4x4 Trucks (Full Throttle)

4x4 Trucks (Full Throttle)

Whether dirt, sand, or ice, 4x4 trucks can tackle it all! These tough vehicles get their power, and their name, from their four-wheel drive that allows them to tow heavy loads and take on rough terrain. Kids will read about all this and more in this title for reluctant readers. Action-packed narrative openings pull the reader immediately into the action. Fun fact sidebars add bonus information of extremely high interest. Captions further explain photos. ""Identify the Vehicle"" visuals label key vehicle parts. Timelines visually map out the history of the vehicle. Gr 2-5-Readers who pick up any of the eight books in this electrifying set will be wowed by the up-close, vibrant images of these vehicles in action. In each book, for the most part, one primary photo dominates each spread and serves as the colorful background for an occasional secondary image and the text. While this could have been visually overwhelming, the design works. The text appears in bold white print superimposed on swatches of charcoal gray. Although the images may initially draw readers to the titles, it's the action-packed information about the vehicles-their history, their identifiable parts, the competitions they undertake-that will have students racing to the shelves for the next volume. ­VERDICT High-interest nonfiction that will appeal to a wide audience, including students who don't ordinarily enjoy STEM topics. A solid pick for elementary schoolers.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.