Buy Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Home > Children's Books > Teen & Young Adult General interest > Biography and autobiography > Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone: (The Black Innovators)
Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone: (The Black Innovators)

Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone: (The Black Innovators)


     0     
5
4
3
2
1



International Edition


X
About the Book

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 pockets—transforming 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 there’s 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 West’s 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 curiosity—and see what it ignites. Back matter provides an author’s note, a time line, a bibliography, and more information on the life and work of Jim West.

About the Author :
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 book—the first of a planned trilogy about Black innovators—so 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.

Review :
Fiadzigbey’s vibrant illustrations capture both the thrill of discovery and the historical weight of West’s contributions in this illuminating biography. . . .
—Publishers Weekly

A warm salute to an undersung Black scientist. . . . [Ramirez’s] explanations of the science are in-depth and sure to appeal to STEM-minded kids like West. . . .In her biographical afterword, the author also points to West’s continuing efforts to draw more people of color into scientific fields—a theme the illustrator underscores by adding colleagues and students with darker skin tones to group scenes.
—Kirkus Reviews


Best Sellers


Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9781536225280
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press,U.S.
  • Publisher Imprint: MIT Kids Press
  • Height: 268 mm
  • No of Pages: 40
  • Returnable: Y
  • Spine Width: 10 mm
  • Width: 226 mm
  • ISBN-10: 1536225282
  • Publisher Date: 21 Oct 2025
  • Binding: Hardback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: Y
  • Series Title: The Black Innovators
  • Weight: 480 gr


Similar Products

Add Photo
Add Photo

Customer Reviews

REVIEWS      0     
Click Here To Be The First to Review this Product
Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone: (The Black Innovators)
Candlewick Press,U.S. -
Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone: (The Black Innovators)
Writing guidlines
We want to publish your review, so please:
  • keep your review on the product. Review's that defame author's character will be rejected.
  • Keep your review focused on the product.
  • Avoid writing about customer service. contact us instead if you have issue requiring immediate attention.
  • Refrain from mentioning competitors or the specific price you paid for the product.
  • Do not include any personally identifiable information, such as full names.

Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone: (The Black Innovators)

Required fields are marked with *

Review Title*
Review
    Add Photo Add up to 6 photos
    Would you recommend this product to a friend?
    Tag this Book Read more
    Does your review contain spoilers?
    What type of reader best describes you?
    I agree to the terms & conditions
    You may receive emails regarding this submission. Any emails will include the ability to opt-out of future communications.

    CUSTOMER RATINGS AND REVIEWS AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TERMS OF USE

    These Terms of Use govern your conduct associated with the Customer Ratings and Reviews and/or Questions and Answers service offered by Bookswagon (the "CRR Service").


    By submitting any content to Bookswagon, you guarantee that:
    • You are the sole author and owner of the intellectual property rights in the content;
    • All "moral rights" that you may have in such content have been voluntarily waived by you;
    • All content that you post is accurate;
    • You are at least 13 years old;
    • Use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity.
    You further agree that you may not submit any content:
    • That is known by you to be false, inaccurate or misleading;
    • That infringes any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights or rights of publicity or privacy;
    • That violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising);
    • That is, or may reasonably be considered to be, defamatory, libelous, hateful, racially or religiously biased or offensive, unlawfully threatening or unlawfully harassing to any individual, partnership or corporation;
    • For which you were compensated or granted any consideration by any unapproved third party;
    • That includes any information that references other websites, addresses, email addresses, contact information or phone numbers;
    • That contains any computer viruses, worms or other potentially damaging computer programs or files.
    You agree to indemnify and hold Bookswagon (and its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, employees and third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.), harmless from all claims, demands, and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of a breach of your representations and warranties set forth above, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.


    For any content that you submit, you grant Bookswagon a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell, transfer, and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Additionally,  Bookswagon may transfer or share any personal information that you submit with its third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc. in accordance with  Privacy Policy


    All content that you submit may be used at Bookswagon's sole discretion. Bookswagon reserves the right to change, condense, withhold publication, remove or delete any content on Bookswagon's website that Bookswagon deems, in its sole discretion, to violate the content guidelines or any other provision of these Terms of Use.  Bookswagon does not guarantee that you will have any recourse through Bookswagon to edit or delete any content you have submitted. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days. However, Bookswagon reserves the right to remove or to refuse to post any submission to the extent authorized by law. You acknowledge that you, not Bookswagon, are responsible for the contents of your submission. None of the content that you submit shall be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Bookswagon, its agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or third party service providers (including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.)and their respective directors, officers and employees.

    Accept


    Inspired by your browsing history


    Your review has been submitted!

    You've already reviewed this product!