In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the developer of the Barbie doll, Ruth Handler. Follow the story of Handler's early work with her husband Elliott making and selling plastic products, their collaboration with Harold Matson to form Mattel, Handler's inspiration for a new kind of doll, and the company's introduction of Barbie in 1959. Readers will follow Barbie's evolution through the ensuing decades as Handler continuously reinvented...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the creators of Crayolas, cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. Follow their story from childhood, their early work at Edwin's father's Peekskill Chemical Works, and the company's evolution into the Binney & Smith Company. Binney and Smith create a wax pencil, slate pencils, and dustless chalk, culminating in the invention of the Crayola. Learn how Crayolas are made, who came up with the name,...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the pioneer of Play-Doh, Joseph McVicker. Follow the story from McVicker's childhood, his education at Brown University, joining his father's company Kutol Products, and his reinvention of the company's Kutol Wall Cleaner as Play-Doh. Learn how Play-Doh is made, who came up with the name, the role of Captain Kanagroo in Play-Doh's success, and about other Play-Doh products. McVicker's family, retirement,...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of the American Girl doll, Pleasant Rowland. Follow the story of Rowland as she creates American Girl from the original historical dolls to the updated American Girl of the Year and American Girl of Today to Truly Me and BeForever. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Mr. Potato Head, George Lerner. Follow the story of Lerner as he takes Mr. Potato Head from its start as a cereal-box prize to a kit of pieces that kids stuck into real potatoes to the addition of Mrs. Potato Head and the entire Potato Head family to stardom in the movie Toy Story. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the designer of Pokémon, Satoshi Tajiri. Follow the story of Tajiri as he founds Game Freak magazine which turned into Game Freak video-game development company and the creation of the Pokémon video games, trading cards, television series, and Pokémon Go! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the developer of the yo-yo, Pedro Flores. Follow the story of Flores as he popularizes the toy through his Yo-Yo Manufacturing Company then teams up with Donald F. Duncan to create the Duncan yo-yo! Along the way readers will learn how yo-yos are made and how to "walk the dog." Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Hot Wheels, Elliot Handler. Follow the story of Handler as he starts the Mattel toy company, begins making toys from plastic, develops the Barbie and Ken dolls with his wife Ruth, then invents Hot Wheels! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Lincoln Logs, John Lloyd Wright. Follow the story of Wright as he follows his famous father Frank Lloyd Wright into architecture, works on Japan's Imperial Hotel, and eventually invents Lincoln Logs! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to...

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Nerf, Reyn Guyer. Follow the story of Guyer from his early collaboration inventing the game Twister, to the Nerf indoor ball, Nerf Football, and Nerf Blaster. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to...