Just Fine the Way They Are

K-Gr 3—Wooldridge's picture book traces the development of the National Road in the United States. The author explains how the road began as a means to travel smoothly from the Eastern United States to the Ohio River. As time passed and demand for a longer route grew, it expanded across Indiana and through part of Illinois. Unless readers have prior knowledge of the road's history, it can be difficult to determine whether characters like John Slack are fictional or real. Wooldridge interjects the public's positive and negative opinions regarding the road's development and describes how the inventions of the steam engine and automobile influenced changes in the highway, which ultimately became Route 40 and crossed the country. As the story winds down, Wooldridge raises the problem of air pollution. Her folksy, conversational writing style incorporates flavorful language such as "dang," "newfangled," and "citified." The unexpected conclusion refers to "a pack of crazy thinkers" with ideas on cars powered by corn, fuel cells, and electricity. Muscular horses, changing modes of transportation, and caricatured people populate the bright artwork. Humorous touches include a "SKUNK HAVEN" exit sign. It can be difficult to locate nonfiction children's materials on this subject; Just Fine the Way They Are helps fill a void.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH