Rube Goldberg's Simple Normal Definitely Different Day Off

JENNIFER GEORGE is president of the Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation and Creativity.

George is Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter and lives and works in New York City.

U.S.A. $18.99 CAN. $23.99 U.K. £13.99

ED STECKLEY is an award-winning print and advertising illustrator. He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and currently lives in New York City.

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RUBE GOLDBERG (1883–1971), born in San Francisco of German-Jewish descent, was an award-winning cartoonist best known for his wacky invention drawings that did very simple things in a comical and overly complicated way.

Rube was trained to be an engineer, but after six months working in that field, he decided to shift gears and pursue a career in cartooning. And while his engineering background informed his art, he never actually built the machines he drew.

Yes, they made sense and in theory they should work, but Rube didn’t care about that. All he wanted to do was make his readers laugh.

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Do you ever feel like taking a day off and not going to school? Well, you’re not alone, and Rube Goldberg has some ideas for you too—inventions like a super simple “Surefire Way to Fake Being Sick.” And a goof-proof way to sneak out of your house so you can play outside thanks to the contraption “A No-Nonsense Way to Avoid Nosy Neighbors.” And the invaluable invention “How to Tiptoe Back into the House Without Anyone Noticing.”

You see, Rube is no normal kid. For him, up is down, in is out, and the simplest path to accomplishing an everyday task—like reading a book or picking a favorite doughnut—is always more complicated than it needs to be. But that’s what makes Rube’s inventions so much fun.

So join Rube for a simple normal and definitely different day off. And follow along as he overcomplicates each and every step he takes— from the time he gets out of bed in the morning to the time he goes to bed at night—all while having some unexpected adventures along the way!

D Want to know what Rube Goldberg is doing on this cover?

He’s trying out his latest invention . . .

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Copyright © 2022 Heirs of Rube Goldberg, LLC. Rube Goldberg is a registered trademark of Rube Goldberg, Inc. and is used with permission.

Jacket illustrations by Ed Steckley Jacket © 2022 Abrams Books for Young Readers

U.S. $18.99 Can. $23.99 U.K. £13.99 ISBN 978-1-4197-4830-1

E A SIMPLE, EASY WAY TO Cool Off on a Hot Day Rube leaves PEANUTS (A) for elephant.

The pleased pachyderm reaches for peanuts with his trunk, making the TREEHOUSE (B) lean forward, pulling ZIPLINE (C) . LADDER (D) tugs SPIGOT (E) , releasing water through the HOSE (F) and turning on the SPRINKLER (G) . As Rube swings around and around on the zipline, he not only cools off, but also waters the lawn (H) —simply and easily.

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By

Jennifer George

OTHER RUBE GOLDBERG BOOKS BY ABRAMS

Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day Rube Goldberg and his Amazing Machines

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ABRAMS

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PRINTED IN CHINA

Rube Gold·berg. adjective \rüb-gōl(d)-bərg\: accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply; also: Rube Gold·berg·i·an

Simple Normal Definitely Different Day Off

Follow Jennifer George and Ed Steckley online at jennifergeorge-nyc.com edsteckley.com

GEORGE • STECKLEY

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From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary:

Illustrated by

Ed Steckley

AND FOR YOUR PARENTS

The Art of Rube Goldberg: (A) Inventive (B) Cartoon ( C) Genius

For more information on Rube Goldberg—the man, the cartoons, and the machine contests—visit rubegoldberg.org.

REINFORCED BINDING

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This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Simple Normal Definitely Different Day Off by

Jennifer George

Illustrated by

Ed Steckley

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abrams books for young readers new york

acknowledgments

The i l l u s t ra t i o n s i n t h i s book we re drawn wi th a combi nati on of di p pe ns a n d b ru s he s w i t h cu s tom s e pi a i nk . Th e y we re th e n col ore d wi th Wi ns or & Ne w t o n w a t e rco l o rs a nd Dr. Ph . Marti n’ s dy e s , on Strath more 4 00 Se ri e s v e l l u m Bri s t o l b o a rd pape r.

