Gizmos, Gadgets, and Guitars

Picture biography, 40 pages. Audience: 1st - 4th grades.Published in 2021 by Henry Holt & Company.

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He Always Thought He Could Do Better

Leo Fender, the creator of the Telecastor and Stratocaster guitars, was blind in one eye and couldn't read music. Yet, his solid-body electric guitars inspired a generation of rock-n-roll guitarists such as Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix - to name a few.

How? Fender persevered and never quite believed his work was finished - he always thought he could do better.

Leo Fender is a remarkable hero and many of our kiddos need encouragement to never give up on their passions. Perseverance requires a strong vision, an equally strong will, and the flexibility to keep on tinkering or trying new ways to accomplish their goals.

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Making it Real

Steve Salerno's illustrations give Gizmos, Gadgets, and Guitars an entertaining graphic novel feel to Leo Fender's life's story. Budding tinkerers and musicians will appreciate follow-up activities.

• Carrots are Orange's How to Tinker With Kids offers a number of suggestions for reverse engineering and building projects perfect for kiddos and their parents. (They also mention a few books specifically about tinkering which I need to review - they look fascinating!) 
• How Stuff Works combines music fun with tinkering with a list of activities to make and use musical instruments from items around your house in Music Activities for Kids.
  

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