A Life Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla

by Azadeh Westergaard, Júlia Sardà (Illustrator)

Overview

A lyrical biography of the eccentric engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla
 
“An elegant and enlightening look at a man who brightened the whole world.” –Booklist, starred review



Born at the stroke of midnight during a lightning storm, Nikola Tesla grew up to become one of the most important electrical inventors in the world. But before working with electricity, he was a child who loved playing with the animals on his family's farm in Serbia.

An inventor since childhood, Tesla's patents encompassed everything from radar and remote-control technology to wireless communications. But his greatest invention was the AC induction motor, which used alternating currents ( AC) to distribute electricity and which remains the standard for electric distribution today. Tesla's love of animals also remained constant throughout his life and led to his anointment as the Pigeon Charmer of New York for his devotion to nature's original wireless messengers.

Exploring his groundbreaking inventions against the backdrop of his private life, A Life Electric introduces Nikola Tesla to young readers unlike ever before. Azadeh Westergaard's lyrical debut brings compassion and humanity to the legacy of the brilliant inventor, while the esteemed illustrator Júlia Sardà deftly brings him to life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593114612
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	07/27/2021
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Lexile:	990L (what's this?)
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Azadeh Westergaard received her BA from Harvard College and MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A Life Electric is her picture book debut. The daughter of an electrical engineer and originally from Iran, she grew up in the United States and now lives in New York City with her husband and three boys. Visit her at ahwestergaard.com.

Júlia Sardà is an artist who has illustrated many books for children, including The Liszts by Kyo Maclear and Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey. Her work has been published around the world in many languages. She lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Editorial Reviews

08/23/2021

This picture book biography profiles Serbian luminary Nikola Tesla (1856–1943), “one of the most important electrical inventors in the world—then and now.” Starting from childhood, the volume follows Tesla’s burgeoning interest in animals, electricity, and edification, leading to his inventing the alternating current induction motor at age 26, subsequently emigrating to the U.S., and eventually securing the contract to illuminate the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Debut author Westergaard punctuates her account of Tesla’s work with details about his life, such as his daily caretaking of pigeons into his old age, when he died “penniless and alone.” Intricate digital art by Sardà evokes folktales, Tesla’s Croatian heritage, and artwork of the time, with fine lines and a dusky color palette. A luminous resource. Back matter includes an author’s note with more about Tesla’s inventions and legacy, photos, and sources. Ages 5–9. (July)

Publishers Weekly

An elegant and enlightening look at a man who brightened the whole world.” –Booklist, starred review

“A portrait of the remarkable inventor as inquisitive, clever, and kindhearted. A fine introduction, handsomely illustrated.” –Kirkus Reviews

“For both pleasure reading and report writing, this is a worthy introduction to a brilliant scientist whose contributions have often been overshadowed by the better-known Thomas Edison.” –School Library Journal

From the Publisher

07/01/2021

Gr 2–5—Young Nikola Tesla was first fascinated by electricity when he stroked his cat and produced sparks. This led to a lifelong quest to solve mysteries of the natural world. Tesla was well educated, and the seed for his greatest scientific discovery—alternating current (AC)—evolved from a line of poetry dealing with forward and backward motion. This poetic image made him realize that current could also travel back and forth and thus provide electricity over long distances. After his method of illumination was used to light up the sky at the Chicago World's Fair, Tesla became known as the Wizard of Electricity. But his prominence was short-lived. His naivete resulted in financial downfall when his partner, George Westinghouse, experienced difficulties. And he suffered the consequences of a smear campaign led by his rival Thomas Edison. With spare language, Westergaard sensitively portrays the life of a gentle man whose moment of brilliance was bookended by his early love of nature and his later reclusive years in New York when he became a peculiar figure, devoted almost exclusively to feeding pigeons. Sardà's dark palette appropriately echoes the somber tone. Extensive back matter and excellent sourcing are included. VERDICT For both pleasure reading and report writing, this is a worthy introduction to a brilliant scientist whose contributions have often been overshadowed by the better-known Thomas Edison.—Gloria Koster, formerly at West Sch., New Canaan, CT

School Library Journal

2021-05-19
A portrait of the remarkable inventor as inquisitive, clever, and kindhearted.

As a boy, Nikola Tesla lavished attention on his family’s many fowl and was astonished by static electricity produced by stroking his cat’s fur. Tesla’s passion for reading and interest in electricity led to his immigration to the United States to work with Thomas Edison. The description of Tesla’s sudden insight about alternating current is nicely handled, with a patent drawing on the facing page, and the Goethe poem that helped inspire him is included in the backmatter. Westergaard briefly recounts the contentious relationship between Tesla and Edison. Sardà’s comical illustration here has each genius perched on a pedestal, arms and legs flailing as they engage in furious argument. Sardà’s marvelous artwork includes borders and motifs suggesting art from what is now Croatia, Tesla’s homeland, while depictions of the Chicago exposition and the New York skyline employ the decorative art style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. All the people in them are White. The financial arrangement with George Westinghouse that aided Tesla’s success at the Chicago world’s fair of 1893 later left him penniless. The loneliness and indignity of Tesla’s poverty in old age here is portrayed not so much as eccentricity but as the kindness of an elderly man toward city birds, a return to the simplicity of childhood. An extensive author’s note fills in the complex picture of Tesla’s life.

A fine introduction, handsomely illustrated. (sources) (Picture book/biography. 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews