Zap Nikola Tesla Takes Charge [Hardcover]

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 theSS Oregonas 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 analternatecurrent while Edison wanted to stick to thedirectcurrent 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 FORZap! 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 Chargeis 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 KULLINGis a poet who has published over forty books for children, including picture books, adaptations of classic novels, and biographies. Known for introducing biography to children who are just learning to read, she has written about Harriet Tubmanl‹