Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis, Illustrated by Gilbert Ford


Mr. Ferris and His Wheel tells the true story of George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., the engineer behind the first Ferris Wheel, designed for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Faced with skepticism and stiff competition, Ferris dared to dream up something new, an engineering marvel that could rival the Eiffel Tower from the 1889 Paris World’s Fair. With vivid illustrations and accessible narrative nonfiction, this book offers students a fascinating glimpse into a moment when imagination and  science came together to change history.

This picture book makes an excellent anchor text for older students exploring innovation, design thinking, historical context, and the human stories behind scientific discovery. George Ferris’s story highlights persistence, risk-taking, and the intersection of art and engineering, perfect for interdisciplinary learning.

Curriculum Connections

Physics & Engineering  

  • Explore the physical forces at play in a Ferris wheel: gravity, centripetal force, torque, and rotational motion.

  • Investigate the structural design and mechanics of Ferris wheels. What makes them stable and safe?

  • Assign students to research or prototype their own small-scale Ferris wheel models using common materials or digital design tools.

Social Studies & U.S. History

  • Connect to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition discuss its purpose, legacy, and cultural context.

  • Analyze how the Ferris Wheel was a direct response to the Eiffel Tower, reflecting American ambition and innovation.

  • Investigate themes of industrialization, urbanization, and American identity during the Gilded Age.

STEM + Creativity

  • Discuss how imagination plays a role in scientific and engineering advancement.

  • Tie in design thinking: identifying a challenge, brainstorming bold ideas, prototyping, and testing.

  • Compare historical innovation processes to today’s STEM/STEAM practices.

Discussion Questions

For Science and Engineering:

  1. What forces are at work on a Ferris wheel when it's in motion?

  2. How did Ferris solve the engineering challenges involved in building something so new at such a massive scale?

  3. What materials, tools, and designs did engineers have access to in the 1890s?

For Social Studies:

  1. Why was the 1893 World’s Fair so important to the U.S.? What did the Ferris Wheel symbolize?

  2. How did this invention reflect the spirit of the time both its ambition and its anxieties?

  3. What parallels can you draw between global fairs of the past and international events today?


Mr. Ferris and His Wheel is a rich, cross-curricular text that can spark curiosity in students who love science, history, design or great stories about dreamers who defied expectations. It’s a perfect read for engineering challenges, World’s Fair research, or celebrating the power of persistence in the face of doubt.

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