Spark

Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone

Ainissa Ramirez, Setor Fiadzigbey

$34.99

Hardback

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English

MIT Kids Press
01 October 2025

People & places (Children's&YA); Science & technology: general interest (Children's&YA); Educational: Technology

Series: The Black Innovators

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.

By: Ainissa Ramirez
Illustrated by: Setor Fiadzigbey
Imprint: MIT Kids Press
Country of Publication: United States [Currently unable to ship to USA: see Shipping Info]
Dimensions: Height: 268mm, Width: 226mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 428g
ISBN: 9781536225280
ISBN 10: 1536225282
Series: The Black Innovators
Pages: 40
Publication Date: 01 October 2025
Recommended Age: From 5 to 9 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , English as a second language
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

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.

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

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