The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!) - Hardcover

Wittenstein, Barry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580897452 ISBN 13: 9781580897457

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2018

Synopsis

Did you know Band-Aids were invented by accident?! And that they weren't mass-produced until the Boy Scouts gave their seal of approval?

1920s cotton buyer Earle Dickson worked for Johnson & Johnson and had a klutzy wife who often cut herself. The son of a doctor, Earle set out to create an easier way for her to bandage her injuries. Band-Aids were born, but Earle's bosses at the pharmaceutical giant weren't convinced, and it wasn't until the Boy Scouts of America tested Earle's prototype that this ubiquitous household staple was made available to the public. Soon Band-Aids were selling like hotcakes, and the rest is boo-boo history.

"Appealingly designed and illustrated, an engaging, fun story" — Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW

About this title

About the Author

Barry Wittenstein has worked at CBS Records, CBS News, and was a web editor and writer for Major League Baseball. He is now an elementary-school substitute teacher and children's author. He is the author of Waiting for Pumpsie.

Chris Hsu is a classically-trained and versatile artist who has worked in greeting card illustration, advertising, and animation. He is currently a background artist on the animated FX spy comedy Archer. The Boo-Boos That Changed the World is Chris's first picture book.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Once upon a time, in 1917 actually, a cotton buyer named Earle Dickson married his beloved, Josephine, and they lived happily ever after. THE END.

Actually, that was just the beginning.
The newlyweds expected to live a quiet life in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Instead, Earle and Josephine ended up changing the world, one boo-boo at a time. 
You see, Josephine was accident prone. She often bumped and bruised herself while working around the house. But that was nothing compared to how often she injured herself in the kitchen.

OUCH! When she sliced and diced an onion, she sometimes sliced her finger, too.

BOO-HOO! When she grated cheese, she sometimes grated her knuckle.

ARGH! When she lifted a hot pot off the stove, she sometimes burned her hand. 

After Josephine winced in pain, she quickly grabbed a rag to stop the bleeding.
But with bulky towels between her fingers, it was even harder for Josephine to hold a knife. She became even more accident prone. Impossible, you say? It’s true. Josephine’s klutziness had become a bloody problem! 

Every night when Earle came home from work, he looked forward to talking with Josephine and eating the wonderful meal she had prepared. That was until he saw his beloved’s hands. Yikes! Her cuts might get infected. He had to help his new bride.

Earle’s father was a doctor, so Earle knew a little bit about boo-boos and bandages. And luckily he worked for a company that manufactured hospital supplies. Earle knew there had to be a solution. But what was it?

About this edition

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1580897452
• ISBN 13: 9781580897457
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Hsu Chris