Eat My Dust!: Henry Ford's First Race

by Monica Kulling, Richard Walz (Illustrator)

It’s 1901 and Henry Ford wants to build a car that everyone can own. But first he needs the money to produce it. How will he get it? He enters a car race, of course! Readers will love this fast-paced, fact-based story!

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, American History, Biography Memoir, Picture Books

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Monica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica Kulling has published twenty-six fiction and nonfiction books for children, including picture books, poetry, and biographies. She is best known for introducing biography to children just learning to read and has written about Harriet Tubman, Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Amelia Earhart among others. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about the (apparently) famous 1901 race in which Henry Ford unseated the reigning American car-racing champion, won some money, and used it to start the Ford Motor Company.

As a Step into Reading title, it has more of the format of a chapter book (without the chapters) than a picture book. But the illustrations are still pretty good and help to tell the story quite well. The main strength of the book, however, is the writing. It's clean, uncluttered, and offers the facts without too much embellishment.

I'd recommend this book to kids who are interested in history or cars (or the history of cars). It's an interesting look at a real event that helped shape the transportation industry.

Quotable moment:

Henry tied his car to a post--
just like a horse--
so it would not roll away.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent "beginning reader" picture book about young Henry Ford, his enthusiasm for automobiles, and his desire to make autos that everybody could afford. The story centers around a very important race--if Henry wins, the prize money could help his dreams come true. I also liked how Ford's wife was mentioned so often. The illustrations are appealing, too.

Since the Ford motor co is no big secret it's probably not too suspenseful a race for the adults resting this, but it is still told in an exciting way. I appreciate the brief author's note (not too overwhelming for young readers) and photograph from the actual race.

I don't read many easy readers but I should--the good ones, anyway. I really admire an author's skill of telling the story with such a limited vocabulary.

[David Haggett · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining introduction to Henry Ford's first race (October 10, 1901), winning against Alexander Winton with the help of Spider Huff, who held onto the running board.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beginning reader geared to students in grades 1 - 3, this story comes across as humorous and exciting, in spite of the limited vocabulary. The cartooney illustrations add to the humor. The fact that the story is based on a true event is also a plus.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the true story of race that happened on October 10, 1901. The prize money that Henry Ford won allowed him to build the Model T and the Ford Company was started. It’s a great story for children and it teaches them a little bit about history

[jimtown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eat My Dust! is a quick and easy reading children's tale for a beginning reader to read out loud. A fun and well illustrated look at a true tale of how Henry Ford got started in business and got the idea was able to raise money to build his iconic Model T Ford.

[Victoria Irons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great nonfiction text for beginning readers. This book is about at a first grade level and would be a great example for teachers starting to introduce nonfiction to their classes.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very much a book for kids: short sentences, pictures. I think they would really enjoy the story. I didn’t know Henry Ford ran a race.

[Ernie Rios · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Level: 490L
Star Rating 3:Not a fun read for myself personally but it is still a book I can see another student reading and enjoying.
AST: This book is voice.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

We enjoyed this as part of our biography unit

[Alexis Verzal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

[abby]

this is like the first book i ever remember reading as a kindergartener. i have no idea why i remember it, but i do.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My beginning reader and her car loving dad loved this book. Equal amounts of historical facts and racing action. We'd recommend for any car loving kids (though we may be biased, having a model T in the garage).

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Ford had to get his start somewhere and we learn how he earns enough seed money to begin his Model T production in this book. The narrative is fairly short and the cartoonish illustrations on every page really complement the story nicely. We enjoyed reading this book together and we all learned a little more about Mr. Ford's early years.

This book was selected as one of the books for the November 2013 - Cars and Trucks discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of a race between Henry Ford, in an early car of his own making, and another man who has a different a different model car. Ford is trying to win money to make his car for all men (Model T) a reality. The tongue in cheek title is an indicator of how the story is told, and the illustrations fit that same mood. Students may fit it to be humorous. The text is easy to read, the story exciting to a reader under about 7 years of age. Not my favorite, but it definitely has a place in my tutoring repertoire.

[Tricia Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, interesting book about a real race that Henry Ford ran in 1901. I thought the story was well-done especially for a beginning reader. I will give this to my 5 year old grandson as a read aloud for now, but I know he will be wanting to reread it himself in a year or so. I loved the illustrations too, especially the actual photo of the race at the end of the book. This book was chosen for my children's picture book club on Goodreads.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beginning reader was better than I anticipated. The illustrations are fun and engage the reader, and despite the limited vocabulary, this book tells a compelling true story of Henry Ford's big race against Alexander Winton. Ford wanted to build a car that was easy to drive, easy to repair and inexpensive. If he could win the race, he would have enough money to reach his dream.

[Londa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reader can't get much better than this. I hate readers that don't tell a good story. This one not only tells a good tale, but it teaches a bit of history as well. My son's favorite part was the actual race. I enjoyed the illustrations and thought the story was very well done.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly wonderful level 3 Step into Reading book that is perfectly true! And, the illustrations by Richard Walz are equally wonderful! Another excellent rec from my children's lit expert! Thanks, Tricia!

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read look at an actual event from the beginning of Henry Ford's automobile career. There is some repetition of lines from the beginning to the end which is a nice touch. Author's note has an actual photo from the event.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for boys. My son was captivated by this book especially since there is a picture of the real race at the end.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an easy reader book this one is great. Especially if one is obsessed by cars.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because the man never gave up, and he kept trying to win the race. J.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, educational, historical story for children about the advent of motor cars and the very famous Henry Ford.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids loved the car race and the real photograph of the actual race at the end of the book! Fun read for all.

[Mikey Novack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it

[اموله المزيونه]

nice story

[Sue]

This was hilarious!