The Fantastic Ferris Wheel: The Story of Inventor George Ferris - Hardcover

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

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.