    | Unconventional vehicles : forty-five of the strangest cars, trains, planes, submersibles, dirigibles, and rockets ever Author: Hearst, Michael | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
Get ready to learn about 45 of the strangest, most unconventional vehicles that have ever existed--from submersibles to dirigibles, and everything in between.
| Illustrator: | Jenssen, Hans |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/01/21)
School Library Journal (06/01/21)
Booklist (04/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 04/01/2021 This fun and informative entry in the Uncommon Compendiums series will appeal to lovers of vehicles of all kinds. Hearst provides hilarious asides as he presents facts about 45 quirky and unusual vehicles, which he defines as “just about anything that moves (and typically carries something else) . . . including animals!” Each entry's history, manufacturer, and year of production is accompanied by colored line drawings, diagrams and cross sections, and related factoids. Curious readers will learn about a handcar, a human cannonball truck, an unpiloted solar aircraft, the jet pack, Mad Mike Hughes’ ill-fated Liberty One steam-powered rocket, a drivable monowheel (this one inspired a poem by Hearst), and a swallowable camera, among many others. The ostrich carriage’s description even includes a true/false quiz. Kids will get a kick out of the Beer Bike, which includes Hearst’s humorous warning—“Do Not Read Until You Are 21 Years Old (or 16 if you’re in Germany)”—plus helpful German vocabulary. Kids will enjoy learning about these fascinating and outlandish vehicles. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 06/01/2021 Gr 5–8—Vehicle enthusiasts are treated to a fast and funny examination of wild inventions in our transportation history. Readers will learn about the Airbus Beluga, which carries large airplane parts; the HZ-1 Aerocycle, a personal helicopter; and the Scubadoo, an underwater battery-powered scooter; along with many other crafts designed to move people over land, through the air, and underwater. Each invention is described over a two-page spread featuring the manufacturer and dates of production. Illustrations are accompanied by cross-sections, size comparisons, and diagrams. The entries do not include a lot of information but there is enough to pique readers' interest and it is delivered in an amusing and often sarcastic manner. Entries are presented alphabetically, so don't be surprised to see Voyager next to a walking truck. VERDICT This silly encyclopedia might seem light on information but it has just enough to tap into curious minds. Hand this to future engineers.—Cathy DeCampli, Haddonfield P.L., NJ - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