To Ed Steckley, Charles Kochman, Andrew Smith, Heather Kelly,

Ca t a l o gi n g- i n -Pu b l i cati on Data h as be e n appl i e d f or and may be obtai ne d f ro m t he L i b ra r y o f Congre s s .

Jessica Gotz, Amy Vreeland, Kathy Lovisolo, Laura Nolan, Jill Smith,

I S B N 97 8 -1 -41 97 -4 8 3 0-1

Bob Bookman, Ross Misher, and Mark Otero; the Teq Team: Michelle

Co p y ri ght © 2 02 2 He i rs of Rube Gol dbe rg, LLC . A l l ri gh ts re s e r ve d.

Hollander, Nicole Mathew, and Christine Bell; Team Rube: Kathleen

R U B E G O L D B E R G is a re gi s te re d trade mark of Rube Gol dbe rg, Inc. a n d i s u s e d w i t h p e rmi s s i on.

Felix, Cheryll Obendorf, Nicole Straus, Michael Glickman, Kristen Kelly, and Deb Burton-Calagna; Team Puffmommy: Max and Emily;

Bo o k d e s i gn b y He a th e r Ke l l y

Pu b l i s he d i n 2 02 2 b y A brams Book s f or Young Re ade rs , an i mpri nt of A BRA M S. uncorrected A l l ri ght s re s e r v eproof. d . No porti on of th i s book may be re produce d, s tore d i n a North Star and guiding light, helping us birth this Not book, which was a re t ri e v a l s y s t e m , o r trans mi tte d i n any f orm or by any me ans , me ch ani cal , for resale, duplication, or e l e ct ro n i c, p ho t o co p y i ng, re cordi ng, or oth e rwi s e , wi th out wri tte n pe rmi s s i on labor of love, kinetic energy, and imagination. reposting. Please do not f roquote m t he p u b l iwithout s he r.

Pri n t e d a n d book. b o u n d i n Ch i na comparison to the finished

and to my Papa Rube, who started all of this—thank being our This is you anforadvance,

Be sure to look under the book jacket for a special bonus invention: A Surefire Way to Let Nosy Friends Know What’s for Dessert.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 A b ra m s Bo o k s f o r Yo ung Re ade rs are avai l abl e at s pe ci al di s counts wh e n p u rcha s e d i n q u a n t i t y f or pre mi ums and promoti ons as we l l as f undrai s i ng or e d u ca t i o n a l u s e . Sp e c i al e di ti ons can al s o be cre ate d to s pe ci f i cati on.

Fo r d e t a i l s , co n t a ct s pe ci al s al e s @ abrams book s .com or th e addre s s be l ow.

A b ra m s ® i s a re gi s t e re d trade mark of Harr y N. A brams , Inc.

For my grandfather, and for those who continue to find laughter and inspiration in his work.

Papa Rube, I hope Ed and I have done you proud!

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It is early on an ordinary morning, down an ordinary street, in an ordinary house that for some reason can’t be found by ordinary means. There’s no map, and no directions that ever make any sense.

To get there you to need to go over an underpass and about three times around a roundabout. You need to turn onto a dead-end street—but if you look hard enough and close your eyes, you will find a curlicue lane that leads up to a very hairy hairpin turn that spills out onto a park on the other side of two lanes of traffic across from a two-and-a-half-ring circus. On the right you’ll need to make a left, and then turn around to cross the street, which leads up a hill and somehow down into the valley above. Once there you’ll find an ordinary street with an ordinary house—and that is where Rube Goldberg lives.

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you may or may not know, Rube is no This is an advance, uncorrectedAs proof. ordinary boy. He is an inventor who builds epic Not for resale, duplication, or contraptions. For Rube, up is down, in is out, and reposting. Please do not quote without no is yes—and on this particular school day he comparison to the finished book.

doesn’t feel like going to school, because there are just too many other things he would like to do instead. So after looking at the clock, and his cat, and his bird, and his pet iguana, and a big piece of stinky cheese he took out of the refrigerator the night before, Rube comes up with the perfect invention to get his day started . . .

