A Junior Library Guild Selection
Orbis Pictus Honor for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Capturing an engineer's creative vision and mind for detail, this fully illustrated picture book biography sheds light on how the American inventor George Ferris defied gravity and seemingly impossible odds to invent the world's most iconic amusement park attraction, the Ferris wheel.
A fun, fact-filled text by Kathryn Gibbs Davis combines with Gilbert Ford's dazzling full-color illustrations to transport readers to the 1893 World's Fair, where George Ferris and his big, wonderful wheel lifted passengers to the skies for the first time.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
A Winner of a Picture Book: Must Read
By Tina Says
I love a good non fiction picture book, especially one about a lesser known person or event.Mr. Ferris and His Wheel is about George Ferris, and the Ferris wheel, invented by Ferris and named after him.This picture book combines story, non-fiction tidbits, ink and watercolor illustrations, and an occasional quote to tell the story of how George Ferris dreamed up the idea for the Ferris wheel which was first introduced at the Worlds Fair in Chicago in 1893.Kathryn Gibbs Davis goes through the steps that Ferris went to in order to make his dream become a reality. The designing of his invention and his need for donations to cover the cost are explained in a way young readers can understand, and his race to complete the Ferris Wheel by the World's Fair adds some suspense to this picture book.Many children have ridden a Ferris wheel, but even those who have not, can recognize the structure and appreciate the story of how this came to be an amusement park staple.I've purchased this for my own library already, and am definitely adding it to my next school library order. There are many students who will enjoy this story, and appreciate the fact that it is a non-fiction book about something they can relate to.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.Great read aloud for 3rd, 4th, 5th plus content for conversation and writing in response
By Sunday Cummins
This would make for a great read aloud in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade with opportunities for rereading excerpts of text to think critically about the author’s central ideas and purposes. The main part of the text is written as a narrative with the purpose of “telling the story of” how George Ferris endeavors to bring to life “an idea [for a structure at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair] that would dazzle and move.” In addition, many of the two-page layouts have a non-narrative caption (in bold and a different font) that provides background information pertinent to that point in the narrative. For example, when George’s idea is rejected by the construction chief of the fair, the narrator lets the reader in on George’s expertise on how to use a new metal –steel–and how this would make the moving wheel “strong.” The non-narrative caption for that page serves to build knowledge on this concept – steel, its strengths and George’s area of engineering expertise -George was a steel expert, and his structure would be made of a steel alloy. Alloys combine a super-strong mix of a hard metal with two or more chemical elements. (no page #s)This structure – the use of narrative to “tell the story of” and non-narrative to explain is worthy of exploration by students.Actually, there’s a lot of potential for using this book in the classroom. If your 3rd or 5th grade class is studying motion and stability–Ferris’ engineering and what he must have considered in designing and building the wheel could be discussed. And with the Common Core ELA Standards, there are opportunities to engage students in conversations (even student-led), close reading and conversation, and writing in response to the text. I shared some suggestions for instruction in a blog entry at http://sundaycummins.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/new-book-for-reading-aloud-close-reading-mr-ferris-and-his-wheel/.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.Kids will love this book
By Consuela Golden
Kids will love this book! Kathryn Gibbs Davis makes the race to finish the world's first Ferris wheel in time for the Chicago World's Fair exciting as well as informative. Her readers will not only get an in-depth look at how a Ferris wheel works—they'll also get an inspirational story about its inventor, George Ferris, who persevered to realize his dream despite the odds. The illustrations are lovely as well. "Mr. Ferris and His Wheel" is the perfect gift for your youngsters to discover under the Christmas tree this year.
