George Ferris: What a Wheel (Grosset & Dunlap, 2014) is the tale of a bridge-building engineer named George Ferris who, as a child, was captivated by the repetitive turning of a waterwheel. This childhood memory served as inspiration for the much anticipated debut of his Ferris Wheel, the highlight of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. It’s a story of vision, struggle, danger, bull-dogged determination, and, ultimately, sheer delight!

Author Barbara Lowell’s well-researched, emotionally rich text paired with Jerry Hoare’s engaging illustrations and enhanced historical photos captures the imagination of any young reader with an inquiring mind. George Ferris: What a Wheel is part of the Penguin Core Concepts series, published with the intent to expose children to a diverse range of literary and informative texts.