Boing-Boing the Bionic Cat by Larry Hench...Can of Worms Press

Boing-Boing the Bionic Cat

Larry Hench
Illustrated by Ruth Denise Lear

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Price: $17.00 US

Hard cover | 48 pages | ISBN: 1-57498-109-9

"Daniel, if I've told you once, I've told you a million times: you cannot have a cat because you are allergic to them," said Daniel's mother.

So begins a young boy's journey into friendship and adventure, and his introduction to engineering and technology by his thoughtful and inventive neighbor, Professor George, who has a surprise planned to help Daniel. Using ceramic and electronic materials from his research lab, Professor George builds Daniel a bionic cat of his very own. With its fiber-optic fur, computer-controlled joints, electronic eyes, and ceramic-sensor whiskers, it's just like a real cat!

Join Boing-Boing, Daniel, and Professor George as they explore the exciting world of science, engineering, and technology-and discover how Boing-Boing gets its name!

In this charming book-the first in a series-Larry L. Hench, Ph.D. introduces children to the evolving process of science, the benefits and limits of technology, and the caring and understanding from adult role models, through the creation of a bionic cat. His engaging and entertaining stories of friendship and adventure bring Boing-Boing the Bionic Cat to life!

Larry L. Hench, Ph.D., served as professor of ceramic engineering for 32 years at The University of Florida, and is currently Professor of ceramic materials at Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine at the University of London and director of the Imperial College Centre for Tissue Regeneration and Repair.

A world-renowned scientist, graduate of The Ohio State University, and Fellow of The American Ceramic Society- Hench's numerous achievements, honors, scholarly writings, and patents, over his 40-year career, span several fields; including: ceramics, glass and glass-ceramic materials, radiation damage, nuclear waste solidification, advanced optical materials, origins of life, ethics, technology transfer, and bioceramics applications and mechanisms.

He is credited with the discovery of Bioglass®, the first man-made material to bond to living bone-helping millions of people; and he continues to discover new applications in bioceramics for this amazing material. Hench is currently working with students to find the genes that are activated by bioactive glasses and ceramics. Once found, he hopes to develop preventive treatments to stop deterioration of bones in people as they grow older.

His children's books extend his love of teaching, and science and engineering to a new generation. Everything built into the stories is scientifically valid and could be done. The inspiration for these books comes from his nine grandchildren.

Hench, an Ohio native, now divides his time between London and the United States. He and his wife, June Wilson, share four children and nine grandchildren.

Ruth Denise Lear was born in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England in 1965, and lives now with her husband and three children in a rural village on the outskirts of Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Her love of drawing began in childhood and has never left her. If there is a blank sheet of paper around she cannot resist doodling on it.

Boing-Boing the Bionic Cat is her first book, and she couldn't be more excited about it. Ruth says, "It is particularly apt that it should be about a cat, as I've always loved them very much-both wild and domestic; although I've never seen a bionic cat!" Not until now, anyway.