Smokin’ Open-Wheel Race Cars.

Egan, Erin.  Smokin’ Open-Wheel Race Cars.  Enslow/Speeding Star  2013  48p   $13.95  ISBN 978-1-62285-100-3  elem/ms      series: Fast Wheels  Sports  VG-BN 

Open-wheeled cars, their drivers, and the races they compete in are profiled.  All aspects of open-wheeled racing are described, including  the history, types of cars and tracks, strategies, and popular drivers. Illustrations are plentiful and add to the understanding of this style of racing.  A common theme throughout the book is the efforts to make the sport safer.  This book, and the rest of the series, is sure to engage young racing fans.  There is a great amount of detail in each chapter, clearly describing how the cars work and why the tracks are designed the way they are, so even the non-racing fan can understand the subject.  There are some sidebars that highlight specific pieces of equipment or historical moments.   A glossary, section on additional reading, and index are included.  Grades 4-9.     Fast Wheels is an engaging series for young automotive fans.

Summary: Open-wheeled cars, their drivers, and the races they compete in are profiled, including the history, types of cars and tracks, strategies, and popular drivers. 

Automobiles, Automobile racing                        --Stephanie Pennucci

Down, Zombie, Down! (series Zombie Zappers).

Higgins, Nadia.  Down, Zombie, Down! (series Zombie Zappers).  Enslow/Speeding Star 2014  64p   $11.95  ISBN 978-1-62285-015-0  elem  Science fiction  G          

For elementary students who like zombies, this fourth installment in the Zombie Zappers series will entertain.  In this title, Leo’s pet dog Tina acts weird, then goes missing.  When other animals in their hometown of Rotfield start acting bizarre, Leo realizes that the animals have become zombies.  When Leo learns of his friend Roger’s secret of being half-zombie, he asks him questions relating to how the zombie outbreak years ago ended and how life returned to normal.  With the help of his friends, the Zombie Zappers, the group jumps back into action to resolve the animal zombie crisis.  The crew of Zombie Zappers uses Chad’s Zombot robot to help lure the animals to a new location and then use Roger’s Z-ray maser to cure the zombie pets with the right Z-wave frequency. 

The author uses short chapters and easy-to-understand text to tell the story.  Since the title is geared toward elementary students, the title could have included some black-and-white illustrations to help readers visualize the story.

The story could be read as a stand-alone and does not require students to have read the other titles in this series.  Leo, Chad, and Roger are the Zombie Zappers.  With the help of friends, family, pets, and previous zombie research, the boys are always looking to thwart a zombie outbreak! At the same time, they learn valuable life lessons.  These fictional narratives are low-level chapter books that are humorous, fast-paced, and kind of scary.      

Summary: "The Zombie Zappers jump back into action when a unique zombie outbreak spreads to their hometown.  Leo will have to join forces with Chad's new best friend if they want to stop Rotfield from being overrun by a new breed of zombie.”

Zombies-Fiction                                       --Charleen Forba-Mayer

Smokin’ Race Cars.

Kelley, K.C.  Smokin’ Race Cars.  Enslow/Speeding Star  2013      48p     $13.95  ISBN 978-1-62285-095-2  elem  series: Fast Wheels  Sports  E-BNes 

This title, which explains all about stock car racing, will attract boys.  It gives the history of NASCAR, highlighting early heroes.  Then the car is described, with information about the engine, chassis, body, cockpit, and accessories.  All the excitement of race day comes though the writing.  Several of NASCAR’s prominent drivers are featured.

There are full-page inserts of extra information.  They highlight the drivers, tracks, procedures, and safety concerns, providing valuable insights.  A glossary, sources of further information, and an index are included.

The text is straightforward and on-target for the age group, and the photography is bright and colorful.  The small size of the book is inviting.  A great deal of amount of information is presented in only 48 pages.
 

Students will gobble this up.  It is inviting and well written, and it provides excellent information.
     

The Fast Wheels series has four titles: Smokin’ Motorcycles, Smokin’ Dragsters and Funny Cars, and Smokin’ Muscle Cars in addition to Smokin’ Race Cars.  Each one presents exciting facts in an interesting way.  

Summary: This book introduces elementary readers to NASCAR.  It briefly explains the history, the cars, procedures during a race and famous drivers.  Pictures and in-depth text make this title good for information.  Grades 3-6

NASCAR                                                      --Joan Theal

Nolan Ryan.

Lace, William W.  Nolan Ryan.  Enslow/Speeding Star  2013  64p  $16.21  ISBN 978-1-62285-025-9  elem/ms  series: Hall of Fame Sports Greats  Sports biography  E-BNS

Nolan Ryan played baseball with injuries, with tenacity and with heart, to become one of baseball’s superstars.  His early life, his rise to fame and his record-making games are enumerated in this short biography.

William W. Lace writes nonfiction that is creative, enticing and exciting.  He incorporates statistics with text that makes them interesting to both fans and nonfans of baseball.  Finally, he truly depicts Nolan Ryan in a setting of honor, with impeccable layout, stellar photographs and chapter titles that are as inviting as they are accurately organized.  Nolan Ryan’s rise to fame was like something out of a fairy tale.  His “down home” character kept him “down home.”  He ended his career exactly where he wanted to end it, in Texas.  Winning pitching record after pitching record, he was aptly named to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1999.  His records include the good (strikeouts, no-hitters and oldest pitcher to pitch a no-hitter) and the bad (most walks and most wild pitches).  Americans love baseball and they love Nolan Ryan.  This book portrays the man as he is: first a family man, second a Texan, and third a baseball pitcher, perhaps the best of all time.  The nine chapters of Lace’s book prove it.      Among the players in the Hall of Fame Sports Greats series are Cal Ripken, Junior, Deion Sanders, and Troy Aikman.  The series presents biographical data as well as statistics about each player in enticing layouts with supporting photographs as well.

Summary: Nolan Ryan played baseball with injuries, with tenacity and with heart, to become one of baseball’s superstars.  His early life, his rise to fame and his record-making games are enumerated in this short biography.

Nolan Ryan, Baseball-Biography                        --Martha Squaresky