A SUREFIRE WAY TO FAKE BEING SICK

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Rube Goldberg lays in bed and pulls his blanket to expose stuffed MOUSE (A) to curious CAT (B) . Cat jumps from windowsill onto wooden SEESAW (C) , releasing hanging CHEESE WEDGE (D) into BOOKS (E) . Books topple into BIRDCAGE (F) , tipping open cage door so that BIRD (G) can hop up onto ramp and chomp down on pile of crackers.

As crackers disappear, ROLLER SKATE (H) is dislodged and rolls down ramp, hitting “ON” SWITCH (I) to desk lamp, which heats up suspended THERMOMETER (J) . When This is an advance, uncorrected proof. grown-up enters room to see why RubeNot is for resale, duplication, or not downstairs for breakfast, door opens, reposting.

Please do not quote without releasing FISHING ROD (K) , which tips down, comparison to the finished book. causing hanger to slide, delivering a wellheated thermometer into Rube’s mouth.

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B

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(If you don’t have a cat—or your cat is sleeping—you can always just pretend you have a stomachache.)

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A PERFECT WAY TO PRETEND TO TAKE YOUR COUGH SYRUP Rube starts his day off by activating a REMOTE-CONTROL DUMP TRUCK (A) , which hits SHOVEL (B) , releasing hinged SHELF (C) , causing BUCKET OF WATER (D) to fall into tub. This raises left side of TOWEL BAR (E) , freeing SPONGE (F) to dangle over leaky RADIATOR (G) . As sponge absorbs steam it becomes heavy, pulling the gears of HELPING HAND (H) . Medicine cabinet opens, pushing SPOON (I) This is an advance, uncorrected proof. into open BOTTLE OF CHERRY COUGH Not for resale, duplication, or SYRUP (J) , spilling it into funnelreposting. and Please do not quote without onto birdseed. POTTY PELICAN (K) comparison to the finished book. sees reflection of cherry blossoms out window, smells cherry-soaked birdseed and mistakes it for cherry pie—which he gobbles up whole—earning him his name.

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A SIMPLE WAY TO PLAY FETCH WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR BEDROOM

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Rube stands at bedroom window and drops BOWLING BALL (A) into gutter. Ball falls into BUCKET (B) , lowering seesaw and pushing up HELPING HAND (C) . This flips on LEAF BLOWER (D) , causing weathervane SAILBOATS (E) to spin, which turns TETHERBALL POST (F) , spinning shoes that kick softball to Rube’s dog, BERTHA (G) .

Meanwhile, perched in a tree, RACOON (H) devours large chunk of gorgonzola cheese.

As crumbs fall into TUBA (I) andThis down is ramp, an advance, uncorrected proof.

Bertha returns softball to CATCHER’S MITT Not(J)for resale, duplication, or and waits for Rube to crank PULLEY (K) , reposting.

Please do not quote without lifting mitt and netting so he can lick the comparison to the finished book. plate. Softball rolls into BIRDHOUSE (L) , falls down SHELVES (M) and onto curved track, returning it back to starting position, ready for shoe to kick the ball back to Bertha.

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(If this invention attracts all the neighborhood dogs to your yard, toss a bone on your neighbor’s property and make it their problem.)

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I This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

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A SUPER SIMPLE HANDS-FREE WAY TO READ A BOOK

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Rube pulls RECLINER HANDLE (A) , which opens CURTAIN (B) , revealing MIRROR (C) to vain OCTOPUS (D) . Seeing reflection, octopus jumps up and down with glee, pushing open TANK COVER (E) . This loosens rope draped over LAMP (F) , lowering FIREPLACE TOOLS (G) onto self-inflating WHOOPEE CUSHION (H) .

