August 1, 2019
Grades 2-5 Through hard work and determination, African American scientist and inventor Lonnie Johnson overcame many obstacles on his way to becoming an engineer and contributing to NASA. It was during the test of a possible new refrigeration system that he accidentally created what would become a part of many children's hot summers: the Super Soaker. After a long road of pitching and refining the product, Lonnie finally found a toy company to work with, and the Super Soaker became a huge success. With crisp, clear text and detailed, colorful illustrations?plus the fun subject matter?this title is sure to catch the attention of young readers. Lonnie's incredible life is covered from childhood onwards, and the message of perseverance through his story is inspiring. A necessary addition to Spanish nonfiction for children.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)