Henry Ford for Kids

October 15, 2015
Hands-on projects add interactive extras to this judicious portrait of the industrial giant as a brilliant but flawed genius. Though biographies of Ford are as mass-produced as, well, Fords, this one will leave readers with a particularly strong impression of how complex, even enigmatic, a man he was. Carefully citing sources for quotes and facts, Reis offers frank discussions of Ford's rabid anti-Semitism (seen as an outgrowth of the industrialist's hatred for Wall Street bankers in general), labor issues, autocratic management style, and shoddy treatment of his son, Edsel. He balances these with more positive notes on his subject's lifelong pacifism (in peacetime), largesse to cultural and social institutions, dedication to paying his workers a living wage, and willingness to hire women and people with disabilities. As is typical for volumes in the ...For Kids series, the 21 interspersed projects vary widely in quality, from make-work activities like designing a flag and a badge to instructions for fixing a (bicycle) tire and step-by-step strategies for getting a ride in a real Model T to, most ambitiously, disassembling and reassembling "anything." These are largely distractions, though, to what is chiefly a perceptive character study of one of this country's most influential and iconic figures. Budding engineers and inventors as well as students of American history will find plenty of food for both thought and reflection here. (period photos, bibliography, index) (Biography. 11-13)

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January 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-This straightforward, evenhanded biography of Henry Ford balances a description of his extraordinary success as an automobile maker with the darker aspects of his personal and professional life. Starting with Ford's reluctance to follow in his father's footsteps and become a farmer, Reis tracks the determined young engineer, demonstrating how the industrialist went from fixing watches and building race cars to establishing the astoundingly successful Ford Motor Company. Ford created the Model T and implemented the use of an assembly line to increase production of the cars, an enormously effective technique that also negatively impacted workers' experience. Reis also explores the man's troubled relationship with his son, Edsel; his anti-Semitism; and his increasingly tough treatment of his employees, including the Ford Motor Company's violent opposition to unions. Readers will appreciate the gravity of the events discussed and may be encouraged to investigate further. The accessible text includes many relevant photographs as well as frequent fact boxes that provide more in-depth information on related subjects. Twenty-one different activities are offered, some of which are more relevant than others, such as "Build a Bird Feeder" (Ford enjoyed bird-watching), "Demonstrate Gear Action," "Learn the Language of Industrial Drawing," "Dance the Waltz" (Ford revered traditional dances), and "Repair a Tire." VERDICT A solid, engaging addition to biographies about Ford and a good companion for potential STEM lesson plans and library programming.-Kristy Pasquariello, Wellesley Free Library, Wellesley, MA

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December 15, 2015
Grades 4-8 Henry Ford's life and work make him an excellent subject for a biography. Climbing from farm boy to urbane millionaire, he was an engineering genius, social experimenter, and political lead foot, all during a period of history rich in rapid change and upheaval. While maintaining a clear, engaging narrative, Reis weaves exemplary detail and interesting information about Ford's life and times to properly showcase their importance. Well-reproduced archival photos add visual interest, while the varied, absorbing projects range from science experiments to word games to engineering projects to an elegant, simple introduction to basic diplomacy. Reis is sure to plumb both the negative and positive aspects of Ford's life and beliefs, and he pitches discussions of such topics as anti-Semitism and workers' rights concisely and simply without sacrificing factual complexity. The comprehensive back matter includes plenty of further reading as well as well-documented websites and resources from a wide variety of authorities. This entry in the broad-ranging For Kids series does an impressive job of offering a multidimensional perspective on a giant of industry.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)