The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring

Book cover of The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring: The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation

Book description

With magnificent dioramic illustrations, Gilbert Ford captures the joy, creativity, and determination behind the invention of an iconic, one-of-a-kind toy: the Slinky!

One day, a spring fell from the desk of Richard James, an engineer and a dreamer. Its coils took a walk…and so did Richard’s imagination. He knew right…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Kerry Aradhya

Author

Two things stand out to me in this book about the invention of the Slinky. First, I appreciate that it highlights the importance of teamwork in creative pursuits. Richard James, his wife, and even their young son were instrumental in this springy toy's invention, production, and/or marketing.

I also adore the engaging art style, perfect for a book set in the 1940s. Each spread is a colorful collage of playful drawings, fabrics and patterns, paper cutouts, and images of real objects, including springs, old-fashioned telephones, and toys from the time period. Delightful!

From Kerry's list on nonfiction picture books with inventions kids love.