![]() AND I like that McCarthy's books have a section of additional info, facts and resources in the back. Some kids really like "true" books, and it's great to have a go-to author for the youngest narrative non-fiction fans. And I love that she's made a name for herself in non-fiction picture books - Max also loved her Astronaut Handbook (about what astronaut training is like) and Josie really liked her book about the War of the Worlds radio broadcast. I think I reviewed Meghan McCarthy's Seabiscuit on goodreads - McCarthy has a way of drawing faces that's so funny and endearing. She's wanted to hear it every night, twice, for the last week and a half. Highly recommended, preferably read while chewing a large wad of bubble gum.įirst off, Maxine (age 5) LOVES this book. Ewwww!!īetween McCarthy’s appealing illustrations (love those side smiles on her people) and the topic, I know kids will love this book. I could have done without the picture of Post Alley in Seattle, onto which people have been pasting their chewed wads of gum for over 10 years. Scientists are working on gum that doesn’t stick! The oldest wad of chewed tree gum dates back some 9,000 years. I enjoyed the additional information McCarthy provides at the end of the book about Diemer and about gum. I like the way it leaves your mouth feeling fresh, and wish it were more available. I have chewed spruce gum, which the Native Americans used. Who knew that gum could be so interesting? I didn’t know that chewing gum was thought to have medicinal purposes (treating stomach aches). Invented by a man named Walter Diemer, what I want to know is this: whatever made him think of blowing bubbles with chewing gum? Did he try it himself with regular chewing gum and think maybe he could improve it? Did some kid give him the idea? This is the only book I’ve ever seen on the invention of bubble gum, so I’m glad McCarthy chose to write about it. And to young bubble-gum lovers, of course! With McCarthy's trademark illustrations - her googly-eyed characters, while not really my style, aesthetically speaking, have been slowly growing on me, to the point that I am becoming fond of them - a simple but engaging story, and an informative afterword, this is one picture-book that I would recommend even to kids who don't normally enjoy non-fiction. I also really liked the message, communicated in Diener's statement about giving pleasure to children, that money isn't always the most important factor, when it comes to the invention of new things. That said, I'm glad that Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum was chosen as one of our November selections, over in the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month in "Invention," because the story here really emphasizes the importance of perseverance. I hope this admission won't get me kicked out of the candy-loving crowd, but I actually am not that fond of bubble-gum (never have been!), and I loathe the ubiquitous black stains that gum leaves on sidewalks, when carelessly tossed aside. Persisting, long after everyone else had given up, Diemer eventually hit on the right formula, and Pop!, bubble-gum was born. Picture-book author/artist Meghan McCarthy, whose non-fiction selections for the younger set include such titles as Astronaut Handbook and City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male, turns her attention here to the invention of that childhood favorite, bubble gum! Emphasizing that gum itself dates back to the ancients - the classical Greeks liked to chew the sap of the mastic tree - McCarthy focuses her story on the Fleer candy factory, in 1920s Philadelphia, where accountant Walter Diemer became involved (almost by accident) in the effort to come up with a gum that could be blown into bubbles. Included there is a mini biography about what happened to the man who figured out how to make a gum which could form bubbles when chewed, a bunch of fun facts about gum, and a lists of books and articles than contain quotes used as a part of this book’s story.Īnd, I learned why traditional bubble gum is pink! They gave some what I thought was needed depth to the account. I was interested in it, but especially glad for the extras in the back of the book. The story in the main part of the book is very short but full of information despite its brevity. I love how everyone in the gum & candy factory looks happy. ![]() All the pictures of gum, bubbles and the gum itself, especially the gumballs, are wonderful. The illustrations feel very 1920s and since bubble gum was discovered in the late 20s that is apropos. The invention of bubble gum is a good example of how experimentation is often part of new discoveries. ![]() ![]() The story of how bubble gum was created is interesting and shows a bit of the history, science, math, business, and a lot about serendipity around the creation of bubble gum and of gum in general. This is a terrific idea for a children’s picture book history book it’s definitely a fun subject for kids.
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