Rube Resources
If you’re a parent, a teacher, a student, or just Rube-curious, you’re in the right place! Rube Goldberg books, projects, and digital games are a great way to engage kids in STEM, Art and teach Simple Machines.
Rube Goldberg's Big Book of Building: Make 25 Machines That Really Work!
By Jennifer George and Zach Umperovitch. Illus. by Ed Steckley
This enticing compendium offers step-by-step directions for creating 25 Rube Goldberg contraptions designed to ease the hardships of implementing everyday kid tasks, such as squeezing toothpaste onto toothbrushes or placing napkins in laps. Readers are warned upfront that these projects require lots of tenacity and tinkering, but those who show grit will be rewarded with actual working models (usually constructed with ordinary household objects) and a new appreciation for somewhat skewed physics. The book is a visual delight, with page-filling, bright, cartoon-like illustrations showing required materials, processes and procedures, fact boxes and horrible puns, simple machine and energy-transfer applications, and humorous scenarios where the machines work—or don’t. Blank pages for recording notes and test results inspire experimentation, and the final chapters, filled with biographical data on Goldberg, his inventions, and legacy, plus detailed explorations of chain reaction models, flowcharts, and suggestions for substitutions and adaptations, will encourage inquiry. Rich back matter provides additional assistance for further research and extended manipulations. Most projects require adult input, and some require extended time commitments, but this will attract casual browsers and inspire wannabe makers. This is a fun, eye-catching addition for most STEM collections. — Kathleen McBroom
Baby Rube's Opposites
This accordion-fold board book highlights 12 pairs of opposites—from hot and cold to young and old and shallow and deep to awake and asleep. But unfold, open and discover Baby Rube Goldberg's "simple" invention (using all 12 sets of opposites) to dunk a cookie in milk!
Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Definitely Different Day Off
Follow along as a young Rube Goldberg invents zany chain-reaction contraptions to have the best day off ever—including an easy way to play fetch in the yard without leaving his bedroom, a self-operating swing, and a super simple series of movie-snacking machines.
Check out the Activity Guide & Paper Engineered Projects for this book!
Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day
Follow along as a young Rube Goldberg sets out on a typical school day, creating machines that solve every problem he encounters from the time he wakes up in the morning until the time he goes to bed at night. Watch how he gets ready for school, makes breakfast, does his homework, and so much more!
Check out the Activity Guide & Paper Engineered Projects for this book!
Rube Goldberg and His Amazing Machines
6th grade gets off to a rocky start for Rube Goldberg and his best friend, Boob McNutt. As they navigate the new social dynamics of middle school, strange incidents begin to throw the school, their town and their relationships into disarray. Luckily for everyone, Rube's unique problem solving abilities save the day.
Rube Goldberg and the New Switcheroo
The hilarious follow-up to Rube Goldberg and His Amazing Machines by bestselling author Brandon T. Snider and featuring illustrations by award-winning artist Ed Steckley.
Rube Goldberg and the Engine of Change
The third title in the hilarious Rube Goldberg and His Amazing Machines series by bestselling author Brandon T. Snider and featuring black-and-white illustrations by Reuben Award-winning artist Ed Steckley.
The Art of Rube Goldberg
Rube Goldberg (1883 – 1970) was the most famous cartoonist of his time and is best known for his comical inventions, which were syndicated in daily newspapers throughout the world. The Art of Rube Goldberg is brilliantly designed and packaged to capture the inventiveness of his legacy and chock-full of cartoons -- a coffee table book the whole family can enjoy!
