{"id":8469130412269,"title":"Bounce","handle":"bounce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eBounce!\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Scientific History of Rubber\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eSarah Albee\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/eileen-ryan-ewen\"\u003eEileen Ryan Ewen\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEver wondered what makes rubber bounce?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith sidebars, graphics, fun facts, and more, the history of rubber reveals plenty of fascinating secrets and surprises. Elementary school readers will discover that early balls didn't bounce; that people in the rainforest made waterproof gear from rubber thousands of years before Europeans got into the act; and that sneakers, bicycles, and cars created demand for more and more rubber!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack matter includes a time line and a bit about the complicated implications of harvesting rubber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/whoosh-lonnie-johnsons-super-soaking-stream-of-inventions\"\u003eWhoosh!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/flip-how-the-frisbee-took-flight\"\u003eFlip!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/bounce-spread.png?v=1709846021\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/bounce-cover.jpg?v=1709846020\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/bounce-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1709846025\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah Albee, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSarah Albee is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 100 books for kids, including \u003cem\u003eTroublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAccidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries.\u003c\/em\u003e Prior to being a full-time writer, Sarah worked at Children’s Television Workshop (producers of Sesame Street) for nine years. She played basketball in college, and then a year of semi-professional women’s basketball in Cairo, Egypt. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sarah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEileen Ryan Ewen, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEileen Ryan Ewen is the illustrator of many books for children, including \u003cem\u003eH is for Honey Bee, Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous Scandalous Shockingly Sensational Umbrella, \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eNature’s Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/eileen-ryan-ewen\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Eileen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow a natural goo with miraculous properties flexed its way into sports, technology, and our daily lives.\u003cbr\u003eComing from cultures where the best balls available were stuffed with feathers or dried peas, 16th-century Europeans were likely astonished at seeing the bouncy latex ones in use in the American lands they were plundering. A few centuries later, the rubbery stuff was making up everything from boots to balloons, rubber bands to rubber duckies—especially after Charles Goodyear in the U.S. and Thomas Hancock in England simultaneously figured out how to stabilize, or “vulcanize,” it, and later scientists concocted synthetic versions. Albee expands on this story, giving full credit to the Indigenous peoples who first discovered latex and used it, and also forthrightly acknowledging that expanding demand for the natural product has subsequently led to widespread human rights violations and environmental problems. In seamlessly interwoven scientific digressions, she digs into the chemistry of polymers and of vulcanization, explains how rubber can float (or not), and why a rubber tire (which is “basically a huge, tire-shaped molecule”) grips the road so well. Ewen reflects the narrative’s effervescence with views of diverse groups of modern children, prim European figures in 19th-century dress, and Indigenous athletes, all exercising vigorously in pools, upon bicycles, or on various playing fields.\u003cbr\u003eAlbee plainly has a ball, and readers will, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes rubber so bouncy? How does it stretch, or repel water? Albee explores this unusual substance, starting with its development by indigenous tribes in South America. The Spanish were intrigued by the rubber balls they saw used during games, and soon people were finding uses for rubber around the globe, from raincoats to erasers. Simultaneous discoveries by Charles Goodyear in America and Thomas Hancock in England led to a stronger, more stable rubber, which resulted in even more uses for the unusual substance. In addition to telling the history of rubber, Albee explains the science behind rubber and its unusual properties. Ewan’s pen, ink and watercolor pictures make the scientific explanations easier to understand, and whimsically illustrate rubber’s bouncy history. Back matter includes a timeline, selected bibliography, and an author’s note explaining some of rubber’s unfortunate effects on the environment and indigenous cultures. Curious readers and young scientists will enjoy this scientific and historical exploration of a familiar substance. This would make an excellent read aloud in older science classrooms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-379-2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6–9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 48\u003cbr\u003e9\u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2 \u003c\/sub\u003ex 9\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: October 22, 2024\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-04-25T14:42:41-04:00","created_at":"2024-03-18T10:29:37-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature"],"price":1899,"price_min":1899,"price_max":1899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":45459875430637,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"43792","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":40014321549549,"product_id":8469130412269,"position":1,"created_at":"2024-03-18T10:34:31-04:00","updated_at":"2024-03-18T10:34:33-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":601,"src":"\/\/www.imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/bounce-cover_276dab89-d4db-4be8-9d9f-398588854b25.jpg?v=1710772473","variant_ids":[45459875430637]},"available":true,"name":"Bounce - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1899,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623543792","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":32661851767021,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.998,"height":601,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/bounce-cover_276dab89-d4db-4be8-9d9f-398588854b25.jpg?v=1710772473"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/bounce-cover_276dab89-d4db-4be8-9d9f-398588854b25.jpg?v=1710772473"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/bounce-cover_276dab89-d4db-4be8-9d9f-398588854b25.jpg?v=1710772473","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":32661851767021,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.998,"height":601,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/bounce-cover_276dab89-d4db-4be8-9d9f-398588854b25.jpg?v=1710772473"},"aspect_ratio":0.998,"height":601,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/bounce-cover_276dab89-d4db-4be8-9d9f-398588854b25.jpg?v=1710772473","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch1\u003eBounce!