Air from whoopee cushion startles hungry CAT (I) on treadmill, who runs toward open can of SARDINES (J) . Treadmill Thisturns is an advance, uncorrected proof.

PULLEY (K) , causing STICKY FLYSWATTERS Not for resale, duplication, or (L) to rotate, turning Rube’s book one reposting.

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(And if you also like sardines, then you’re in luck.

Your cat will remain hungry, but you’ll have a juicy sardine sandwich for lunch!)

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A GOOF-PROOF WAY TO MAKE EVERYONE THINK YOU’RE SLEEPING

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Rube pulls string (A) , releasing VOLLEYBALL (B) down ramp and into PINS (C) . Pins fall into laundry BASKET (D) , pulling METAL COIL (E) out from under seesaw, causing sticky JAR OF HONEY (F) to tip over and spill down shelf into ANT FARM (G) . Ants swarm back of tank, which tips and releases HELPING HAND (H) , turning on electric toothbrush.

Jostled BALLOON (I) rolls This is an advance, uncorrected proof. down blanket fort and into Not for resale, duplication, or NAIL (J) . Force from reposting. Please do not quote without balloon pop tips board comparison to the finished book. into TOILET PLUNGER (K) , causing empty fishbowl to fall into COWBOY HAT (L) . As hat lowers, quilt rises to reveal DOG BONES (M) , which distract Bertha. Deck of CARDS (N) attached to pendulum on grandfather clock drag back and forth across scratching pad to sound like snoring, allowing Rube to make a sneaky exit while everyone thinks he’s asleep in his pillow fort.

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A NO-NONSENSE WAY TO AVOID NOSY NEIGHBORS Voice-activated GARAGE DOOR (A) pulls ROPE (B) , yanking branches of nearby PICKLE TREE (C) . Rube is splattered in pickle juice as pickles fall from tree into rigged BADMINTON NET (D) .

Pickles cascade into PEANUT SACK (E) , attracting hungry SQUIRREL (F) to climb inside. Weight of squirrel causes bag to lower, squeezing NOZZLE (G) , which turns on HOSE (H) aimed at WATERWHEEL (I) . As it spins, LAWN FAN (J) spins too, blowing a pile of This is an advance, uncorrected proof. leaves all over Rube. Meanwhile waterNot for resale, duplication, or moves down gutter and into BUCKET (K), reposting.

Please do not quote without which lowers, causing BROOM (L) tocomparison tilt, to the finished book. releasing PLATFORM (M) , dropping twigs onto Rube, completing his elaborate disguise. Then Rube hops on his skateboard and makes like a tree and leaves, rolling down the block unnoticed by nosy neighbors.

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AN EASY WAY TO PICK YOUR FAVORITE DOUGHNUT Rube maneuvers HANDLEBARS (A) , positions contraption on counter, and inserts HELPING HAND (B) into favorite doughnut.

This movement causes SWISS CHEESE (C) to shimmy down arrow, which excites HAMSTER (D) , who runs toward his favorite food! Hamster wheel spins, turning platform GEARS (E) , lifting ENGAGEMENT RING AND PRESENTATION PILLOW (F) into view of LOVEBIRDS (G) . Devoted birds jump onto pillow for a closer look at ring, which pulls STRING HARNESS (H) , yanking helping hand This is an advance, uncorrected proof. and quickly flinging doughnuts into Rube’s Not for resale, duplication, or open backpack. reposting. Please do not quote without

comparison to the finished book.

(If your contraption doesn’t fit through the door, leave it outside, walk into the doughnut shop, and just point to the one you want.)

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A SELF-OPERATING SWING Rube builds TOILET PAPER NEST (A) , luring potty pelicans to tree, where they get sprayed by FISH FOUNTAIN (B) .

Startled by each squirt, an EGG (C) is laid and rolls down SLIDE (D) toward miniature WINDMILL (E) . Shovels attached to windmill nudge each egg toward ­old-fashioned BOOM BOX (F) .

