Mr. Ferris and His Wheel
What’s inside...
Mr. Ferris and His Wheel is a picture-book biography that tells how young civil engineer George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. answered the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair challenge to “out-Eiffel” the Eiffel Tower. Battling skeptics, money troubles, and a brutal Chicago winter, Ferris designed and built the world’s first Ferris Wheel—a 264-foot, 26-story marvel that safely lifted thousands of amazed visitors high above the fairgrounds. Kathryn Gibbs Davis’s lively narrative and Gilbert Ford’s bold illustrations celebrate ingenuity, perseverance, and the power of one person’s big idea to change the skyline—and the world.
Age
5-9
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.
Daniel Hudson Burnham
Discussion points
Why did many people doubt Ferris’s idea?
What problems did the builders face in winter?
How do today’s inventions start with big dreams?
What qualities helped Ferris succeed?
Tip: Role play these questions
Build a paper wheel or LEGO model together after reading.
Visit a local fair ride and compare it with Ferris’s original.
Encourage children to sketch their own tall invention.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Ferris keeps revising plans despite rejection.
Real-World Application: Children can keep trying when a project doesn’t work first time.
Example Lesson: Creative problem-solving
Explanation: Innovative wheel design solves height challenge.
Real-World Application: Brainstorm multiple ways to overcome homework obstacles.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Engineers, steelworkers, and financiers collaborate.
Real-World Application: Listening to classmates’ ideas improves group assignments.