Let's Find Out! Transportation

Children learn to ride them early in life. Weekend warriors use them for exercise. People even ride them to and from work. The bicycle is a source of entertainment, but it is also an invaluable means of transportation. Today, there are about two times more bicycles than cars worldwide. This fun and engaging resource discusses the development of the bicycle, its use throughout its two-hundred-year history, bicycle use around the globe, and modern innovations. Readers will learn the basic parts that make up a bicycle and the different reasons we ride them.

One of the fastest ways for many people to travel together over land is by train. Although train travel in America is not as popular as it was a century ago, it continues to convey a sense of mystery and romanticism in our minds. This fully illustrated, informative resource for young readers introduces the history of the railroad, explains how trains are powered, examines modern high-speed trains used in other parts of the world, and looks to the future of train travel.

Out of the need for speed came the motorcycle. The first model was a bicycle with an engine strapped to it. Since then, the motorcycle has become its own vehicle, with a model to suit almost anybody's needs. This informative resource will appeal to young readers who love motorcycles and for those writing reports. It examines the invention and development of the motorcycle, the essential components of a motorcycle, and how motorcycles work. A special section on safety rounds out this resource, which will have readers revving up their engines.

It's hard to imagine what life was like before there were cars. Cars have made it easy for people to travel within a city or across a continent. This informative resource delves into the rich history of the automobile as a form of transportation. Full-color photographs celebrate the many types of cars, and easy-to-read diagrams explain how a car is assembled and how it works. Finally, readers will be interested to learn about all the latest innovations in the field of automobiles and how they will be driving in the future.

While ocean travel is not the preferred method of transportation for most people today, ships are used around the world to transport important cargo and military, among other things. Young readers will be interested to learn about the long and fascinating history of ships. This informative resource examines the different types of ships, the parts that make up a ship, the different ways in which ships can be powered, and the wide variety of cargo-people and things-that ships transport around the world every day.

Many of us enjoy quiet mornings canoeing on the lake, an afternoon of sailing on the ocean, or a weekend of adventurous kayaking through river rapids. But how do boats float? And what is the best way of powering them? Young readers will enjoy learning about the surprising variety of small boats, their basic structure, and their uses throughout history. Small boats are used for conveyance, security, rescue, and, of course, recreationally. This fully illustrated, engaging resource will appeal to anyone who loves being out on the water.

Through space exploration humans have learned a great deal about the planets, stars, and other objects in space. More than five thousand spacecraft have been launched into space to gather information since 1957. Without space travel, NASA may never have developed many of the things we take for granted today, such as cell phone cameras, CAT scans, and ski boots. This useful and interesting resource discusses the many types of manned and unmanned spacecraft, describes how a rocket works, and looks ahead to space travelﾒs future.

People have always wanted to fly. In the 1700s and 1800s, humans flew in lighter-than-air ships such as balloons, airships, and gliders. It was not until 1903 in North Carolina that two brothers built and flew the first heavier-than-air craft-the airplane. Of course, aviation has come a long way since then. Today's planes fly at high speeds and great heights. They quickly transport passengers, mail, cargo, and our armed forces around the world. This fully illustrated resource examines the many different breeds of airplane, the anatomy of a plane, and the exciting future of air travel.