\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Scientific History of Rubber\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eSarah Albee\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/eileen-ryan-ewen\"\u003eEileen Ryan Ewen\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEver wondered what makes rubber bounce?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith sidebars, graphics, fun facts, and more, the history of rubber reveals plenty of fascinating secrets and surprises. Elementary school readers will discover that early balls didn't bounce; that people in the rainforest made waterproof gear from rubber thousands of years before Europeans got into the act; and that sneakers, bicycles, and cars created demand for more and more rubber!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack matter includes a time line and a bit about the complicated implications of harvesting rubber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/whoosh-lonnie-johnsons-super-soaking-stream-of-inventions\"\u003eWhoosh!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/flip-how-the-frisbee-took-flight\"\u003eFlip!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/bounce-spread.png?v=1709846021\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/bounce-cover.jpg?v=1709846020\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/bounce-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1709846025\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah Albee, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSarah Albee is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 100 books for kids, including \u003cem\u003eTroublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAccidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries.\u003c\/em\u003e Prior to being a full-time writer, Sarah worked at Children’s Television Workshop (producers of Sesame Street) for nine years. She played basketball in college, and then a year of semi-professional women’s basketball in Cairo, Egypt. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sarah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEileen Ryan Ewen, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEileen Ryan Ewen is the illustrator of many books for children, including \u003cem\u003eH is for Honey Bee, Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous Scandalous Shockingly Sensational Umbrella, \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eNature’s Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/eileen-ryan-ewen\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Eileen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow a natural goo with miraculous properties flexed its way into sports, technology, and our daily lives.\u003cbr\u003eComing from cultures where the best balls available were stuffed with feathers or dried peas, 16th-century Europeans were likely astonished at seeing the bouncy latex ones in use in the American lands they were plundering. A few centuries later, the rubbery stuff was making up everything from boots to balloons, rubber bands to rubber duckies—especially after Charles Goodyear in the U.S. and Thomas Hancock in England simultaneously figured out how to stabilize, or “vulcanize,” it, and later scientists concocted synthetic versions. Albee expands on this story, giving full credit to the Indigenous peoples who first discovered latex and used it, and also forthrightly acknowledging that expanding demand for the natural product has subsequently led to widespread human rights violations and environmental problems. In seamlessly interwoven scientific digressions, she digs into the chemistry of polymers and of vulcanization, explains how rubber can float (or not), and why a rubber tire (which is “basically a huge, tire-shaped molecule”) grips the road so well. Ewen reflects the narrative’s effervescence with views of diverse groups of modern children, prim European figures in 19th-century dress, and Indigenous athletes, all exercising vigorously in pools, upon bicycles, or on various playing fields.\u003cbr\u003eAlbee plainly has a ball, and readers will, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes rubber so bouncy? How does it stretch, or repel water? Albee explores this unusual substance, starting with its development by indigenous tribes in South America. The Spanish were intrigued by the rubber balls they saw used during games, and soon people were finding uses for rubber around the globe, from raincoats to erasers. Simultaneous discoveries by Charles Goodyear in America and Thomas Hancock in England led to a stronger, more stable rubber, which resulted in even more uses for the unusual substance. In addition to telling the history of rubber, Albee explains the science behind rubber and its unusual properties. Ewan’s pen, ink and watercolor pictures make the scientific explanations easier to understand, and whimsically illustrate rubber’s bouncy history. Back matter includes a timeline, selected bibliography, and an author’s note explaining some of rubber’s unfortunate effects on the environment and indigenous cultures. Curious readers and young scientists will enjoy this scientific and historical exploration of a familiar substance. This would make an excellent read aloud in older science classrooms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-379-2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6–9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 48\u003cbr\u003e9\u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2 \u003c\/sub\u003ex 9\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: October 22, 2024\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e"}

