THE HOUSE THAT CLEANED ITSELF

What should you do when a house gets dirty?

An idea began to percolate in Frances Gabe’s mind after she hosed off a jam-spotted kitchen wall. An avowed hater of housework during a time when women were questioning their roles as homemakers, Frances wondered how she could create a house that would clean up after itself. This unusual biography, with chatty text and appealing, retro-styled illustrations, has a distinctive focus; it depicts the development of an idea that—at least so far—has not been embraced. Through innovative thinking, resilience, a feminist sensibility, and a touch of zaniness, Frances—who had only a high school education—did succeed in making a house that washed itself, but despite the attention the house garnered, it was deemed impractical (indoor raincoats and multiple machines were seen as too much). Still, her enthusiasm, purpose, and originality shine through in this gently humorous selection, showing that effort is worthwhile, and besides, “maybe one day a young inventor will figure out how to build on Frances’s ideas—and go out and do something about it.” Frances was white, but the young girl staring determinedly at building blocks opposite this statement is a child of color.

This quirky selection shows the lively inner life of a less-than-successful inventor who followed her dreams.