The Fantastic Ferris Wheel: The Story of Inventor George Ferris

by Betsy Harvey Kraft, Steven Salerno (Illustrator)

Overview

The World's Fair in Chicago, 1893, was to be a spectacular event: architects, musicians, artists, and inventors worked on special exhibits to display the glories of their countries. But the Fair's planners wanted something really special, something on the scale of the Eiffel Tower, which had been constructed for France's fair three years earlier. At last, engineer George Ferris had an idea—a crazy, unrealistic, gigantic idea. He would construct a twenty-six-story tall observation wheel.

The planners didn't think it could be done. They called it a "monstrosity." It wouldn't be safe. But George fought for his design. Finally, in December 1892, with only four months to go until the fair, George was given permission to build his wheel. He had to fight the tight schedule, bad weather, and general disapproval. Against all odds, the Ferris Wheel turned out to be the talk of the Fair, and proof that dreaming big dreams could pay off. Today, George's Ferris Wheel is an icon of adventure and amusement throughout the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627799133
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/13/2015
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	42
File size:	124 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Betsy Harvey Kraft is the author of several nonfiction children's books, including Theodore Roosevelt: Champion of the American Spirit, which was an ALA Notable Book, a National Council of Social Studies Notable Book, and an NYPL Top 100 Title for Reading and Sharing. She lives in Washington, DC.

Steven Salerno has illustrated more than twenty picture books, including Brothers At Bat, which made the NY Times Book Review's list of notable picture books for 2012, BOOM!, and Coco the Carrot. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, he lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

09/07/2015
Kraft and Salerno highlight the technical difficulties and skepticism that accompanied the creation of what’s now known as the Ferris wheel as they profile inventor George Ferris. During preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, Ferris presented designs for a steam engine–driven observation wheel with 36 passenger cars. Many doubted the plausibility (and safety) of such a mechanism, but on May 1, the wheel welcomed its first passengers to soaring success. Salerno’s precisely drafted illustrations give a solid sense of the era, including intricate renderings of Chicago architecture and the construction of the wheel, while Kraft creates a genuine suspense in the lead-up to its debut. Ages 5–9. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

A CBC NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
A CBC NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
An ILA Teacher's Choice Reading List Selection

“The engineering challenges, coupled with the harsh Chicago winter, lend drama to the text; Salerno's richly detailed compositions extend it. . . the artist's full-bleed pictures exhibit dizzying perspective and inventive composition, adding plenty of detail, including fairgoers in period dress. . . An absorbing read for young makers and dreamers.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“The writing is crisp, clear, and descriptive, moving the story along at a quick pace. . .The book's strength are the dramatic, mixed-media illustrations, which capture the enormity of Ferris's wheel and its spectacular appearance when lit up at night, that steal the show. . .A strong addition to book collections dealing with inventors and inventions and useful for discussing how written texts and illustrations work together.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Excellent as a research source or an addition to STEM curriculum, this volume is likely to interest readers who delight in building and designing, and maybe even those who are timid about amusement-park rides. This kid-friendly resource is a solid choice for collections in need of thrill-ride histories or engineering and invention titles.” —Booklist

“Salerno’s precisely drafted illustrations give a solid sense of the era, including intricate renderings of Chicago architecture and the construction of the wheel, while Kraft creates a genuine suspense in the lead-up to its debut” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

★ 2015-07-22
Heeding the call to "make big plans" for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, George Ferris designed—and built—the giant observation wheel that now bears his name. Kraft's clear narrative sets the stage for the Columbian Exposition. Following on the 19th century's spectacular achievements in architecture and engineering, a sense of competition prevailed: the fair's organizers stood in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, erected for France's 1889 World's Fair. Ferris' friends and Chicago's fair organizers doubted his plans for their sheer scale: how could a 26-story-tall wheel with 36 cars, each designed to carry 60 passengers, be safely constructed and operated? Ferris found investors and refined his plans. Finally, in December 1892—just 4 1/2 months before the opening—the committee gave Ferris the nod. The engineering challenges, coupled with the harsh Chicago winter, lend drama to the text; Salerno's richly detailed compositions extend it. Using traditional mixed media as well as Adobe Photoshop to layer, compose, and add color, the artist's full-bleed pictures exhibit dizzying perspective and inventive composition, adding plenty of detail, including fairgoers in period dress. A color palette of blue, green, and ochre evokes vintage postcards. Withstanding a tornado in Chicago, Ferris' wheel served again at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair before its eventual scrapping. Kraft credits Ferris' enduring feat; a tall gatefold depicts the London Eye. An absorbing read for young makers and dreamers. (biographical note, sources) (Informational picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews