The Automobile »

In 1769, Frenchman Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the first vehicle to move by its own power. Did you know that automobiles powered by gasoline did not appear until the late 1800s? Explore the history of the automobile, and discover how this great invention developed into the cars we use today.

Barbara L. Talcroft - Children's Literature

This square little book with a Ford touring car on its glossy cover is part of the "Great Inventions" series that introduces young readers to the history and development of technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In five short chapters auto aficionados can read about Henry Ford, problems with muddy roads, some early experimenters with powered vehicles, the mechanics and systems that make cars work, and mass production, which made the automobile affordable. A last chapter focuses on more modern cars and ends with a time line illustrated with photos of a few famous ones like the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and the Toyota Prius. Readers or browsers will probably be amused by the picture of Henry Ford (wearing a derby hat) sitting in his "quadricycle" and intrigued by open cars touring the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. It's a quick overview, but the simply-written text and the many (mostly) black-and-white photographs could awaken interest and lead readers to search for more information on various topics in the book. There is a Fast Facts page and a list of auto parts to look for in the family car. A glossary defines some basic words, while the Web site for FactHound promises links to other sites and a three-book bibliography lists some recent books on early autos. Considering the price, parents and librarians might prefer to invest in two well-illustrated picture books on the same subject. 2003, Capstone, Ages 6 to 9.