NSTA Reviews: Innovations in Transportation

'Innovations in Transportation'
Crabtree Publishers have introduced a new series called 'Innovations', with six titles: 'Innovations in Everyday Technologies', 'Innovations in Safety', 'Innovations in Health', 'Innovations in Communication', 'Innovations in Transportation', and Innovations in Entertainment'.  Each book has a similar format in terms of the design, contents, index and glossary.  At the beginning is a brief introduction describing inventors, innovators, and engineers.  At the end is an explanation of the 'Engineering Dsign Process' with a challenge called 'Thing Big!'  Moreover, there is a good balance between historic inventions and 'spot lights' on young inventors and innovators.

'Innovations in Transportation' by Larry Verstraete will appeal to kids.  The photos of kids racing solar cars (p5), roller blades (p7), the hovercraft (p18), and the hoverboard (p26) are certain to spark discussions.  I can see kids wanting to built simple balloon hovercrafts or launch rockets after reading this book.  The images carry this book, especially Duru's Omni hoverboard (p27) as Duru flies!  The challenges at the back of the book under 'Think Big!' (P 29) are less inspired.  I think kids are more apt to want to design a hoverboard than to solve a problem 'Helping seniors cross busy streets safely or Shielding bicyclists from rain or snow.' (p29).   Aside from needing livelier challenges, the book reinforces STEM in society.  I think a teacher or librarian could use a few excerpts to introduce an interesting design challenge making hovercrafts from balloons and CDs.  Those are my plans!