ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

While most books on inventors tell relatively straightforward stories, Muirhead searched for the originator of the Frisbee and found multiple answers. Students at certain New England colleges and universities started tossing upside-down Frisbie-brand pie tins in the 1920s. Those institutions, which proudly claim bragging rights, are mentioned in this book. But Fred Morrison stands in the spotlight, initially as a California high-school student tossing a popcorn-can lid in 1937 to Lu, his future wife and unwavering supporter. After WWII, he attempted to sell a plastic disc that sometimes shattered, and then an improved model that worked well. And when the Wham-O company bought his design, modified it, and renamed it, the Frisbee really took off. Writing with an informal, amiable tone, Muirhead portrays Morrison as a man with a practical approach and an unwavering enthusiasm for his flying disc. Gustavson's gouache paintings help viewers imagine bygone eras, while his lively depiction of individuals gives each one a distinctive look. This inviting picture book introduces Fred Morrison as the resourceful, persistent man behind the Frisbee.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Stories of inventions usually have a single starting point. But when it comes to the origin of the flying disc, more than one individual has a claim. Muirhead's text provides a few possible answers but focuses on the one individual with enough entrepreneurial gumption to create the product seen flying through the air at beaches and parks today. In 1937, California high schooler Fred Morrison happened to be tossing a flat popcorn lid with his girlfriend. Something about the way the lid flew grabbed hold of Morrison, and soon the lid was replaced by a better-flying cake pan. Muirhead describes the many iterations of Morrison's invention, from five-cent cake pans sold at the beach for a quarter to specially designed and molded plastics that led to the durable Frisbee we know today. Gustavson's gouache illustrations (a bit static-looking for capturing the excitement of a disc's gliding flight) allude to Norman Rockwell's Americana style while effectively situating readers in pre- and post-World War II settings. An author's note and sources are appended. Fans of Barton and Tate's Whoosh! (rev. 7/16) and McCarthy's Earmuffs for Everyone! will flip for this unique invention tale. Eric Carpenter

Kirkus Reviews

Where do new ideas come from?No one knows exactly who created the flying disc. Was it cavekids who flung round rocks? Ancient Greeks who threw the first discus? 1920s New England college students who flew empty pie plates made by a baker named Frisbie? Or was it high school football player Fred Morrison, who started tossing the lids of popcorn tins in 1937? One thing is certain: Fred Morrison became entranced with the idea of a flying disc and was convinced that it could succeed. Zippy, well-paced text teeming with consonance and energetic, engaging retro-style illustrations trace Morrison's development of the toy. After pursuing several prototypes, bouncing back from failure, partnering with his wife, and blending the idea with the space craze of the late '40s and '50s, Morrison was eventually able to sell his design-called the Pluto Platter-to Wham-O, a toy company that learned of the pie plates in New England, tweaked the name, and began to distribute the Frisbee we know today. A great choice for illustrating social-emotional skills, particularly resilience, as well as steps of the STEM process, this lighthearted, entertaining selection is full of kid appeal and is sure to provide inspiration and encourage inventive thinking. Period illustrations feature an all-White cast, with people of color appearing in a contemporary park scene.An appealing true tale of innovation and perseverance. (author's note, sources) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

School Library Journal (Sat May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

K-Gr 2 The frisbee is such a ubiquitous toy, it is hard to imagine a time when it didn't exist. This nonfiction picture book tells the story of the origin and marketing of the classic toy. After a brief mention of older disc games (like those in Ancient Greece), the book begins exploring the creation of the frisbee almost simultaneously in two places in early-20th century AmericaYale University and California beaches. Told in narrative text and colorful drawn illustrations, the frisbee evolves from a pastry dish to a plastic saucer and the toy we know now. The colorful cartoon-like drawings well match the subject matter. The elongated arms of the disc-throwing people especially suggests the sense of movement. Other than a brief author's note at the end and a short list of sources, there is no additional back matter or historical information. No photos are included to provide more context. While this will be good as a story for young students, it will not be sufficient for older students doing research. VERDICT A sweet nonfiction picture book explaining the history of the frisbee which might be of interest to young students but lacks any additional depth for further learning. Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage P.L., AK