Tires, Spokes, and Sprockets

September 1, 2006
Gr 1-4 -These simple concept books are full of pizzazz and wonderfully illustrated with digital graphics that show kids doing typical kid things. The lumberman on the cover of "Cut" may not be as enticing as the active children depicted on the other titles. The book also has fewer internal pictures of youngsters, although there is a spread of a boy surrounded by wedges of cake, pie, and pizza. Other spreads depict and discuss doorstops, nails, and airplane wings. In "Roll", skateboards, playground slides, and roller coasters are used as examples. Best of all is "Scoop", which clearly describes several versions of the lever, found in the playground, garage, and kitchen. "Tires"discusses wheel sizes, gears, cranks, etc. Unfortunately, -axles - is misspelled on the cover. Each book has an activity and -Fun Facts. - The FactHound Web sites listed add more information, but don -t take kids to any fun, interactive sites. If you have Sally Hewitt -s "Machines We Use" (Children -s Press, 1998) or Anne Welsbacher -s -Understanding Simple Machines - series (Capstone, 2001), you may not need these books." -Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI"

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