Henry Ford for Kids

An in-depth and realistic portrait of the man who “put America on wheels”
 
Detailing Henry Ford’s childhood as a precocious farm-boy mechanic, his revolutionary labor and production ideas, and the lasting legacy of his widespread philanthropy, author Ronald A. Reis also does not shy away from his eccentricities. The issues that stirred controversy are discussed, such as the industrialist’s anti-Semitic views and his pacifist beliefs. Packed with historic photos and illuminating sidebars, Henry Ford for Kids brings the turn of the 20th century to life, touching on related topics such as the popularity of “auto polo,” the Great War, and the life of industrial architect Albert Kahn. Twenty-one hands-on activities encourage budding innovators to apply engineering and production ideas and learn more about the era as kids will build a lemon-powered battery, make a moving assembly line, learn to dance the waltz, design an automobile dashboard, and much more.

“Though biographies of Ford are as mass-produced as, well, Fords, this one will leave readers with a particularly strong impression of how complex, even enigmatic, a man he was.” —Kirkus Reviews

"This straightforward, even-handed biography of Henry Ford balances a description of his extraordinary success as an automobile maker with the darker aspects of his personal and professional life." —School Library Journal

“This entry in the broad-ranging For Kids series does an impressive job of offering a multidimensional perspective on a giant of industry. —Booklist

“[Henry Ford for Kids] provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the subject matter, adds fun and informative activities, and treats history as it should be treated: without misleading filters that glamorize and/or obfuscate the truth.” —Rhapsody in Books

Ronald A. Reis is the author of Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration for Kids, The US Congress for Kids, and more than a dozen other nonfiction books for young adults. His biography of Buffalo Bill Cody won the 2011 Spur Award for the best juvenile nonfiction biography about the west. He has taught at the middle school, high school, and community college level and is former technology department chair at Los Angeles Valley College, where he now teaches electronics part-time. He lives in Calabasas, California.