Growing up in Smiljan, Croatia, Nikola Tesla dreamed about harnessing the power of Niagara Falls. In 1884, he walked down the gangplank into the New York Harbor with four cents in his pocket, a book of poems, a drawing of a flying machine, and a letter of introduction to Thomas Edison, the "electrical wizard" of America. Upon meeting, Edison sent Tesla to fix the SS Oregon as a test and was so astounded that he offered Tesla a job at his factory. Tesla and Edison had different views about electricity; Tesla wanted to develop an alternate current while Edison wanted to stick to the direct current system. Edison offered Tesla a large sum to make his direct current system more efficient, but when the work was done, Edison refused to pay. Tesla quit and when things were looking bleak, he met George Westinghouse, who also thought that alternating current was the way to light up America. He gave Tesla a job and in 1896, Tesla and Westinghouse built a generator at Niagara Falls that was able to send power as far as Buffalo, New York.
PRAISE FOR Zap! Nikola Tesla Takes Charge:
"[Zap!] introduces one of science’s most electrifying stars, Nikola Tesla .... Young readers will come away with an appreciation of his genius.” -Booklist
“Zap! Nikola Tesla Takes Charge is part of the truly outstanding 'Great Idea Series' and unreservedly recommended for elementary school and community library biographical picture book collections.” - Midwest Book Review
"Zap! is an inspiring [story] of pursuing one's dreams and overcoming challenging obstacles." -- BookLoons Reviews (blog)
Monica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica is the author of over 50 books for children, including the popular Great Idea series, stories of inventors. The third book in the series, In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up, was chosen as a Once Upon a World Children's Book Award Honor Book by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The sixth book in the series, Spic-and-Span! Lillian Gilbreth's Wonder Kitchen won the North Dakota Library Association 2016 Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award in the nonfiction category. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.
View titles by Monica Kulling
Bill Slavin has illustrated more than fifty books for children, including The Big Book of Canada, Bleeps and Blips to Rocket Ships and Shooting Hoops and Skating Loops. His work has received numerous awards, including the 2004 Blue Spruce Award and the 2004 CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's medal, both for his work on Stanley's Party. He shares his studio in Millbrook, Ontario with his wife, Esperança Melo.
View titles by Bill Slavin
Growing up in Smiljan, Croatia, Nikola Tesla dreamed about harnessing the power of Niagara Falls. In 1884, he walked down the gangplank into the New York Harbor with four cents in his pocket, a book of poems, a drawing of a flying machine, and a letter of introduction to Thomas Edison, the "electrical wizard" of America. Upon meeting, Edison sent Tesla to fix the SS Oregon as a test and was so astounded that he offered Tesla a job at his factory. Tesla and Edison had different views about electricity; Tesla wanted to develop an alternate current while Edison wanted to stick to the direct current system. Edison offered Tesla a large sum to make his direct current system more efficient, but when the work was done, Edison refused to pay. Tesla quit and when things were looking bleak, he met George Westinghouse, who also thought that alternating current was the way to light up America. He gave Tesla a job and in 1896, Tesla and Westinghouse built a generator at Niagara Falls that was able to send power as far as Buffalo, New York.
Reviews
PRAISE FOR Zap! Nikola Tesla Takes Charge:
"[Zap!] introduces one of science’s most electrifying stars, Nikola Tesla .... Young readers will come away with an appreciation of his genius.” -Booklist
“Zap! Nikola Tesla Takes Charge is part of the truly outstanding 'Great Idea Series' and unreservedly recommended for elementary school and community library biographical picture book collections.” - Midwest Book Review
"Zap! is an inspiring [story] of pursuing one's dreams and overcoming challenging obstacles." -- BookLoons Reviews (blog)
Monica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica is the author of over 50 books for children, including the popular Great Idea series, stories of inventors. The third book in the series, In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up, was chosen as a Once Upon a World Children's Book Award Honor Book by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The sixth book in the series, Spic-and-Span! Lillian Gilbreth's Wonder Kitchen won the North Dakota Library Association 2016 Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award in the nonfiction category. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.
View titles by Monica Kulling
Bill Slavin has illustrated more than fifty books for children, including The Big Book of Canada, Bleeps and Blips to Rocket Ships and Shooting Hoops and Skating Loops. His work has received numerous awards, including the 2004 Blue Spruce Award and the 2004 CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's medal, both for his work on Stanley's Party. He shares his studio in Millbrook, Ontario with his wife, Esperança Melo.
View titles by Bill Slavin
