Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World
By Elizabeth Rusch, Illustrated by Oliver Dominguez
Here is the story of the ambitious young man who brought life-changing ideas to America, despite the obstructive efforts of his hero-turned-rival, Thomas Edison. From using alternating current to light up the Chicago World’s Fair to harnessing Niagara Falls to electrify New York City and beyond, Nikola Tesla was a revolutionary ahead of his time.
Elizabeth Rusch sheds light on this extraordinary figure, while fine artist Oliver Dominguez brings his life and inventions to vivid color. Back matter includes additional information about Tesla, scientific notes and explanations, source notes, a bibliography, and suggestions for further reading. 8-12 years
A Life Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla
By Azadeh Westergaard, Illustrated by Júlia Sardà
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. 5-9 years
Zap! Nikola Tesla Takes the Charge
By Monica Kulling, Illustrated 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 onto 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. 5-8 years
Who Was Nikola Tesla?
By Jim Giglotti, Illustrated by John Hinderliter
When Nikola Tesla arrived in the United States in 1884, he didn’t have much money, but he did have a letter of introduction to renowned inventor Thomas Edison. The working relationship between the two men was short lived. The two scientist-inventors became harsh competitors. One of the most influential scientists of all time, Nikola Tesla is celebrated for his experiments in electricity, X-rays, remote controls, and wireless communications. His invention of the Tesla coil was instrumental in the development of radio technology. 8-12 years
Bright Dreams: The Brilliant Ideas of Nikola Tesla
By Tracy Dockray
Young Nikola Tesla got a shock when he rubbed his cat’s fur. That small spark lit his imagination forever. Covering his early years to his eventual success in the world of electricity, Bright Dreams showcases Tesla’s incredible journey of discovery and perseverance. Author-illustrator Tracy Dockray conveys Tesla’s busy and imaginative world with collage-style artwork and informative sidebars. 8-11 years
A Life Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla
By Azadeh Westergaard, Illustrated by Júlia Sardá
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. 5-9 years
Nicola Tesla (Little People, Big Dreams)
By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Illustrated by Alexander Mostov
Since he was a young boy growing up in the Austrian Empire, Nikola was fascinated by science and numbers. His teachers knew he had a brilliant mind, but Nikola’s irregular routines and fondness for playing cards meant that he was kicked out of school before he could finish his exams. After working for a spell at the Budapest Telephone Exchange, where he made several clever innovations to their electrical systems, he managed to get a job with Edison Machine Works in the United States, in New York.
In the U.S., Tesla’s inquisitive nature and ingenious mind spurred him on to keep exploring electricity, and he came up with several groundbreaking inventions during this time, including breakthroughs in alternating current and wireless remote controls. By the end of his life, the brilliant inventor had more than 300 patents for original and unique inventions, and had advanced scientific thought by a generation. 6-8 years
Nikola Tesla For Kids: His Life, Ideas and Inventions
with 21 Activities
By Amy M. O’Quinn
Nikola Tesla was a physicist, scientist, electrical engineer, and world-renowned inventor whose accomplishments faded into oblivion after his death in 1943. Tesla was undeniably eccentric and compulsive; some considered him to be somewhat of a “mad” scientist. But in reality, he was a visionary. Many of his ideas and inventions that were deemed impossible during his lifetime have since become reality.
He was the first to successfully use rotating magnetic fields to create an AC (alternating current) electrical power supply system and induction motor. He is now acknowledged to have invented the radio ahead of Marconi. Among other things, he developed the Tesla coil, an oscillator, generators, fluorescent tubes, neon lights, and a small remote-controlled boat. He helped design the world’s first hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls. This is the story of his life and ideas, complete with a timeline, 21 hands-on activities, and additional resources to better understand his many accomplishments. 9 and up.
Inventor, Engineer, and Physicist Nikola Tesla
By Katie Marsico
Have you ever tried to invent something? As a child, Nikola Tesla saw a picture of a waterfall and imagined an invention that would turn the water’s energy into electricity. Later, he invented a waterwheel which turned water power into usable energy. As a young adult, Tesla spent his spare time experimenting with electrical equipment. He worked for inventor Thomas Edison, improving power plants and machines that ran on direct current electricity. But Tesla believed electrical distribution could be better. He went on to invent alternating current electricity, which would allow people to distribute electricity over long distances. Learn how Tesla’s work eventually made turning on electrical devices as easy as flipping a switch! 7-11 years
