Westergaard, Azadeh. Life Electric, A: The Story of Nikola Tesla. Júlia Sardà, Illus. Biography. Viking, 07/2021. 40pp. $23.99. 978-0-593-11460-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 2-5.
This well-researched picture book biography explores the fascinating life of prolific inventor Nikola Tesla, father of the AC (alternating current) induction motor that ushered in the modern electrical era. Born in 1856 in what is now Croatia, he died in New York in 1943—impoverished and largely forgotten by the world. Folksy, woodblock-style illustrations with recurring motifs provide a fitting accompaniment to the enchanting text that begins: “At the stroke of midnight…thunder clapped. Lightning flashed. And a baby boy was born.” Small details about the eccentric, animal-loving Tesla make the story soar. Some illustrations are simply astounding, including one showing the hundreds of pigeons that shared the small NYC hotel room where he lived in his final years. An informative author’s note, and source information, add further depth to a biography recommended for all libraries.
Jenny Andrus, Independent