Rock Crawling: Tearing It Up

Gr 4–6—With scenes of soaring, crashing, speeding vehicles, these books' covers will easily convince young readers to give them a try. The readable prose has plenty to offer as well, with straightforward introductions to each sport. There's a surprising amount of detail in the simply written text, supplemented by excellent graphics and photos. Each volume offers a spread that clearly labels the main features of each vehicle; for example, paddle tires with deep grooves help mud-encrusted trucks race faster. Readers will learn about rules and strategy, races and venues, as well as the origins of the sport. Anecdotes and quotes enliven the text, with thumbnail sketches of participants ranging from well-known rally car driver Travis Pastrana to George Toone, who is blind but participates in antique tractor events. These well-written books will appeal to a wide audience.