FLAMMANG, James M. Cargo Ships illus. ISBN 978-1-60279-233-3 . LC 2008008779. FLAMMANG, James M. . Cars ISBN 978-1-60279-231-9 . LC 2008002047. FLAMMANG, James M. . Space Travel ISBN 978-1-60279-232-6 . LC 2008003214. FRANCHINO, Vicky . Motorcycles ISBN 978-1-60279-238-8 . LC 2008004355. MARSICO, Katie . Trains illus. ISBN 978-1-60279-234-0 . LC 2008003204. MASTERS, Nancy Robinson . Airplanes ISBN 978-1-60279-235-7 . LC 2008014582. MULLINS, Matt . Trucks ISBN 978-1-60279-237-1 . LC 2008006746. ea vol: 32p. (Innovation in Transportation Series). photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Cherry Lake 2008. PLB $27.07. Gr 4-5 This utilitarian series describes innovations in eight means of transportation as well as their current uses. Each volume features a concise history of its topic, covers current issues and developments and the future outlook, and includes brief biographies of significant people. Both genders and minorities are represented, and up-to-date concerns, such as fuel efficiency and pollution, are included. Most readable are the volumes by Franchino and Marsico; however, there is a formulaic quality to the writing, caused, for example, by repeated mentions of the value of teamwork. A couple of minor errors crop up, and Masters demonstrates an annoying habit of quoting Wilbur Wrights thoughts. Good color photos generally contribute to the texts but have a tendency to be small, making it difficult to pick out the details they are meant to convey. Bold color choices in the page design sometimes cross the line into garish, as in green highlights on a purple background. Still, the series often provides a view of some compelling developments, such as high-speed rail, future trucks, and container ships, and it benefits from inherent interest in the topic.

The books in this series provide adequate information on the history, development, and use of a specific aspect of communication or transportation. Unfortunately, the text is choppy and not always well edited. Photo illustrations frequently detract from rather than extend the text, and many of the captions are misleading, mislabeled, or insufficient. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Transportation and Communication Series titles: Bridges, Television, Cars, Fire Engines, Trains, Motorcycles.]

Reviewed with Arlene Bourgeois Molzahn's Fire Engines. Gr. 2-4. Who can resist the lure of a speeding fire engine or the low growl of a high-performance car? Books in the Transportation and Communication series take a look at the machines, people, and equipment that make it possible to fight fires, drive from one location to another, and communicate with others. Early chapters in each volume review the development of the modern device--for example, horse-drawn fire engines and steam-powered carriages gave way to modern fire engines. Interesting black-and-white period and color photographs, a glossary, and a time line accompany the easy-to-read texts, and print and Internet sources for further research add to the usefulness of the series. The books are simple enough for young readers and will make good springboards to other, more in-depth books on the subjects.