Books like Whoosh! by Chris Barton

Chris Barton’s story spans his early years in Alabama and his career as a NASA engineer, highlighting the ingenuity and perseverance that culminated in the accidental invention of the Super Soaker water gun. The narrative explores how his background as an African‑American inventor shaped his approach to problem solving and technology development, and how a simple childhood fascination with propulsion eventually translated into a commercially successful toy. The book offers insights into Barton's inventive process, the challenges he faced as a minority engineer in the aerospace field, and the impact of his creation on popular culture and children’s play. Readers gain a deeper appreciation of the intersection between scientific innovation and everyday life in the life of a pioneering African‑American inventor.

First publish date: 2016