Just Like Rube Goldberg

By Sarah Aronson, Robert Neubecker (Illustrator)

Engineer defies expectations to become a celebrated cartoonist and inventor.

5.3/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 608 ratings

48 pages· 902 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

$19.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Rube Goldberg, pressured to pursue engineering, dreams of art and invention. Defying his father's wishes, he starts at a newspaper, crafting whimsical cartoons and intricate machines. His creations captivate audiences, earning him a Pulitzer Prize and a place in the dictionary. Will Rube's journey inspire others to follow their passions despite obstacles?

From the publisher

Discover how Rube Goldberg followed his dreams to become an award-winning cartoonist, inventor, and even an adjective in the dictionary in this inspiring and funny biographical picture book.

Want to become an award-winning cartoonist and inventor? Follow your dreams, just like Rube Goldberg! From a young age, Rube Goldberg had a talent for art. But his father, a German immigrant, wanted Rube to have a secure job. So, Rube went to college and became an engineer.

But Rube didn’t want to spend his life mapping sewer pipes. He wanted to follow his passion, so Rube got a low-level job at a newspaper, and from there, he worked his way up, creating cartoons that made people laugh and tickled the imagination. He became known for his fantastic Rube Goldberg machines—complicated contraptions with many parts that performed a simple task in an elaborate and farfetched way. Eventually, his cartoons earned him a Pulitzer Prize and his own adjective in the dictionary. This moving biography is sure to encourage young artists and inventors to pursue their passions.

At a glance