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Just Like Rube Goldberg
The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines
Illustrated by Robert Neubecker
Table of Contents
About The Book
Discover how Rube Goldberg followed his dreams to become an award-winning cartoonist, inventor, and even an adjective in the dictionary in this inspiring and funny biographical picture book.
Want to become an award-winning cartoonist and inventor? Follow your dreams, just like Rube Goldberg! From a young age, Rube Goldberg had a talent for art. But his father, a German immigrant, wanted Rube to have a secure job. So, Rube went to college and became an engineer.
But Rube didn’t want to spend his life mapping sewer pipes. He wanted to follow his passion, so Rube got a low-level job at a newspaper, and from there, he worked his way up, creating cartoons that made people laugh and tickled the imagination. He became known for his fantastic Rube Goldberg machines—complicated contraptions with many parts that performed a simple task in an elaborate and farfetched way. Eventually, his cartoons earned him a Pulitzer Prize and his own adjective in the dictionary. This moving biography is sure to encourage young artists and inventors to pursue their passions.
Want to become an award-winning cartoonist and inventor? Follow your dreams, just like Rube Goldberg! From a young age, Rube Goldberg had a talent for art. But his father, a German immigrant, wanted Rube to have a secure job. So, Rube went to college and became an engineer.
But Rube didn’t want to spend his life mapping sewer pipes. He wanted to follow his passion, so Rube got a low-level job at a newspaper, and from there, he worked his way up, creating cartoons that made people laugh and tickled the imagination. He became known for his fantastic Rube Goldberg machines—complicated contraptions with many parts that performed a simple task in an elaborate and farfetched way. Eventually, his cartoons earned him a Pulitzer Prize and his own adjective in the dictionary. This moving biography is sure to encourage young artists and inventors to pursue their passions.
About The Illustrator
Photograph © John Carlysle
Robert Neubecker is the award-winning author and illustrator of Linus the Vegetarian T. Rex and the Wow! series. He also illustrated Not Just the Driver! by Sara Holly Ackerman, Shiver Me Timbers! by Douglas Florian, Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth! by Sarah Weeks, I Got Two Dogs by John Lithgow, and Monsters on Machines by Deb Lund. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Robert also illustrates for The New York Times and Slate magazine. He and his family live in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit Robert at Neubecker.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Beach Lane Books (April 1, 2019)
- Length: 48 pages
- ISBN13: 9781481476683
- Ages: 4 - 8
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Raves and Reviews
Aronson’s narrative hovers between thoughtful biography and an inspirational tribute to Goldberg’s work, which will leave readers wanting more information, especially about the cultural legacy of his ubiquitous cartoons. Neubecker’s illustrations are animated and precise, connecting the unpredictable threads of the cartoonist’s life to the spirit of his inventions....Playful illustrations drive this loving biography for elementary-school-age inventors and dreamers.
– School library Journal, December 2018
Aronson has created an eminently readable book that will engage and surprise readers young and old....Particularly appropriate to use for Invention Conventions, STEAM units, or Odyssey of the Mind, this engaging read-aloud will make an enjoyable introduction to inquiry and problem solving in creative ways.
– School Library Connection, March/April 2019
Awards and Honors
- CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Starred Intermediate Title
- Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee (AZ)
- Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Master List
- Rhode Island Children's Book Award Nominee
- Gate City Book Award Nominee (NH)
- Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Award Honor Title (CA)
- Topaz Nonfiction Reading List (TX)
- Picture This Recommendation List
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Just Like Rube Goldberg Hardcover 9781481476683
