Review of The Boo-Boos That Changed the World by Barry Wittenstein

The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, a 2019-2020 Bluebonnet nominee, is a nonfiction picture storybook about the invention of the Band-Aid. Band-Aids are common items that most people never think twice about; you get a cut, slather on some antibiotic cream and cover the wound with a Band-Aid. But the story of the invention of the Band-Aid is a fascinating one, and it all began with Earle Dickson and his accident-prone wife, Josephine. Josephine was always getting hurt, especially while working in the kitchen. Earle worried about her wounds getting infected, so he devised a bandage that was easily applied with one hand. After much tinkering and some well-planned-out advertising, the Band-Aid was born!

Image

Image of The Boo-Boos That Changed the Word by Barry Wittenstein; Hsu, C. (2018). [Cover image of The boo-boos that changed the world]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35150280-the-boo-boos-that-changed-the-world

Evaluation

In The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, author Barry Wittenstein makes the story of the invention of the Band-Aid both informative and entertaining. He draws a line in the sand and repeats the phrase “The End” several times throughout the story to encourage the reader to make predictions and keep reading. In fact, on the very first page of the story, Wittenstein (2018) writes: “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” (p. 1). Of course, the reader knows that the story does not end on page 1, so we keep reading to find out more. The author “ends” the story three more times: after Earle invents ready-made bandages, after the Band-Aids are produced by Johnson & Johnson, and then again as they fly off the shelves. Of course, the reader knows there is more to the story and knows that Wittenstein is drawing a line in the sand to keep us on our toes. The repetition of “The end” in what is clearly the middle of the story is also amusing and keeps the reader engaged and wanting to find out how the story actually ends.

The illustrations by Chris Hsu are done in mixed media and Photoshop and really help establish the setting for The Boo-Boos That Changed the World. The story begins in 1917 when Earle and Josephine Dickson have just gotten married. The illustrations depict everything from the clothing and vehicles to games of the early twentieth century. A two-page spread at the beginning of the book shows a quiet street scene in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where the newlyweds have settled. An old-fashioned car motors down the street, a milkman carries milk to the homes on the street, and a Rhapsody soda truck is making deliveries. All of these show readers what the 1910s and 1920s looked like in America. Later, once Band-Aids are being mass produced, the illustrations show what the early wrappers looked like; the original wrapper included a red string that you would pull to open the package. Young students may not be familiar with this time period, so Hsu’s illustrations allow the reader to more completely picture the setting.

The main purpose of the illustrations in The Boo-Boos That Changed the World is to reinforce the text. The author describes the manufacturing process as being “a slower-than-slow process” (Wittenstein, 2018, p. 17) that was done by hand, and the accompanying illustrations show exactly how the bandages were made. Sterile gauze is glued on a piece of adhesive tape and then covered with crinoline. Hsu’s illustrations show the reader just how long and arduous the entire process was. At the end of the book, the success of the Band-Aid is shown as a picture of the globe surrounded by words that indicate pain, such as “AHIA! WHAA! and Ouch!” (Wittenstein, 2018, pp. 24-25). Hsu takes the sounds from the text and places the cries of pain around the world, showing us that everyone gets hurt and reinforcing the idea that a simple Band-Aid can ease the pain. Throughout the book, the illustrations help the reader visualize the story.

Response

As I read The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, I thought about the numerous Band-Aids that are stashed in cabinets all around my house, thanks to my rough-and-tumble boys who are constantly getting scrapes, scratches and cuts. Unfortunately, I often need Band-Aids as well, since I, like Josephine, have had my fair share of burns and cuts while handling hot pots and sharp knives. Though Band-Aids can be found in numerous spots throughout my home, I have always taken them for granted and had absolutely no idea how Band-Aids were invented. The Boo-Boos That Changed the World tells the story of the invention of the Band-Aid in an almost whimsical manner, making the text both entertaining and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and think that the text and illustrations pair perfectly to tell this story in a manner that will grab the attention of kids and adults alike.

Conclusion

The Boo-Boos That Changed the World is a perfect example of narrative nonfiction, which shares important facts in an engaging way. The author uses the techniques of drawing a line in the sand and repeating the phrase “The end” before the story actually ends as both humor and a way to encourage the reader to make predictions. The illustrations fit the story perfectly; the pictures establish the setting and reinforce the text, allowing the reader to more fully understand what the early twentieth century looked like. I really enjoyed the book and thought it was an excellent example of narrative nonfiction for young students. I recommend this book to students aged 4-8; fans of Whoosh! by Chris Barton and Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet will love learning about the invention of the Band-Aid. 4 stars.

Citations

Barton, C. (2016). Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s super-soaking stream of inventions. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Hsu, C. (2018). [Cover image of The boo-boos that changed the world]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35150280-the-boo-boos-that-changed-the-world

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s parade. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Wittenstein, B. (2018). The boo-boos that changed the word: A true story about an accidental invention (really!). Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.