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 shovelling 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.

 

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 2013 by Tundra Books .

Monica Kulling is the author of over fifty books for children. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Her books have been selected for many honors, including Simon Wiesenthal Center's "Once Upon a World Children's Book Award" and the Norma Fleck Award for Children's Non-Fiction. She lives in Toronto, Canada. Bill Slavin is an award-winning children's book illustrator with over 50 books to his credit. His works include Stanley's Party and The Bear on the Bed He lives in Millbrook, Ontario.