Illustrated by Don Tate
A Junior Library Guild selection
Included on the 2017-18 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List and 20 other state reading lists
Starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly

Also available in Spanish (¡Fushhh!)
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.
32 pages
Ages 7-10
2016
Charlesbridge
ISBN: 9781580892971
Named one of the best children’s books of the year by:
- American Booksellers Association
- American Society for Engineering Education, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, the National Science Teachers Association, the Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees and the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
- Bank Street College of Education
- Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature
- Chicago Public Library
- Denver Public Library
- International Literacy Association and the CBC
- Kirkus Reviews
- Nerdy Book Club
- New York Public Library
- Parents

Praise for Whoosh!
Honors
Other Links
Alcalde: July|August 2016 Alumni Authors
American Association for the Advancement of Science: Summer Reading: Invention and Innovation
Book-It Repertory Theatre: Announcing the Arts and Education 2017-2018 Touring Shows!
Booklist: Core Collection: Picture-Book Biographies of Scientists
Booklist: Classroom Connections: Overlooked Inventors and Their Notable Inventions
The Booklist Reader: Super-Soaked Summer Fun with Scientist Lonnie Johnson
CBS News: Making a big splash with the Super Soaker
Celebrate Picture Books: National Inventors Month: Whoosh!
Charlesbridge: Encouraging Inspiration and Invention: The WHOOSH! Backstory
The Children’s Book Council: Black Lives Matter
Colours of Us: 40 Best Multicultural Picture Books of 2016
Don Tate: Illustrating Lonnie Johnson’s story, Whoosh!
Don Tate: Whoosh! Research and texting with Lonnie Johnson
A Fuse #8 Production:31 Days, 31 Lists: Day 24 — 2016 Science and Nature Books for Kids
A Fuse #8 Production:31 Days, 31 Lists: Day 27 — 2016 Nonfiction Picture Books
Here Wee Read: 55 of the Best Diverse Picture and Board Books of 2016
The Horn Book: 2017 Summer Reading: Easy Readers and Primary Grades
Junior Library Guild: Sofa Secrets with Chris Barton and Don Tate
Kid Lit Frenzy: Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday
Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook: Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday – My 2016 Favorites
Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook: Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday 5.11.16 Super Soakers!
NBC News: Super Soaker Inventor Takes Aim at Funding High School Robotics Teams
The New York Times: Talking to Kids About Racism, Early and Often
The Nonfiction Detectives: The Best Nonfiction Books of 2016
Pernille Ripp: My Favorite Picture Books of 2016
Publishers Weekly: A Day of Accolades at Bank Street
PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Chris Barton
PW ShelfTalker: A Joyful Diversity Collection
Scholastic: 50 Sensational Books of Summer
School Library Journal: 39 Titles To Round Out Any Maker Program
Smithsonian Institution Lemelson Center: Innovative Lives: Lonnie Johnson
TeachingBooks: Meet-the-Author Book Reading