Toy Trailblazers

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the innovators of the Slinky, the James family. Follow the story from Richard James's childhood and engineering education at Penn State University where he married Betty Mattas to his naval engineering career at William Cramp & Sons and the accident with a tension spring that led to Slinky. The Jameses founding of the Spring and Wire Company and its success with Slinky, the company's foundering, Richard's departure, and later success under Betty's leadership using one of the nation's most recognizable product jingles. Learn how Slinkys are made, who came up with the name, the role of the movie Toy Story in Slinky's success, and about other Slinky products. Sidebars, historic family photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the pioneer of Play-Doh, Joseph McVicker. Follow the story from McVicker's childhood, his education at Brown University, joining his father's company Kutol Products, and his reinvention of the company's Kutol Wall Cleaner as Play-Doh. Learn how Play-Doh is made, who came up with the name, the role of Captain Kanagroo in Play-Doh's success, and about other Play-Doh products. McVicker's family, retirement, and pursuits in examining life's big questions are covered. Sidebars, historic family photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the manufacturers of LEGO, the Kristiansen Family. Follow the family's story from Denmark where Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in his Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard to the company's evolution to the LEGO company. Christiansen and his sons Godtfred, Karl, and Gerhardt purchase a machine that makes plastic toys, and create the LEGO brick, and his grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen expands to LEGOLAND. Learn how LEGO bricks are made, who came up with the name, how the family name came to be spelled with a K, and about other LEGO Group products. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about Nintendo innovator Hiroshi Yamauchi. Follow the story of Yamauchi as he takes over his family's playing card manufacturing company and transforms it into the video game powerhouse responsible for Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, the Game Boy, and the WII. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Nerf, Reyn Guyer. Follow the story of Guyer from his early collaboration inventing the game Twister, to the Nerf indoor ball, Nerf Football, and Nerf Blaster. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Nerf, Reyn Guyer. Follow the story of Guyer from his early collaboration inventing the game Twister, to the Nerf indoor ball, Nerf Football, and Nerf Blaster. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Informative sidebars Table of contents Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of My Little Pony, Bonnie Zacherle. Follow the story of Zacherle from her early days as a greeting card illustrator to her development of My Pretty Pony and My Little Pony. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Informative sidebars Table of contents Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the manufacturers of LEGO, the Kristiansen Family. Follow the family's story from Denmark where Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in his Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard to the company's evolution to the LEGO company. Christiansen and his sons Godtfred, Karl, and Gerhardt purchase a machine that makes plastic toys, and create the LEGO brick, and his grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen expands to LEGOLAND. Learn how LEGO bricks are made, who came up with the name, how the family name came to be spelled with a K, and about other LEGO Group products. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Reviewed Table of contents Timeline of key events Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Lincoln Logs, John Lloyd Wright. Follow the story of Wright as he follows his famous father Frank Lloyd Wright into architecture, works on Japan's Imperial Hotel, and eventually invents Lincoln Logs! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Informative sidebars Table of contents Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the developer of the Monopoly board game, Charles B. Darrow. Follow the story of Darrow as he develops Monopoly from its roots as a tool to demonstrate the benefits of single tax through its evolution to the game we know today. Along the way readers will learn how Monopoly helped prisoners of war escape during World War II! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Reviewed Table of contents Timeline of key events Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the slime queen, Karina Garcia. Follow the story of Garcia as she creates a successful business teaching people how to make different types of slime and other crafts with her successful YouTube channel and her company Craft City. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Informative sidebars Table of contents Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Mr. Potato Head, George Lerner. Follow the story of Lerner as he takes Mr. Potato Head from its start as a cereal-box prize to a kit of pieces that kids stuck into real potatoes to the addition of Mrs. Potato Head and the entire Potato Head family to stardom in the movie Toy Story. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Reviewed Table of contents Timeline of key events Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of My Little Pony, Bonnie Zacherle. Follow the story of Zacherle from her early days as a greeting card illustrator to her development of My Pretty Pony and My Little Pony. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the builder of board games, Milton Bradley. Follow the story from Bradley's childhood, his early entrepreneurial work creating and selling stationery, his drafting education at Harvard, his first business creating and selling lithographs, and how these experiences came together when he formed the Milton Bradley Company and created the Game of Life. Bradley's family, retirement, and work producing educational materials to support the new movement in education called kindergarten are included. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the developer of the Barbie doll, Ruth Handler. Follow the story of Handler's early work with her husband Elliott making and selling plastic products, their collaboration with Harold Matson to form Mattel, Handler's inspiration for a new kind of doll, and the company's introduction of Barbie in 1959. Readers will follow Barbie's evolution through the ensuing decades as Handler continuously reinvented Barbie to appeal to new generations. Learn how Barbies are made, who came up with the name, the role of the Mickey Mouse Club in Barbie's success, and about other Mattel products. Handler's family and her retirement as president from Mattel and her subsequent work for cancer survivors with her new company Nearly Me is also covered. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the creators of Crayolas, cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. Follow their story from childhood, their early work at Edwin's father's Peekskill Chemical Works, and the company's evolution into the Binney & Smith Company. Binney and Smith create a wax pencil, slate pencils, and dustless chalk, culminating in the invention of the Crayola. Learn how Crayolas are made, who came up with the name, and about other Binney & Smith Company products. Binney and Smith families, retirements, and community contributions are included. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about Nintendo innovator Hiroshi Yamauchi. Follow the story of Yamauchi as he takes over his family's playing card manufacturing company and transforms it into the video game powerhouse responsible for Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, the Game Boy, and the WII. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Informative sidebars Table of contents Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the developer of the Barbie doll, Ruth Handler. Follow the story of Handler's early work with her husband Elliott making and selling plastic products, their collaboration with Harold Matson to form Mattel, Handler's inspiration for a new kind of doll, and the company's introduction of Barbie in 1959. Readers will follow Barbie's evolution through the ensuing decades as Handler continuously reinvented Barbie to appeal to new generations. Learn how Barbies are made, who came up with the name, the role of the Mickey Mouse Club in Barbie's success, and about other Mattel products. Handler's family and her retirement as president from Mattel and her subsequent work for cancer survivors with her new company Nearly Me is also covered. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Reviewed Table of contents Timeline of key events Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of the American Girl doll, Pleasant Rowland. Follow the story of Rowland as she creates American Girl from the original historical dolls to the updated American Girl of the Year and American Girl of Today to Truly Me and BeForever. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Glossary of key words Index Infographics Reviewed Table of contents Timeline of key events Learn about the incredible innovators of some of the world's most popular toys with Toy Trailblazers. Each engaging, fact-packed biography gives the life story of a famous toy's inventor, including information about the inventor's childhood and early career, how he or she invented the famous toy, and how it came to be as popular and influential as it is today. Full-color and historic black-and-white photos bring the world of toys to life for young readers. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.