Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine by Beth Anderson


Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine
Title : Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1525303252
ISBN-10 : 9781525303258
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 32
Publication : Published May 3, 2022

For every child who longs to make the most amazing thing, here's a delightful picture book biography of a determined self-taught inventor who never stops following the call to imagine, discover, create.From the time he is a small boy, Franz is curious about machines and how they work. He wants to try to build his own. Even though he's needed to work on the family farm, and later marries and has a family of his own, Franz never gives up on his dream. He learns and tries and tests his ideas all on his own. And though many people don't understand or appreciate Franz's work, when his fantastic, complex creation is completed at long last, he finally finds an audience that recognizes his genius.Beth Anderson's uplifting picture book biography offers an engaging look at the inspiring life of Franz Gsellmann, an inventor from rural Austria who, with no formal artistic or engineering training, built an elaborate, intricate machine called the Weltmaschine (World Machine). The well-told story extols the joy of curiosity and inventing for inventing's sake, and explores the concept of mechanical-kinetic sculptures, in which art and science intersect. Whimsical illustrations by Caroline Hamel help bring the subject to life. Supporting backmatter includes an author's note, resources, a biography of Franz, an explanation of the machine, a search-and-find activity and questions to get children thinking about their own ideas that could lead to fun classroom activities. This book has strong STEAM curriculum links, particularly in technology and structures, and valuable character education lessons in courage, perseverance and resilience.

Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine Reviews

  • Reading_ Tamishly

    Yes to curious minds! Yes to experimenting your dreams!

    Thank you, Kids Can Press, for the advance reading copy.

    This book is such a good reminder of letting our dreams live by never giving up on them. Franz dreamt of being an inventor and ended up inventing a masterpiece!

    I find the illustrations a bit uneasy at times to read alongwith. Maybe it will be better with the paperback.

    I would have loved the book more if there's a glossary or a note at the beginning or towards the end of the book giving a short information on Franz.

  • Benson Shum

    FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE by Beth Anderson and Caroline Hamel is a wondrous story about Fran Gsellmann. Franz dreams of being an inventor but his family needs him to help on the farm. But as Franz grew up, he listened to his whisper and creates wonder and imagination. Through the trinkets, treasure and trash he collects. And creates a fantastic phantasmagorical contraption. A great story about imagination that has no limits and poses us to think outside the box.

  • Carol Baldwin

    Franz was a very curious little boy. When the cuckoo clock in his parent's Austrian home chirped, Franz wondered,

    What makes the sound? He looked at the gears. What makes them move? He peeked behind the small door. What's going on in there?


    Although the nudge to imagine, discover, and create grew louder every year, his family needed him on the farm. At a young age, he left school to help out.

    As an adult, he had an amazing dream about a fantastic, magical, phantasmagorical machine! ....Franz pondered and paced, sketched and crumpled, fussed and fretted. The machine he saw in his dream was unlike anything in the world.

    When he heard about a unique and amazing structure at the 1958 world's fair in Belgium, he took a train to go see it. Franz was amazed by the Atomium and bought a small replica to take home- a reminder of how ordinary shapes and lights could become something extraordinary.

    Experiencing that structure changed Franz's life.

    Franz listened to his imagination and started dreaming, planning, and building.

    He found treasures and trinkets at the local flea market. He explored junkyards for the right parts. Hula-hoops! Horseshoes! A hairdryer! Wagon heaping, he returned home with his haul.

    Although Franz wasn't sure what he was creating, he knew he'd figure it out eventually.

    His neighbors bugged him. "What is going on in there?" They made fun of him. And when he plugged his machine in, the entire village lost electricity!

    When newspaper reporters showed up to see the whirring machine, they were disappointed in what they saw.

    "Is it going to do something?" they asked.

    Franz's hope fizzled. The machine was doing something. Something amazing.
    After the reporters' and his neighbors' negative reactions, Franz withdrew to his attic. But in the middle of his despair, he heard excited voices outside his window.

    "One by one, Franz flipped the fifty-three switches and the machine awoke."

    Spellbound, a little girl whispered, "What's going on in there?"
    Franz's face crinkled into a smile as he watched the children's eyes twinkle with wonder. His phantasmagorical machine did have a purpose--and finally, Franz had figured it out.

  • Carmela Coyle

    This book belongs in the hands of every child who has ever had even the slightest hint of wide-eyed wonderment. FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, another wonderful nonfiction biography by Beth Anderson, explores the magical workings of the creative mind of Franz Gsellmann. Many children will delight in Franz’s interest in collecting doodads and trinkets, especially when Franz’s interests continue on to create a working contraption, The World Machine! Franz’s lifework merged art and wonderment, with invention, science, and a fair bit of daydreaming. Clearly “if first you don’t succeed…” mantra lies at the heart of this account of a sensitive and brilliant man. Fanciful artwork by Caroline Hamel matches the movement, magic, and wonderment within Franz’s mind. A perfect STEAM book with interesting backmatter and a fun challenge to find doodads and such at the end (with answer key).

