The World's Fastest Cars

Children's Literature

Car racing is a growing sport, which is becoming more popular with young people, too. This book traces the history of fast cars designed primarily for speed. Types of racers, their special features and the cost of construction are discussed in text that is understandable and concise. The book proceeds to feature the development of the McLaren F1, Indianapolis 500 history and cars, Top Fuel Dragsters, and the Thrust Supersonic Car (SSC). Persons instrumental in the development of modern racing as well as the language and goals of the sport are noted. A glossary, fast fact section, index and sources for further study are included. Color and black-and-white photos are included. 2001, Capstone Press, $21.26. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger

School Library Journal

Gr 3-8-These books look at subjects that should tempt the most reluctant readers. They cover different types of cars, planes, and boats that vie for various speed records and include small full-color photographs of many of the models. Trying to simplify the explanation of highly technical aspects such as aerodynamic lift is difficult and can result in the overuse of the subject-verb-object sentence structure, making it stupefyingly dull for more advanced readers. Boats and Cars do a fair job at using the occasional introductory clause to vary the syntactic rhythm. Airplanes has the most technical material and sticks to short, simple sentences. That's not necessarily a bad thing for those with low skills who must write a report. It's just not very likely that readers who picked up the book for its subject or cool pictures will be inspired if they start to read it. Many youngsters will be more interested in the pictures than the words anyway.-Steve Clancy, Colonial Village Elementary School, Niagara Falls, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.