“Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions“

Written by Chris Barton | Illustrated by Don Tate

The story of Lonnie Johnson is one where science and play are never far apart — from homemade rockets as a boy in Alabama to a bathroom experiment that accidentally became one of the best-selling toys of all time. This picture book biography traces the true story of an African American inventor whose lifelong curiosity took him from his childhood home all the way to NASA.

At the center of the story is Lonnie, a boy inspired by an unshakable belief that the next great idea was always just one experiment away. From backyard rockets to a cooling system test that sprayed his entire bathroom, his path was full of unexpected turns. Children will connect with the idea that mistakes and detours are not the end of the story — sometimes they are the story.

Barton’s writing is crisp and playful, moving with the same curiosity that defined Lonnie’s life. Tate’s lively, expressive illustrations bring humor and energy to every page, including a dramatic two-page spread that captures the Super Soaker at full blast.

It’s a natural fit for expanding students’ knowledge of inventors, STEM concepts, and what it means to see a problem differently than everyone else. “Whoosh!” is an excellent choice for Grades 1–4.