Many Worlds, One Li-Bro-rian

  Wittenstein, B. (2018) The Boo-Boos That Changed The World : A true story about an accidental invention (really!). Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge This book is about the invention of the most important medical advancement in history: The Band-Aid!   Earle Dickson was a cotton buyer for Johnson and Johnson.   His wife was an accident-prone homemaker.   When Earle continuously came home to an injured wife, he knew he had to do something.   That something led to the invention of the Band-Aid! A really fun book, with a really true history lesson.   The story is written in a humorous way that makes you want to keep reading (even with the multiple fake endings).   This is a great book for anyone who likes to learn fun facts, read silly stories, or likes Band-Aids!

Abadzis, N. (2007) Laika . New York, NY: First Second Sergei Pavlovich is a "man of destiny".  He's destined to send the first artificial satellite into orbit around the earth.  Kudryavka is a dog of destiny.  She's destined to be the first cosmonaut.  Though both individuals begin their lives with their fair share of hardship, they both end up entangled in the titanic endeavor of the space race.  When they finally meet, Pavlovich renames her "Laika".  This story follows both of them and their ultimate destinies. This book is a great example of well told historical narrative.  Abadzis does his homework and gets you a much more complete story of Laika then what most of the world knows.  Though I knew the ultimate fate of little Kudryacka, I was still pretty sad when it ended.  Nonetheless, I still feel enriched about there story and feel I learned quite a bit.

Stone, T. (2015) The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie .   New York, NY: Penguin Group This nonfiction book tells the story of Barbie and her impact on the world.   The book begins with Barbie’s creator Ruth Handler.   Her parents emigrated from Poland and she was their tenth child, one of the only to be born in America.    At six months she went to live with her 20 year old sister because of a medical condition of her mother’s.   There she stayed and was raised.   She was always a strong, willful person who made it her mission to do what others told her was impossible.   She later moved to Los Angeles with her newly wed husband, Elliot Handler. The first started a company called Elzac which made jewelry and furniture.   That fell through when Elliot and his partner Zach Zemby had a disagreement with how to run the company.   After that they started a toy company called Mattel with friend Matt Matson.   They became very succe...