The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring: The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation

With magnificent dioramic illustrations, Gilbert Ford captures the joy, creativity, and determination behind the invention of an iconic, one-of-a-kind toy: the Slinky!

One day, a spring fell from the desk of Richard James, an engineer and a dreamer. Its coils took a walk...and so did Richard's imagination. He knew right away that he had stumbled onto something marvelous.

With the help of his wife, Betty, Richard took this ordinary spring and turned it into a plaything. But it wasn't just any old trinket--it was a Slinky, and it would become one of the most popular toys in American history.

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 09/13/2016
Pages: 40
Weight: 1lbs
Size: 11.00h x 9.10w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781481450652
Age: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.2
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 187408 / Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring: The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2016
School Library Journal 07/01/2016 pg. 92
Booklist 07/01/2016 pg. 51
Publishers Weekly 07/11/2016
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2016

About the Author
Ford, Gilbert: - Gilbert Ford holds a BFA in illustration from Pratt Institute and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. He is the author and illustrator of The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring, named a Best STEM Book of 2017, and has illustrated many middle grade jackets, as well as the award-winning picture book Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Visit him online at GilbertFord.com.