A cool idea with a big splash!

You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of the top twenty toys of all time. And it was an accidental discovery that brought it into being. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.

A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity were present in Lonnie Johnson’s early life. Growing up in a house full of siblings, Lonnie demonstrated persistence and a passion for problem solving that became the cornerstone of his career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is Lonnie’s invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made the most memorable splash in popular culture.

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions was written by me, illustrated by Don Tate, and published in 2016 by Charlesbridge. There’s lots more information about the book just a click away, but what else would you like to know about it?

Any Whoosh-related who, what, when, where, why, or hows that you’re eager to find out? Just click on “Comment(s)” in the line below, ask me just about anything, and I’ll do my best to answer.