Mechanics! The Musical

Gr 1-5–Science and art are not enemies, as this jazzy gem of a book that marries engineering and artistic creation points out perfectly. Here, three mechanics hone their craft with cars by day, but at night they yearn to create a mechanical extravaganza, a Broadway-style show for the ages. The book follows their journey, adding a dash of artistic torture and sacrifice in the pursuit of a dream. The collage-inspired illustrations pop. They’re full of funkiness and the DIY aesthetic of these creative car-jockeys. The quick rhymes of the text make it feel like a slam poem in book form. It’s also a good introduction to technical context words, with the car-fixing day job, including terms like torque and hoist. For children who love motors more than music or for anyone who would rather hum along than pay attention to math, this book breaks barriers and will launch conversations.