Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone
Jim West could not leave machines alone. Radios, electronics, anything with wires and parts made him want to look closer and ask how it worked. Spark follows that childhood curiosity as it grows into a scientist’s determination, even when people around Jim do not believe a Black boy can build a future in science. Written for young readers, this picture book biography shows how his love of electricity helped lead to the foil-electret microphone, a tiny invention used in everyday devices from phones to hearing aids. The story also honors West’s work opening doors for more scientists of color. With vivid illustrations and helpful back matter, Spark invites readers to see invention as a mix of questions, courage, careful experimenting, and the power to be heard.
6-8 Years
42 Pages
