Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, The Original H.I.R. (Historical Investigative Reporter)

Ill bet you thought little Falcon Heene was the first balloon boy to (possibly) race across the sky in a balloon, but&NOT! Someone else beat him to it. An amazing young man named Cromwell Dixon designed a sky cycle and flew it at the St. Louis Worlds Fair.

CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY CYCLE, by John Abbott Nez, is the enchanting story of boy-inventor Cromwell Dixon. Cromwell built all sorts of things, including a mechanical fish from old wind-up clocks and a rowboat for four. But it was Cromwells ingenious Sky-Cycle invention that put him on the American radar and made him the subject of this book.

Cromwell lived during a time when dazzling inventions were popping up all over the place: Automobiles, skyscrapers, electricity and other mind-boggling inventions constantly wowed the American people and made them wonder&what will they think of next?

But perhaps the most amazing invention of Cromwells time was when man learned to fly through the sky! Like everyone else, Cromwell wanted to see what it felt like to fly, so when the opportunity presented itself, he flew high over the 1904 St. Louis Fair in a balloon. Cromwell fell instantly in love with flying, and vowed to become an aeronaut. He began building a sophisticated flying machine, using his bicycle as the main instrument.

This book is a delightful and inspirational tale that is sure to stir up other young inventors with exciting new inventions and boundless dreams. Cromwell worked long and hard to make his sky-cycle a success, and although his first prototype was badly damaged in a fire, his hard work finally payed off. In 1907, Cromwell Dixon got to pedal his sky-cycle across a beautiful summer sky!

Whatever you do, dont miss this wonderful story about the first balloon boy to fly across the sky and wow a fascinated audience.