All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine

"Get on Board!

we hear our conductor
singing low
the song she uses
to let us know
now is the time
to get on board...

the midnight train
runs underground
we hide and pray
not to be found
we risk our lives
to stay on board..."

So begins All Aboard! But All Aboard! is not the story of the Underground Railroad, rather it is the culmination of the Underground Railroad's greater purpose - a self-determined, productive life, lived out in freedom. Elijah McCoy was the son of slaves who escaped to Canada on the Underground Railroad. His determined and hardworking parents saved enough money to send Elijah to school overseas, where he studied to become a mechanical engineer.

He returned in 1866 to join his family in Michigan. Though he may have been free, show more his opportunities were not equal. Despite his education, he was only able to secure work as an "ashcat," feeding coal into the firebox of a steam engine for the Michigan Central Railroad,

"What a letdown! Elijah knew engines inside and out. He knew how to design them. He knew how to build them. He also knew the boss didn't think much of him because he was Black. But Elijah needed work, so he took the job. "

Still, Elijah persevered in his job while his mind, trained in engineering, sought to find a solution to the miserable job of "grease monkey," the boys (including Elijah) who oiled all of a train's gears when they frequently seized up due to friction and lack of lubrication. Trains of the time were typically stopped every half hour or so for greasing. After several years, Elijah invented (and patented) an oil cup, which was used successfully to keep the trains running. Travel by train became faster, safer, and more efficient. He continued to invent throughout his life, eventually filing 57 patents! Others tried to copy Elijah McCoy's oil cup, but none were able to match his success.

"When engineers wanted to make sure they got the best oil cup, they asked for the real McCoy."

All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine is an obscure but inspiring story, made particularly poignant by the juxtaposition of his parents' Underground Railroad experience, and his own experience working for the Michigan Central Railroad. The dialogue is invented and there are no references cited, however, the engaging story is simply told in a manner that makes complex topics like the inventive process and racism accessible to young readers. All Aboard! is short enough that it can easily be read aloud to a classroom or storytime for older children.

The book's pen and watercolor illustrations are colorful, and full of life and expression; the reverse side of the dust jacket doubles as poster. The cover design, however, does not showcase the Slavin’s work in the most favorable manner and gives the book a rather dated appearance. The design was likely chosen to match the series format. Don't judge this book by its cover. All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine is the second book in the Great Idea series.

http://www.shelf-employed.blogspot.com show less

What a delightful book! Deftly written, it touches upon a number of issues in Canadian/ American history (The Underground Railroad, trains & railways, racism, Black inventors) without losing the momentum of the story. The story is a worthy example of the value of determination, creativity, and belief in oneself that should resonate with young readers. The illustrations are well partnered to the story and are quite charming without being too cutesy. Recommended.

This was a fantastic book! It told the story of Elijah McCoy, the son of freed slaves, who was the inventor of many contraptions. As a teacher, this is a book that I will definitely refer to in my classroom. It is a great multicultural addition to my classroom library, it is interesting, and it even teaches where the saying, "the real McCoy," originates from. I even enjoyed the illustrations!

This is a book about Elijah McCoy and his invention of an oil cup used in locomotives in the late 1800s. One of the things I love most about the book is that the characters in the illustrations are drawn with an expression that allows the reader to know just what each character is most likely thinking or feeling. The book not only focuses on how Elijah accomplish his task but it also shows how he's invention affected other people including the safety of others. One thing the book is missing that I like to see in children's biographies is a timeline. My favorite part of the book is the poem titled "Get on Board!" The poem may be above the level of the intended readers of this book but would make a great poem for older students to analyze.

The "Great Idea Series" seems to be one that would interest any curious child. From reading "All Aboard!" I have inferred that the books in this series tell the history of some of the most important inventions known to man. This was the most fascinating part of the book. Not often do I consider trains, nor do I find them terribly interesting, but this book presented them in a way that made me feel like I was learning something new and was very interesting. I would love to see more books from this series describing other lesser-known, but still important inventions from the past.

As far as the actual story, I felt that the text was rather choppy. Many sentences seemed to end abruptly or did not connect well to preceding sentences. I did show more enjoy the pictures in the story, but felt that the lack of rhythm to the text would not engage young readers/listeners. However, I do think the idea is fascinating and should be improved by more natural-sounding writing. show less

All Aboard is a wonderful biography for children. How important to introduce little ones to the lives of those who can encourage us to greatness! Elijah McCoy was the son of slaves who studied in Scotland, and returned to America to find that America was not willing to accept a black man in a role of great importence....a mechanical engineer. The great lesson? Don't let the ways of others stop you. He went on to do great things, read on!

The style is targeting very young kids about kindergarten age. While it could benefit from slightly smoother flow at the beginning, it improves and actually has a very good story. The illustrations, however, are excellent. All told this is well written children's books which I would pay to have on my shelf.