As pelican flies down to save her egg, she lands on PERCH (G) , which presses Play button on boom box, starting the “Happy Birthday” song for GIRAFFE (H) .

This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Giraffe, reminded that it’s her birthday, Not for resale, duplication, or looks over wall, sees BIRTHDAY CAKE (I) reposting. Please do not quote without and leans down for a bite. As she does, comparison to the finished book.

ROPE (J) , attached to her long neck, pulls back SWING (K) and lifts Rube high in the air. This repeats over and over again until the birthday cake is gone!

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A FANTASTIC FEEDING MACHINE Wanting a bubble bath, filthy FOX (A) jumps at dangling SPONGES (B) , pulling one down and raising the other.

PULLEY SYSTEM (C) spins UMBRELLA (D) , activating MANUAL ICE CRUSHER (E) filled with crackers. Cracker crumbs fall through CHUTE (F) into battery-operated FAN (G) and get blown up through BUGLE (H) into rotating hanging CUPS (I) . As cups spin, they scatter crumbs everywhere for all the park creatures to enjoy.

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Not for resale, duplication, or (If your crackers are already crushed, reposting. Please do not quote without just throw them around willy-nilly—it will comparison to the finished book. have the same effect.)

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AN EASY WAY TO RETRIEVE A LOST BUS PASS Rube accidentally drops his bus pass down sewer drain and comes up with a simple way to get it back. He buys a bag of peanuts, which he gives to a subway RAT (A) . Rat becomes thirsty and runs over to teetering tower of SODA CANS (B) , collapsing onto outstretched paper towel roll. TOY SWORD (C) loosens and topples over PAINT CAN (D) .

Weight of falling paint can raises garbage lid to reveal hungry trash PANDA (E) , who spies BAMBOO PLANTS (F) , his favorite food.

Panda hops onto FIRE HYDRANT WRENCH (G) , This is an advance, uncorrected proof. turning on water. Water rushes out, knocking Not for resale, duplication, or over RECYCLE BIN (H) , scatteringreposting. discarded Please do not quote without DETERGENT BOTTLES (I) into the street. comparison to the finished book.

Water and detergent mix creating bubbly soapy liquid that runs down DRAIN (J) . As bubbles fill the sewer, BUS PASS (K) floats upward so Rube can easily grab it.

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A SUPER SIMPLE SNACKING MACHINE Rube’s FOOT (A) powers SCOOP (B) , which lowers and grabs a bunch of candy and dumps it into FUNNEL (C) , swiftly delivering sweet treats into snorkel hose (D) and into Rube’s mouth. Rube then throws a handful of POPCORN (E) into the air and tips his head so all the kernels land in the top of his lampshade FUNNEL HAT (F) .

Popcorn spirals around hat, coming to a halt on the brim and with another tilt of the head, travels down SLIDE (G) and automatically delivers the crunchy snack.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

He then washes his snacks down with Not soda for resale, duplication, or using a dozen connected paper STRAWS (H) . Please do not quote without reposting.

(If this machine annoys those around you, ditch the contraption and just throw candy and popcorn in the air and catch them in your mouth.

If you miss, most will land in the laps of your neighbors, and they will thank you!)

comparison to the finished book.

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HOW TO GET THE DAY’S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

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Rube yells into BLOWHORN (A) , letting his classmate know he’s arrived. This startles BEEKEEPER (B) and his bees. Bees swarm out of BEEHIVES (C) and land on suspended BIRDCAGE (D) filled with blooming flowers.

Extra weight of bees lowers birdcage, releasing giant bag of busted FEATHER PILLOWS (E) .

As feathers float down from above, confused PENGUIN (F) thinks it’s snowing, flaps his wings with glee, and quickly waddles over to his friends to tell them the news. Overjoyed penguins squawk and jump outside OPEN This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

WINDOW (G) , annoying TENANT (H) , who slams Not for resale, duplication, or window shut. Window closing pulls rope tied to reposting. Please do not quote without BACKPACK (I) filled with homework, causing comparison to the finished book. it to fall from window ledge and land safely on bushes below.

