Growing up in Budapest in the mid-20th century, Ernő Rubik was a curious child who loved figuring out the way things worked. He studied art and architecture before becoming a teacher, building models to help his students learn about three-dimensional objects. “Would it be possible to build a big cube out of smaller cubes that moved around each other and stay connected?” Ernő decided to try. This intriguing look at Rubik’s efforts is a wonderful account of trial-and-error and problem-solving in action. An important part of Ernő’s process was taking breaks to reflect on sticking points in his design. He would sometimes walk, finding inspiration and answers as he did. The round core at center of the cube, for example, was inspired by the way he saw water moving around pebbles in a river. More about Ernő’s “magic cube,” which is now known around the world as the Rubik’s Cube, is included in the back matter. Colorful mixed-media and collage illustrations that draw on the Rubik’s Cube and Ernő’s life for inspiration are an engaging accompaniment to the narrative.