This engaging picture-book biography details the many accomplishments of Lillian Gilbreth, the first woman elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Her many endeavors (efficiency expert, industrial engineer, work-place psychologist, lecturer, author, inventor, widowed mother of 11, and inspiration for the 1950 movie, Cheaper by the Dozen fact that may pique the interest of youngsters familiar with more recent incarnations of the film) are framed within the context of problem solving. Kulling deftly describes early twentieth-century social, physical, and technical conditions that presented challenges to productivity in both public and private settings, and she explains how Gilbreth's innovations improved conditions, creating context so that young readers can appreciate the extent of her contributions. Parkins' rich, cartoon-like illustrations provide clear period detail, and his characters' faces portray an extensive range of emotions, adding interest and emphasizing Gilbreth's primary commitment to her family. Student researchers might also enjoy other titles in the Great Idea series, such as Kulling's In the Bag!: Margaret Knight Wraps It Up (2011).

Lillian Gilbreth's background as a psychologist, efficiency expert, industrial engineer, and widowed mother of eleven enabled her to--among many other accomplishments--design improvements for kitchens in the early twentieth century. The straightforward narrative and droll pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations pay tribute to the spirit of a remarkable modern inventor, the first woman elected to the National Academy of Engineering.