Full Speed Ahead!: How Fast Things Go

PreS-Gr 3—First published in French in 2013, this informational picture book seems more suitable as a coffee-table book, but the information will intrigue curious minds. Various items are presented, grouped from slowest to fastest. Spreads list a speed (in both kilometers and miles per hour) on all-white backgrounds, while facing pages feature drawings of animals, vehicles, or people that operate at that speed, laid out on a royal blue background. The same layout is used for each speed throughout, which feels repetitive. However, the information is unique, and there are some interesting facts on offer; for instance, a seahorse and a Galápagos tortoise travel at the same speed of .3 kilometers (kmh) per hour, or .2 miles per hour, and Earth rotates at 1,700 kmh—the same rate of movement as a traveling bullet. The glossary provides additional facts, along with a thumbnail picture of each. An additional purchase.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI