The Boy Who Cancelled Friction

By Greg Nelson

This book uses a fantasy tale to teach hard science about a very complex and poorly understood scientific phenomenon -- FRICTION -- to young children in a way they find both intriguing and relatable. Our young protagonist, Theo, is approached by a mysterious being called the Wish Magician, who wants Theo to make a wish that will make the world better. Based on recent unpleasant encounters with friction, Theo decides he wants it gone.  What results is an eye-opening series of events, ranging from unfortunate to catastrophic, that show just how far-reaching the effects of friction are in our everyday lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: GDN Enterprises
• Release date: Oct 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223702863

Greg Nelson

Greg Nelson , this tale’s author, has a doctorate in Early Learning and Cognition, and he has spent the better part of the last half century either teaching young children or educating future early-childhood educators.  His areas of expertise include fostering young children’s early math and science understanding in developmentally appropriate ways, and detailing how to create and maintain stimulating and socially healthy learning environments for children. Greg is the father of three children of his own. He is now happily retired and currently lives with his wife Ann in Raynham, Massachusetts. Though Greg has had a life-long love of quality children’s literature, this is his first attempt to create a children’s book himself. Timothy Gracia Jr. this tale’s illustrations editor, is not just a QA Automation Engineer by profession but an explorer at heart, often delving into the realms of artificial intelligence and automation. His days are spent ensuring the smooth orchestration of code, while his free hours are dedicated to unraveling the endless possibilities it holds. Away from the screen, Tim’s world revolves around his young son Apollo, whose boundless curiosity is a gentle reminder of life’s simpler joys. His family - completed by his wife Chrissy and their playful dog Xena - is his sanctuary, a place where laughter echoes through the halls and love binds them together. Whether he's embarking on a coding adventure or enjoying a serene afternoon with his family, Tim carries a zest for discovery and a heart full of gratitude for the little moments that make life grand.

Book preview

Theo woke that morning, stretched, yawned, and smiled as the sunlight streamed into his room. Yes, today was going to be a good day, he thought. Not just because it was Saturday – which made it ever-so-much-better than a school day – but because today was the annual family picnic – an event he looked forward to the entire year.

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Theo looked at himself in the mirror. What he saw was a thin, short boy ten years old, one who enjoyed school – especially science – and much preferred reading to playground sports. Some of his classmates thought that made him totally uncool, but Theo just ignored them.

Once up, Theo gobbled down his breakfast, did his chores, helped his mother pack the family’s contribution to the picnic buffet (a fancy casserole), and off they went.

One of the first events of the picnic was the traditional family tug-of-war. Standing next to his parents and grabbing the rope, Theo waited eagerly for the signal PULL!. He gripped the rope tightly, and at the signal pulled with all his might.