Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube - by Kerry Aradhya (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This first picture book biography of Erno Rubik, creator of the Rubik's Cube, reveals the obsession, imagination, and engineering process behind the creation of a bestselling puzzle that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024"--

Book Synopsis

This first picture book biography of Rubik's Cube creator Erno Rubik reveals the obsession, imagination, and engineering process behind creating an iconic puzzle.

Celebrating 50 years of the most popular puzzle in history!

An Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Honor Book
A Mathical Book Prize Honor Book

In the hills of Budapest, near the banks of the Danube River, lived a quiet boy named Ernő Rubik. He loved books, art, nature, and--most of all--puzzles. And he grew up to create the most popular puzzle in history. This picture book biography explores the experience and interests that inspired the inventor of the Rubik's Cube.

From the time he was a child, Ernő was curious about the objects around him. What did they look like on the inside? What about geometric shapes? How many ways could he fit them together? Could he combine them so they somehow became something that was greater than its components?

Ernő grew up and became a professor of architecture and design. Still fascinated with how shapes worked together, he fashioned an object, a cube made up of smaller cubes that twisted and turned without breaking. This object eventually became known as the most popular puzzle in history, the Rubik's Cube.

Kerry Aradhya's accessible text takes us behind the scenes of the creative process and into the mind and imagination of a remarkable inventor. Kara Kramer's cheerful, multi-media illustrations encourage readers to think about inspiration, reflection, and the joy of puzzles--and solutions.

A CBC-NSTA Best STEM Book of the Year
Named to the Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List
Named to the Texas Bluebonnet Award List

Review Quotes

★ "Kramer's intriguing mixed media and digital-collage illustrations bring playfulness and energy to the fore."--The Horn Book, Starred Review

"Even readers who find the invention more maddening than "magic" should be captivated by this tale of imagination, tenacity, and a global phenomenon that's still going strong."--Publishers Weekly

"This insightful and inspiring look at the mind behind a puzzle that is now a familiar favorite is a worthwhile addition to library collections."--School Library Journal

"A whimsical tribute to the maker of the famous, frustrating, and absorbing puzzle."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Kerry Aradhya is a science writer and editor who loves to puzzle over words and immerse herself in the creative process. Although she might beat you at Scrabble, she has yet to solve more than one side of a Rubik's Cube. She is much better at twisting and turning in the dance studio, where you'll usually find her when she's not tapping away on her laptop. Kerry lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and their cute but naughty pooch named Sofie. Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube is her debut picture book.

Kara Kramer is an illustrator of picture books, including Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Corita Kent, and illustrator-author of Tell Me a Lion Story. She is happiest when her hands are moving through some kind of making. The how of the creative process is her favorite puzzle to twist and turn and learn from always. She lives and colors her way in Brooklyn.