Cars (Holiday House Reader: Level 2) [Hardcover]

Nancy Smiler Levinson (Author), Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Holiday House Reader: Level 2

Today cars fill our streets and highways. But how did they get there? It took years of trial and error before people created the first motocar. Some early cars looked like giant kettles - others looked like giant tricycles. Some engines were steam; some were electric! How did the internal combustion engine become the engine of choice? Learn how cars changed the lives of people everywhere. Time line included.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–This interesting overview begins with a brief history of the inventions leading to automobile engines, followed by a look at the reception and operation of early cars. Next, the positive contributions automobiles have made to society are explored, including fresher food, better medical care, and the ease of visiting faraway family members. The text ends with a discussion of the environmental aspects of cars and their future. The narrative is perfectly suited to the attention span of young listeners and the vocabulary of beginning readers, though the pacing is sometimes choppy due to an attempt to cover a large amount of history in a small amount of space. Illustrations featuring vintage autos and costumes will intrigue young audiences. This fine book is ready-made for reports and will appeal to children who are interested in transportation or history.–Tana Elias, Meadowridge Branch Library, Madison, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Joining the growing ranks of nonfiction books for young readers, this Holiday House Reader looks at cars, focusing on the days when they were better known as horseless carriages. After introducing early models by Benz, Daimler, the Duryea brothers, and Ford, the discussion turns to the changes brought about by this mode of transportation. Levinson also relates the experiences of early motorists, from their driving clothes to the dusty roads. While the beginning-reader format limits the amount of information, the book presents a good introduction to the subject in a short text and follows up with a glossary of terms such as carriage, steamer, and tiller. Rogers' upbeat illustrations add to the book's appeal. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823416143
• ISBN-13: 978-0823416141
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,014,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)