ON THE GO

A lexicon of locomotion.

This effort, like its companion volume, Animals, is a non-narrative, illustrated glossary giving young readers an expanded vocabulary on a given topic, in this case, planes, trains, cars, boats, and accessories. The book is divided into categories: “Trains,” “Air Travel,” “On the Road,” “Emergency,” “Building Site,” and “On the Water.” Clear, colorful illustrations accompany 81 terms over 14 pages. “Tickets,” “tunnel,” “railroad crossing,” “tracks,” and “conductor” are featured train-related concepts, for example, while “airport,” “baggage cart,” “pilot,” and “helicopter” relate to flight. Men and women of a variety of races represent first responders and airline personnel in uniform. A white boy skateboards, and a boy with light brown skin roller skates in elbow and kneepads. The book’s design is utilitarian rather than dynamic; these static pictures of things that go cry out for some speed lines and sound effects. Nevertheless, the sheer variety of types and uses of vehicles depicted will broaden any child’s perspective on the world. Kids who thought in simple terms of cars and trucks will be able to identify vans, pickup trucks, motorhomes, construction vehicles, buses, trains, trolleys, sailboats, powerboats, planes, hot air balloons, bikes, scooters, motorcycles, and even tuk tuks. Animals offers similar treatment for “Safari Animals,” “Farm Animals,” “Pets,” “Sea Creatures,” “Rainforest Animals,” “Baby Animals,” and “Birds.”

Caregivers, be prepared; these topics should provoke plenty of questions: “What’s a paramedic?”; “What’s a luxury yacht?”; “What’s an SUV?” (Board book. 1-5)