Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/15/2024 A whirligig, a wind-powered contraption often made out of random objects, is a thing of wonder. Imagine an entire park filled with spinning whirligigs offering inspiration for young artists, sculptors, and engineers. Vollis Simpson grew up on a farm and was, from early childhood through running his own machine repair shop as an adult, always tinkering, fixing, and improving vehicles and appliances. An injury led to early retirement and boredom. That’s when he started repurposing other people’s junk and began fashioning fantastic little machines that eventually evolved into whirligigs. His inventions got bigger and more ambitious, and tourists and schoolkids started coming to see his creations. Despite off-site commissions (the Atlanta Olympics, the Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore), his whirligigs eventually overwhelmed his property. Local officials came to the rescue, and now there’s a museum and whirligig park in Wilson, North Carolina, honoring Simpson. This engaging story moves along at a good clip, and the whimsical illustrations in bright primary colors effectively evoke energy and movement. This makes a great addition for STEAM collections. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.