Military Machines

Children's Literature - Amy S. Hansen

Part of the "How it Works" series, Parker writes about machines that are used by the warriors of the world. This is the weakest of the series, addressing neither the environmental issues found in the other books, nor some of the basic science involved in building these weapons. But even with these sins of omission, the book will intrigue kids that hunger for information. Parker is at his best when he is explaining, as he does about the M2Bradley. "The M2 Bradley's 600 horsepower diesel engine gives a top speed of 50 miles (65 km) per hour, which is enough to outrun tanks and many other armored vehicles. The tracks can cross most obstacles including ditches and fallen trees." Each vehicle is covered in a two-page spread with many pictures, long captions, and boxes of information. There are web links at the top of each double-page spread. While there is no strong narrative, Parker's tone is does a good job of pulling you into the exciting information. Backmatter includes an illustrated glossary, and index. Reviewer: Amy S. Hansen