4 X 4 Desert Trucks

Children's Literature

An entry in the well-done "Roaring Rides" series, this book features gutsy vocabulary, interesting insider jargon, boxed "Roaring Facts," and informative picture captions for the well-chosen photos. The setup is designed to grab the attention of would-be car aficionados with frequent topic-headed text and plenty of white space. Some facts are printed over a mud-splash shape which also contributes to the easily-browsed appeal. Readers learn how drivers tinker with their trucks and 4x4's to make them faster and more powerful, the safety features of desert racers, the rules and the reasons for them, and how pit crews function. In addition, short bios of two typical racers and a map of the SCORE Baja 1000 course are included. While the vocabulary is often challenging, to the interested reader this is a seductive invitation to hunker down and read for awhile. Numerous websites, a glossary, and an index are included. 2004, Rourke Publishing, Ages 10 to 14.
—Susan Hepler, Ph.D.