Where Is New Jersey?

Dive into the history, geography, and culture of New Jersey in this installment of the 50 States series. From major cities to historic events, Where Is New Jersey? introduces you to the state in a whole new way, whether you’re proud to call it home or learning about a distant destination.

Visit famous landmarks like the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Meet important people like inventor Thomas Edison. Read about the state that saw more Revolutionary War battles than any other. Fans of sports, nature, and weird facts will all find something to love about the home of the Jersey Devil—and more diners than any other state!

Including timelines, black-and-white illustrations, and a fact-filled “At a Glance” section, this book has everything you need to know about the heritage, development, and present day of New Jersey.Tracy Vonder Brink is always curious about the world around her. She loves to make facts and true stories fun and has written many books for kids. Tracy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and enjoys reading, hiking, and playing with her two rescue dogs.

Annette Whipple celebrates curiosity and inspires others to live in wonder. She is the author of many fact-filled children’s books, including The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press) and Chomp! The Truth About Sharks (Reycraft Books). When Annette’s not reading or writing, you might find her baking for her family or exploring a park near her home in Pennsylvania. Get to know her at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.

Ted Hammond is an illustrator and graphic novel cover artist. His art has been seen in Heavy Metal magazine and Zenescope Comics.Where Is New Jersey?

Thomas Edison was a full-time inventor from the age of twenty-two. Starting in 1876, Edison and his team worked together in a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where they used scientific equipment for experiments. Edison called it the Invention Factory. In 1877, he had an idea for a machine that could record spoken messages. Edison drew a design for the recording machine and gave it to one of his team members to build.

Soon, the machine was ready. Edison turned a wheel on its side and yelled into a mouthpiece, “Mary had a little lamb . . .” Then he turned the wheel back to the starting point. To his amazement, he heard his voice saying the nursery rhyme! “I was never so taken aback in my life,” he said later, astounded at what he had heard.

Edison called his invention the phonograph. He and his workers built more and showed them off to the public. The president of the United States even invited Edison to the White House to demonstrate his invention.

The phonograph wasn’t the last big invention created in the state. Edison is one of many New Jerseyans who have helped change the world.