Motorcycles

Children's Literature - Joella Peterson

In this edition of the "Now That's Fast!" series, readers learn all about motorcycles. According to the bar graph included at the beginning of the book, motorcycles can go about 120 miles per hour. The graph compares that to skateboards that go about 15 miles per hour and humans that on their own can go about 12 miles per hour. In a basic sense, it tells how motorcycles are bicycles with engines; however, it also explains about the various types of motorcycles—from mopeds to motocross bikes—and the history of motorcycles. Once again the main selling point of this book is the photographs. Each color photograph is large and fills one or two pages. There is a lovely picture of what a road looks like to riders looking over the handlebars of a motorcycle. There are also photos of drivers, races, and all kinds of motorcycles. Young readers who love motorcycles will be drawn to looking at this book (for the photographs, the text, and then the photographs) over and over again. Reviewer: Joella Peterson

Children's Literature

AGERANGE: Ages 4 to 8.

Language and layout make this informational picture book highly accessible for young readers. It is laid out in chapters, with well spaced text on the left and photographs with captions on the right. The photos feature motorcycles of all types; most of the photos are action shots showing the earliest prototypes to today's hot racing bikes. The reader gleans some history of the motorcycle, its purposes and characteristics. The text is not at all dry, however; in words a first grader knows, the author describes the appeal and utility of the motorcycle. There are six chapters of varying length, including one about history, racing, and balancing. A short glossary helps with the few difficult words such as "passenger." The book ends with a challenge for children: a way to test their balance on wheels. The book is one of a series, "My First Look at Vehicles," and is a useful, entertaining addition to young readers' informational books. Reviewer: Diane Carver Sekeres, Ph.D.