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CM . . . . Volume XVII Number 21. . . .February 4, 2011. 
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Fire Trucks: Racing to the Scene. (Vehicles on the Move!).
Molly Aloian.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3060-6 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3046-0 (RLB.).
Subject Heading:
Fire Engines-Juvenile literature.
Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8.
Review by Gail Hamilton.
**½/4
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High-flying Airplanes. (Vehicles on the Move!).
Reagan Miller.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3061-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3047-7 (RLB.).
Subject Heading:
Airplanes-Juvenile literature.
Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8.
Review by Gail Hamilton.
**½/4
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Hovering Helicopters. (Vehicles on the Move!).
Molly Aloian.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3062-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3048-4 (RLB.).
Subject Heading:
Helicopters-Juvenile literature.
Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8.
Review by Gail Hamilton.
**½/4
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Mighty Tanks. (Vehicles on the Move!).
Paul Challen.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3063-7 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3049-1 (RLB.).
Subject Heading:
Tanks (Military science)-Juvenile literature.
Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8.
Review by Gail Hamilton.
**½/4
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Tractors at Work. (Vehicles on the Move!).
Lynn Peppas.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3064-4 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3050-7 (RLB.).
Subject Heading:
Tractors-Juvenile literature.
Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8.
Review by Gail Hamilton.
**½/4
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Vehicles on the Farm. (Vehicles on the Move!).
Lynn Peppas.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3065-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3051-4 (RLB.).
Subject Heading:
Agricultural Machinery-Juvenile literature.
Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8.
Review by Gail Hamilton.
**½/4
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excerpt:
Crop sprayers spray crops with pesticides and fertilizers. Pesticides are liquid chemicals that protect crops from insects, diseases, and weeds that could destroy them. Fertilizers are nutrients that are used to feed crops.
Some crop sprayers are pulled by tractors. A big tank holds the liquid pesticide or fertilizer. Some have pumps that draw the liquid from the tank. A hose sprays the fields evenly. (From Vehicles on the Farm.)
Most likely to appeal to boys, these books, part of the 10-volume “Vehicles on the Move” series, provide basic information about the various vehicles featured – the different types, their parts and function, special equipment, and how they move. Each book consists of 14 chapters with one short paragraph per page and numerous large colour photographs, all suitably labeled, that are perfectly matched to the text. The text is printed in a large, simple font and is surrounded by plenty of white space. Within the series, there is a bit of an inconsistency in the text in that the explanations in some titles are oversimplified and state the obvious (e.g. “A fire truck has an engine. The engine gives the fire truck power. Power makes the fire truck move.”) and, in others, the information is somewhat incomplete or a tad too complicated. A table of contents, a pictorial glossary and a very brief index are included.
Fire Trucks: Racing to the Scene covers the various types of fire trucks and their purpose. In this title, readers will learn about pumper, ladder, quint and rescue trucks, the foam unit for putting out flammable liquid fires, and the specialized clothing and equipment that firefighters require. There is also a very brief history of early firefighting methods and an explanation of why fire trucks are usually painted red or yellow.
There are many types of airplanes, suited for different purposes. In High-flying Airplanes, readers will find out about passenger jets, cargo planes (the largest of which can carry 80 cars), military aircraft, floatplanes, crop dusters, gliders, ultralights and stunt planes. Other topics include runways, the use of planes to fight forest fires, and how fighter planes can be refueled while still in the air.
Hovering Helicopters explains the major differences between airplanes and helicopters. Helicopters have rotors instead of wings and have the ability to move up, down, forward, backward and sideways, to hover, and to land without the use of runways. They are used in search and rescue missions, crime fighting, transporting supplies and people to remote areas, and as air ambulances. There is special mention of the V-22 Osprey, a combination airplane-helicopter used for combat and special operations, which can land vertically, refuel in mid-air, and travel at the speed of an airplane.
The tank got its name from the British military during the First World War when the army secretly sent several tanks to France in wooden crates labeled “water tanks.” Mighty Tanks provides information about the parts of a tank and their purpose, tank personnel and their roles, and specialized equipment, such as tank bridges which enable the tanks to get past obstacles, and earthmovers for building roads in combat zones. Other vehicles related to tank support are also mentioned. Though mines and ammunition are included topics (and one photograph shows some pretty heavy-duty firepower), the author uses euphemisms such as “fight on the front lines” and “combat zones” to gloss over the fact that tanks are killing machines, and there are, conveniently, no photos of actual combat to upset young readers.
Tractors at Work explains the various uses of tractors and the different attachments that can be added to suit the task. Here, readers will learn about crawler tractors (those with tracks instead of wheels), hay balers, snowplows, front-end loaders, backhoes, bulldozers, and pushback tractors, huge vehicles which push aircraft away from terminals. There is also mention of tractor pull competitions and CUTs (compact utility tractors that are used for large properties and golf courses). Much of the information contained in this book can also be found in Vehicles on the Farm.
Finally, Vehicles on the Farm describes the many jobs on the farm- soil preparation, seeding, harvesting and insect control, for example- which require specialized machinery. Tractors, plows, cultivators, hay balers, manure spreaders, seed drills, irrigation machines, crop sprayers, harvesters and combines are featured, along with information about how they operate. Readers will come away with a new appreciation for farmers and all the work that they do after reading this book.
Generally, a fairly interesting series.
Recommended.
Gail Hamilton is a retired teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to
cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
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