Roaring Rides (six-book series) By Tracy Nelson Maurer
2004, Rourke Publishing, Vero Beach, FL.

Titles:
Muscle Cars
Desert Racers
Limousines
Monster Trucks
Lowriders
Stock Cars

Review

Roaring Rides: 4x4 Desert Trucks
An entry in the well done “Roaring Rides” series, this book features gutsy vocabulary, interesting insider jargon, boxed “Roaring Facts,” and informative picture captions for the well-chosen photos. The setup is designed to grab the attention of would-be car aficionados with frequent topic-headed text and plenty of white space. Some facts are printed over a mud-splash shape which also contributes to the easily-browsed appeal. Readers learn how drivers tinker with their trucks and 4x4’s to make them faster and more powerful, the safety features of desert racers, the rules and the reasons for them, and how pit crews function. In addition, short bios of two typical racers and a map of the SCORE Baja 1000 course are included. While the vocabulary is often challenging, to the interested reader this is a seductive invitation to hunker down and read for awhile. Numerous websites, a glossary, and an index are included.

Children’s Literature, 2004