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(If it’s actually snowing and the window is shut, just ring the buzzer and your friend will happily come down and hand your homework to you.)

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G This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

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A SPEEDY WAY TO GET HOME

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Rube grabs knotted BEDSHEET (A) attached to CLOTHESLINE (B) and swings into view, landing on discarded MATTRESS (C) . The force of his impact launches BURRITO (D) into the air, hitting CRUTCH (E) and extending BOXING GLOVE (F) , which knocks over bowl of SELTZER TABLETS (G) . Tablets fall into FUNNEL (H) and cascade through separate tubes into SODA BOTTLES (I) , creating an explosion that jumpstarts WAGON (J) . Rube bounds onto wagon, turns CRANK (K) , and lowers dangling CARROT (L) into This is an advance, uncorrected proof. view of harnessed BUNNIES (M) . Bunnies start Not for resale, duplication, or running toward their favorite food, pulling the reposting. Please do not quote without wagon and Rube home at breakneckcomparison speed! to the finished book.

C

(If the rabbits are sleepy or the machine malfunctions, just use your bus pass and take public transportation.)

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HOW TO TIPTOE BACK INTO THE HOUSE WITHOUT ANYONE NOTICING

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Rube sneaks onto the back porch and sets ROCKING CHAIR (A) in motion.

This causes GARDEN GNOME FOUNTAIN (B) to turn, watering PALM TREE (C) . Palm tree grows and hits wind chimes (D) , attracting vegan WOLF (E) to garden herbs growing in window box. Wolf’s head lifts up teeter-totter, raising bowl of WORMS (F) into baby Walter’s view. Wolf moves to opposite side of herb garden, now raising This is an advance, uncorrected proof. box of CANDY (G) for Walter to see. Not for resale, duplication, or This back-and-forth activity keeps baby reposting.

Please do not quote without Walter’s attention while Rube tiptoes comparison to the finished book. back into the house.

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F G This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

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AN EASY WAY TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU’VE BEEN HOME ALL DAY Rube knocks SKATEBOARD (A) down track.

Skateboard rolls into stack of empty SODA CANS (B) , toppling TOOLBOX (C) .

Toolbox drops, releasing SLIPKNOTS (D) , closing curtains, and jostling TELESCOPE (E) .

This causes LADLE OF WATER (F) to spill on CAT (G) . Cat runs to grab TOWEL (H) and dry off, which pulls WHEEL MECHANISM (I) tied to blankets, moving them up and over our adventurous inventor.

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(If you don’t have a cat, then make a big mess Not for resale, duplication, or in your room so it looks like you have been hard reposting. Please do not quote without at work all day building machines just like comparison to the finished book.

Rube Goldberg.)

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E B F proof.

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After a Simple Normal Definitely Different Day Off, Rube is exhausted.

Tomorrow he has to go back to school. But before he can go to sleep, he gets some unexpected company!

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STEM STARTS HERE How to Use This Book In the Classroom

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and STEAM (the A is added for Art) are educational principles that can be easily be taught using Rube Goldberg inventions. A complex Rube Goldberg Machine is always made up of a series of smaller, simpler machines. These can be created out of everyday items, including levers, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, springs, pendulums, wheels, and axels.

You can teach the basics of STEM and STEAM by using the illustrations in this book. For more information, visit our website and click on the education tab, where you will find teacher resources.

If you like to solve problems, tinker, and invent stuff just like Rube Goldberg, join our annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contests for students of all ages.

Visit rubegoldberg.org.

Can you name these simple Machines?

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B This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

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E

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Answers: (A) Screw, (B) Pulley, (C) Lever, (D) Wheel, (E) Inclined plane, (F) Wheel and Axel, (G) Wedge

D

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This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof.

Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.