From the author of Bartali’s Bicycle comes the inspiring true story of William J. Wilgus, the American civil engineer responsible for designing and constructing Grand Central Terminal.
 
Did you know that there was once a place in Manhattan that had a tennis club, ski slope, movie theater, and art gallery—all in the same building? It also had a secret passageway that was once used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a library with more than three thousand books, photos, and newspapers. On top of that, you can still catch a 4, 5, 6, 7, or Metro-North train there any day of the week. And you might not believe it, but this astounding building—Grand Central Terminal—was the work of one brilliant engineer: 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 it is still an integral part of the city over a century later.
Award-winning 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, this book will teach you as many facts about Grand Central Terminal to fill . . . well, Grand Central Terminal!
 
Contributor Bio(s)
 
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.