Bounce

Bounce!

A Scientific History of Rubber

By: Sarah Albee / Illustrated by: Eileen Ryan Ewen

Ever wondered what makes rubber bounce?

With sidebars, graphics, fun facts, and more, the history of rubber reveals plenty of fascinating secrets and surprises. Elementary school readers will discover that early balls didn't bounce; that people in the rainforest made waterproof gear from rubber thousands of years before Europeans got into the act; and that sneakers, bicycles, and cars created demand for more and more rubber!

Back matter includes a time line and a bit about the complicated implications of harvesting rubber.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Sarah Albee, author

Sarah Albee is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 100 books for kids, including Troublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done and Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries. Prior to being a full-time writer, Sarah worked at Children’s Television Workshop (producers of Sesame Street) for nine years. She played basketball in college, and then a year of semi-professional women’s basketball in Cairo, Egypt. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Read more about Sarah.


Eileen Ryan Ewen, illustrator

Eileen Ryan Ewen is the illustrator of many books for children, including H is for Honey Bee, Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous Scandalous Shockingly Sensational Umbrella, and Nature’s Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story.

Read more about Eileen.

  • Coming soon!

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

How a natural goo with miraculous properties flexed its way into sports, technology, and our daily lives.
Coming from cultures where the best balls available were stuffed with feathers or dried peas, 16th-century Europeans were likely astonished at seeing the bouncy latex ones in use in the American lands they were plundering. A few centuries later, the rubbery stuff was making up everything from boots to balloons, rubber bands to rubber duckies—especially after Charles Goodyear in the U.S. and Thomas Hancock in England simultaneously figured out how to stabilize, or “vulcanize,” it, and later scientists concocted synthetic versions. Albee expands on this story, giving full credit to the Indigenous peoples who first discovered latex and used it, and also forthrightly acknowledging that expanding demand for the natural product has subsequently led to widespread human rights violations and environmental problems. In seamlessly interwoven scientific digressions, she digs into the chemistry of polymers and of vulcanization, explains how rubber can float (or not), and why a rubber tire (which is “basically a huge, tire-shaped molecule”) grips the road so well. Ewen reflects the narrative’s effervescence with views of diverse groups of modern children, prim European figures in 19th-century dress, and Indigenous athletes, all exercising vigorously in pools, upon bicycles, or on various playing fields.
Albee plainly has a ball, and readers will, too.

Children's Literature

What makes rubber so bouncy? How does it stretch, or repel water? Albee explores this unusual substance, starting with its development by indigenous tribes in South America. The Spanish were intrigued by the rubber balls they saw used during games, and soon people were finding uses for rubber around the globe, from raincoats to erasers. Simultaneous discoveries by Charles Goodyear in America and Thomas Hancock in England led to a stronger, more stable rubber, which resulted in even more uses for the unusual substance. In addition to telling the history of rubber, Albee explains the science behind rubber and its unusual properties. Ewan’s pen, ink and watercolor pictures make the scientific explanations easier to understand, and whimsically illustrate rubber’s bouncy history. Back matter includes a timeline, selected bibliography, and an author’s note explaining some of rubber’s unfortunate effects on the environment and indigenous cultures. Curious readers and young scientists will enjoy this scientific and historical exploration of a familiar substance. This would make an excellent read aloud in older science classrooms.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-379-2

Ages: 6–9
Page count: 48
91/2 x 91/2

Publication date: October 22, 2024