  • Helen Wu

    Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine is a delightful picture book biography about Franz Gsellmann. The book shows Franz's creative spirit, imagination and perseverance and extols the joy of curiosity and inventing in such a playful way that will inspire every young child to think, build and invent. Caroline Hamel's whimsical and colorful illustrations bring the subject to life. There are many supporting backmatter and activities, including an author's note, a biography of Franz, an explanation and a search-and-find activity based on the graphic of the machine, all will lead to fun classroom activities. A must read!

  • Amanda Sanders

    This picture book biography tells the story of Hanz Gsellman creating machine art in his barn. The book does a great job of showing how driven he was to create and learn and work with machines. The story lacks 'wow' tidbits, like the fact that he kept this machine a secret for 8 years-even his family didn't know about it. The one real photo of Franz and his machine doesn't do the machine justice. I think more real photos would have made the book better. The recommended website is Austrian and doesn't have a video of the machine in action. There is a YouTube video of the machine. A link to that would have been a good resource to add. It is a wonder to see.

  • Ainun Zahra

    I was a bit confused about what was going on because I'm just another silly grown up. Also the fact that I've never heard about Franz before didn't help either. After finishing the book and doing a bit of research on my own, I am super impressed with Franz's pure curiosity, his perseverance, hard work and intense urge to invent something new. To balance his normal life and keep pursuing his passion, he had to give extra efforts, face disheartening remarks from his family members and neighbors alike but nothing stopped him from doing what he loved. The message is brilliantly conveyed with cute and amusing illustrations. Overall, a great book.

  • Skylaar Amann

    This is a really fun and engaging story about a real person I wasn't previously familiar with. I enjoyed learning about Franz and his imagination and spirit. This story is paired with whimsical and charming art. Both the text and imagery are sure to be engaging for young readers, especially those unsure if they belong in science, or who are born dreamers, artists, inventors, or other creative types.

  • Lindsey McDivitt

    Picture book biographies by Beth Anderson are always a fabulous read revealing the inspiring stories of little known people. This one, Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine, is well-researched, fun and thought provoking. Franz's inner drive to create overcomes the daily grind and also the active discouragement of others in his life. An interesting and valuable lesson for all of us to persevere
    and find the energy to continue to pursue the things that fascinate us.

  • Nette

    This book has a bit of a surprise when it comes to who this book is written about that is truly fascinating. Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine is colorful and beautifully illustrated. The message behind the story by Beth Anderson is one that children and adults alike can share, to be curious and to listen to that little voice that is telling you to create, to be curious, to learn. It's a very special book to share and it has fun activities to do after you are done reading,

  • Sarah Hovorka

    This is a picture book biography unlike others. It tells the true story of a creator of a wonderful machine... with seemingly no purpose. But when Franz's idea is finally brought to light, and the world and children are delighted, it's purpose is served. This book has the subtle message that sometimes just tinkering and creating is enough. And that even someone not trained or educated or using the "right" methods can make something beautiful.

  • Namita Mehra

    I absolutely loved this book! The word choice and pacing are extraordinary and it truly elevates the experience of reading a picture book. The illustrations are to die for and I can't imagine a single child not falling in love with the story and the art! Franz's true and inspiring story is sure to inspire the inventor in every child... fantastic, magical...phantasmagorical!

  • Carol Gordon Ekster

    What a wonderfully written picture book biography! Beth's language is lyrical and lovely. Every word is intentional. The illustrations are colorful and fun and perfect for this story. Kids will be inspired by the creativity and imagination and perseverance shown by Franz. A great read-aloud for all elementary aged children.

  • Katie Mazeika

    Gorgeously illustrated picture book biography about an inventor and artist. Beth Anderson tell’s Franz’s story with lyrical language that will make this a popular book to read at loud again and again. The message behind this true story is to never stop dreaming and never give up trying. A fabulous story for young artists, inventors and dreamers everywhere.

  • Danielle Hammelef

    A brightly illustrated picture book biography featuring a man with a dream and the life-long persistence to achieve his dreams--this man's story is inspirational as he never gave up on his dream of creating a kinetic larger-than-life work of art despite lack of education and other people telling him he should give up. I would love to see his machine in person.

  • Jo

    Knowing that this blue haired man actually exist shocked me. Beautifully wrapped in some kind of imaginary story, I didn't realize that this is happens in real life. A nice way to introduce people's biography through storybook.

  • Andréa

    Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

  • Kirsti Call

    Delightful story of kinetic sculpture...

  • Children's Literature Centre at FSU

    I enjoyed the creativity and perseverance that this book elicits. This is a great book to share with kids to teach them to wonder, create, and never give up

  • Phaea Crede

    Another amazing story from Beth Anderson! The story of Franz celebrates the joy in tinkering and discovering, and creating things that are beautiful - even if everyone doesn't get it.

  • Adriana

    Beautifully vivid, whimsical illustrations accompany this uplifting story based on the life of Franz Gsellmann, an Austrian inventor and tinkerer. For the daydreamer in all of us.

  • Jessica

    Beth Anderson does it again! Another must-add to my classroom.