Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone

(Hardback)

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In this first picture book in the Black Innovators series, meet the insatiably curious Jim West, who invented a vital piece of the device we all carry in our pocketstransforming how the world communicates today.

Young Jim West loves to pull apart whatever electronics he can get his hands on to see how they work. Those around him say theres no path for a kid like him to become a scientist, but Jim is determined to forge his own way. His knack for all things electric (and luck in landing a summer job offering the freedom to experiment) lead him to invent an important part of the devices we rely on every day. In this picture book biography for science lovers, future inventors, and anyone aiming to inspire the next generation, author Ainissa Ramirez shares the story of the man who patented the foil-electret microphone, a unit integral to everything from cell phones to hearing aids. Just as Jim Wests advocacy for more diversity in the field paved the way for many scientists of color to follow, Spark inspires readers of all ages to follow their curiosityand see what it ignites. Back matter provides an authors note, a time line, a bibliography, and more information on the life and work of Jim West.

Author Bio

Ainissa Ramirez dreamed of becoming a scientist since she was a little girl. She got the idea after seeing an African American girl solve problems on a television show called 3-2-1 Contact. In that moment, Ainissa saw her reflection. She later earned her doctorate in materials science from Stanford and worked at Bell Labs, where she met Jim West. She wrote this bookthe first of a planned trilogy about Black innovatorsso that others can see their reflections in science, too. You can find out more about Ainissa Ramirez at www.ainissaramirez.com.

Setor Fiadzigbey is an illustrator, artist, art director, and concept artist. Originally from Ghana, he studied science and engineering before realizing he wanted to be an artist. Since then, he has illustrated Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas, Bunheads by Misty Copeland, and Epic Athletes: LeBron James by Dan Wetzel.