Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2025 Gr 2–6—This fun picture book biography of the puzzle icon doubles as inspiration for STEM-loving children to create their own Rube Goldberg machines. Thimmesh's engaging text explains who Goldberg was before providing real-life examples of famous Goldberg machines that spring to life with McCloskey's cartoon-style artwork. The chain reactions in these complicated machines are broken down into six simple machines: the lever, the wheel and axle, the inclined plane, the wedge, the screw, and the pulley. These physics examples are interspersed with more biographical information. While some of the science goes in-depth and is best suited to older elementary and even middle school students, the youngest of budding inventors will get a physics primer and enjoy the playful and colorful illustrations. Back matter includes a glossary; a lengthy list of sources; and lists of websites with videos of some contraptions, contests, and makerspaces. VERDICT An excellent physics primer and inspiration for young engineers who enjoy creating their own machines to perform simple tasks.—Carrie Voliva - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Other - 04/21/2025 Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was born in an era defined by massive technological upheaval. But where others recoiled at the march of progress, Goldberg saw "the funny," writes Thimmesh in lucidly rendered short chapters. Employing his talent in cartooning and what he learned studying mining engineering, Goldberg created convoluted, comical contraptions with enduring cultural impact. Digitally colored ink drawings by McCloskey tip a hat to the subject’s visual impishness (an opening how-to explains "The Simple Way to Read This Book"), and go on to chronicle his love of catapults and chain reactions, his brilliance in overcomplicating the principles of simple machines, and the delicious nerdiness of his step-by-step instructional captions, which "followed a narrative logic that made perfect sense in context (even if liberties were taken with the laws of nature and physics)." Young makers should find the final how-to chapter irresistible, "Because, really, why do something the simple way... if, instead, there is a catapult option?" Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 8-12. (May) - Copyright 2025