All Aboard!

Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine

by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Bill Slavin

tagged: historical, science & technology

Description

In the second of Tundra's Great Idea Series, biographies for children who are just starting to read, Monica Kulling presents the life of an extraordinary man. There were few opportunities for the son of slaves, but Elijah McCoy's dreams led him to study mechanical engineering in Scotland. He learned everything there was to know about engines - how to design them and how to build them. But when he returned to the United States to look for work at the Michigan Central Railroad, the only job Elijah could get was shoveling coal into a train's firebox. Undaunted, he went on to invent a means of oiling the engine while the train was running, changing the face of travel around the world. With playful text and lively illustrations, All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine may be the first biography a child discovers, and it will whet the appetite for many more.

About the Authors

Monica Kulling

MONICA KULLING iis the author of more than sixty books for children, including Aunt Pearl, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher; and Ruby’s Hope: A Story of How the Famous “Migrant Mother” Photograph Became the Face of the Great Depression, illustrated by Sarah Dvojak. She has written the popular Great Idea series, and her work has been nominated for many awards, including numerous Silver Birch Express and Golden Oak awards and the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Bill Slavin

Contributor Notes

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Monica Kulling is a poet who has published many 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 Tubman, Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Amelia Earhart, among others. Her book It's a Snap! George Eastman's First Photograph, illustrated by Bill Slavin, was the first in Tundra's Great Idea Series, followed by All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine and In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up. Monica Kulling is also the author of the hilarious Merci Mister Dash! Visit her website at www.monicakulling.ca. The author lives in Toronto, Canada.

Bill Slavin has illustrated over eighty books for children, including The Big Book of Canada by Christopher Moore, The Library Book by Maureen Sawa, It's a Snap! George Eastman's First Photograph and All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine by Monica Kulling. Among his many honors, he has won the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, the Blue Spruce Award, and the Zena Sutherland Award for Children's Literature. Bill lives near Millbrook. Ontario.

Age:: 5 to 8
Grade:: k to 3

Editorial Review

Praise for All Aboard!

"An engaging biography of the African-American inventor.... The narrative includes fictionalized dialogue and clear explanations about how the machinery works and concludes with an inspiring message.... Expressive watercolors, some full page and some full spread, capture the time period, allowing readers to imagine what life was like in this era, and add energy and touches of humor." - School Library Journal and Black History Month 2011: SLJ's Picks

"... The facts are well supported by the colourful pictures. McCoy's life is an inspiration to young people as it tells of his dream and passion for becoming an engineer... an excellent read aloud. These bold illustrations are full of action showing trains and people in motion and likely to keep young readers' interest. Highly recommended." - Resource Links

Buy this book at:

Indigo