Just Like Rube Goldberg by Sarah Aronson

You've probably heard of Rube Goldberg machines, which are machines designed to perform a simple task in a very complicated way. But who was Rube Goldberg and how did his name come to be attached to this kind of contraption? Just Like Rube Goldberg is a picture book that answers both of those questions. Rube Goldberg was an American cartoonist who drew cartoons of fantastical machines completing simple tasks like killing a mosquito or licking a postage stamp. Eventually these machines came to be called Rube Goldberg machines.

Rube Goldberg was a quiet, shy boy who loved to draw. He dreamed of becoming a cartoonist for a big newspaper but this idea did not make his father happy. Rube's father was concerned that his son would end up impoverished. To make his father happy, Rube enrolled in engineering at the University of California at Berkeley. After graduation he worked for the City of San Francisco's Department of Water and Sewers. The work was not appealing to Rube and he quit after six months.

He decided to pursue his passion even if it meant starting at the bottom. Rube got a job as a janitor at the San Francisco Chronicle. While holding down this job, Rube kept drawing cartoons and submitted them to the editor. Occasionally, Rube's cartoons were accepted but most were rejected.A year later Rube was working for the sports department at the San Francisco Bulletin.

In 1906, San Francisco was destroyed by a strong earthquake and the resulting fire. Rube decided to move to New York City where he found a job as a cartoonist with the New York Evening Mail.He was on his way to becoming one of the most popular cartoonists of his era. Soon he created his alter ego, Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts, intricate machine inventor extraordinaire. It was these machines that came to be known as Rube Goldberg machines.

Discussion

Just Like Rube Goldberg is a fascinating and entertaining account of cartoonist Rube Goldberg and how he came to create intricate, impractical machines now known as Rube Goldberg machines. Aronson tells the story of Rube Goldberg's life with a touch of humour.  The overarching message however, is about pursuing your passion and persevering in that quest. It's about never giving up until you reach your goal and in Rube's case, it was becoming a cartoonist for a major newspaper. Rube wanted to please his father, an immigrant from Germany who wanted his son to be successful. His attempt at a career in engineering failed, and he wisely decided to pursue his passion. He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, and today making "Rube Goldberg machines" is a popular STEM activity.

Accompanying Sarah Aronson's text are Robert Neubecker's cartoon styled illustrations rendered in pencil, ink and digitally enhanced. A wonderful picture book for those children interested in science, art, and building. Also useful in STEAM programs.

Book Details:

Just Like Rube Goldbery by Sarah Aronson