Description

Written by award-winning author Megan Hoyt, this thoughtful STEM picture book biography about the brilliant architect of Grand Central Terminal is a celebration of resilience in the face of adversity, creative problem solving, and, of course, trains!

There was once a place in New York City that had a tennis club, movie theater, and art gallery—all in the same building! It also had a secret passageway, a huge library, and even a ski slope.

This astounding building is Grand Central Terminal, and it was the work of one brilliant man: William J. Wilgus. When William, an experienced engineer, wanted to create a new electric-powered train system, he knew he needed to house this special fleet somewhere exceptional. His grand idea of a solution? An underground multilevel train station that would become an iconic New York landmark, and one that is still an integral part of the city over a century later.

Acclaimed author Megan Hoyt pays homage to William J. Wilgus and his crowning achievement in this STEM-oriented picture book biography, with whimsical illustrations by Dave Szalay.

About the Author

Megan Hoyt first fell in love with reading on a cozy branch of the crab apple tree outside her Texas home. She devoured Beverly Cleary’s books there, and Marguerite Henry’s “horsey books” still remind her of the loud Texas cicadas at dusk. Bartali’s Bicycle is Megan’s debut picture book biography. Her first picture book was Hildegard’s Gift, and her poem, “Thanksgiving by the Lake,” appears in the anthology Thanku: Poems of Gratitude. When she is not writing, Megan tutors child actors on set for Disney, Warner Bros., Showtime, and Cinemax, among others. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where most days she is surrounded by three fluffy pups and piles upon piles of picture books. Visit Megan online at www.meganhoyt.net.

Dave Szalay is an author and award-winning illustrator/designer based in Richfield, Ohio, where he lives with his wife Krista and three cats.

Praise For…

“A charming tale, and to think it’s all true! Whether readers are train and construction buffs or not, this is a living, breathing biography of a building, and the man who believed in it from the ground up. Extraordinary.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“A colorful tale. A rare introduction to one of New York City’s more influential but lesser-known builders, and his “Grand” work.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Hoyt’s lively text is chockful of information, presented in a child-friendly way. Szalay’s textured, detail-fueled digital illustrations ably convey time and place.” — Horn Book Magazine

“[An] informational STEM picture book with an emphasis on problem-solving.” — Booklist