Dorling Kindersley Visual Timeline of Transportation

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-An entertaining introduction to the history of transportation. Loosely divided into four eras, it gives brief overviews of each historical phase and provides a smattering of specific advances made during that time frame. While each entry-whether for a Viking ship, a chariot, or the Concorde-is accorded 50-75 words, there are many full-color photographs and all double-page spreads are bracketed by top and bottom timelines. Several examples have been selected not just for their importance, but also with a sense of fun. Thus, students see not only the expected trains and planes, but also Germany's 1817 ``running machine'' (predecessor to the bicycle), Indian elephant armor from 1600, and early skateboards. Browsers will enjoy leafing through centuries of progress via these well-written short takes.-Anita Palladino, Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NY

Chris Sherman

The familiar, oversize DK format, with concise blocks of text interspersed with large, clear full-color photographs and drawings, works well for Wilson's history of transportation. From transportation on land and water in 10,000 B.C. to future trends, he documents innovations and milestones throughout the world (natives in Hawaii were using surfboards when Cook arrived in 1778), as well as related technological developments (fuels, materials) and advances in scientific knowledge. The book is a browser's delight, but there's enough solid information for reports. Although the three time lines (air, land, and water) cover increasingly smaller increments of time and become more densely packed with photographs, they do not lose clarity in the process.