A History of Travel in 50 Vehicles

September 1, 2016

Gr 6 Up-An engaging history of travel with a focus on how and why advancements were made and their relationship to one another. In the introduction, Phillip Hoose clarifies that this volume is centered on travel and the movement of people, with attention to stories of reinvention (e.g., trains moving from steam to electric power, thus changing the design, function, and capability of trains). Each one of the 50 items contains full-color illustrations and photographs. In addition to the main text, informational sidebars are found throughout. The entries are arranged chronologically, beginning with shoes in the year 200,000 BCE and ending with the Segway in 2001. However, there are hints of what vehicles are to come in the future, with a discussion of commercial space flight. A few of the vehicles, such as elevators and jetpacks, may be surprising entries, but their inclusion makes this a comprehensive work. Appended are a detailed glossary, source notes, and suggestions for further research. VERDICT An immensely readable and thorough resource for school libraries and world history collections.-Kevin McGuire, Woodland Hills School District, PA

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