents and teachers will applaud the book for showing kids how inventions happen -- and someday some of the kids who read this book will invent something, too.

I like non-fiction books like this one, that give the history of familiar, kid-friendly objects. This one gives not only the development of the Super-Soaker, but also a brief history of the life of Lonnie Johnson. The illustrations are appealing and strongly support the text. The narrative is easy to follow. While the details are few, a quick overview like this can be enough to inspire further research. Given the general appeal here (as well as a touch of nostalgia on my part - Super-Soakers were massively popular when I was in upper elementary school) Whoosh! gets the thumbs up from me.

Lonnie’s rocket invention drew a crowd of schoolmates to watch on the playground. His fuel creation caused his mother to send him outside when it caught fire in the kitchen! Whoops! At least, she didn’t make him quit experimenting.

The team of Chris Barton and Don Tate missed the memo that nonfiction is dry and boring. Together again after The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch, they tell the story of Lonnie Johnson in their new book Whoosh, which I read in an advance reading copy furnished by Net Galley. They use words and illustrations woven seamlessly together to add child-appealing humor without compromising the struggles Lonnie faced to fulfill his dreams. A crucial highlight in the book is the way Lonnie Johnson proves wrong the prediction of the exam that he is unlikely to make a good engineer.

The Barton/Tate Team recounts Lonnie’s many recognized achievements in the technical world, including work with NASA scientists. Children who’ve paid attention to the cover will enjoy the book even before they get to what they’ve been waiting for – the fun comes when Whoops! becomes Whoosh! in the making of the extraordinary water gun that they recognize and may have played with. Then Engineer Lonnie must become Promoter Lonnie or the product will never get into the market and the hands of children.

A bonus for teachers is the author’s note with the opportunity to discuss with students the importance of primary sources as Chris tells about talking to Lonnie Johnson and others who had firsthand knowledge of the story.

This is a book for any child or child-at-heart who loves to see how discoveries are made, to have a good laugh, or to see success follow failure.

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