Lonnie Johnson

October 1, 2019
Grades K-2 Anyone who's been blasted by a Super Soaker can thank inventor Lonnie Johnson, profiled in the STEM Superstars series (4 titles). While this book is as no-frills as they come, Johnson's life sparkles. Three short chapters cover his childhood in the segregated South, his passion for invention and engineering, and his career successes with NASA and, of course, in the toy industry. Simple double-page spreads pair a large captioned photo, featuring Johnson or stock images, with a few short sentences on the opposing page. Did You Know? stars containing factoids periodically appear, and glossary-defined terms are printed in '90s-appropriate neon green. A Career Connections page offers practical advice to science-loving kids, such as participating in an after-school program or science fair, and well-chosen additional resources will help readers extend their learning.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)