Unconventional Vehicles | Chronicle Books
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Unconventional Vehicles

Forty-Five of the Strangest Cars, Trains, Planes, Submersibles, Dirigibles, and Rockets EVER
$19.99 Regular price
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Michael Hearst ; Hans Jenssen
Think you know vehicles? Think again!  Unconventional Vehicles is a nonfiction collection of 45 of the strangest, most unconventional vehicles that have ever existed. Vehicles include an underwater battery-powered scooter,...
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"Children ages 6-13 will want to pick their favorites among the 45 modes of transport in 'Unconventional Vehicles' (Chronicle, 104 pages, $19.99), a collection compiled and described by Michael Hearst and illustrated with tongue-in-cheek earnestness by Hans Jenssen. . . . Jaunty text and witty captions make this nonfiction excursion as enjoyable as it is informative."
—The Wall Street Journal

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Think you know vehicles? Think again!  

Unconventional Vehicles is a nonfiction collection of 45 of the strangest, most unconventional vehicles that have ever existed. 

Vehicles include an underwater battery-powered scooter, a carriage pulled by ostriches, a hot air balloon shaped like the Cathedral of Saint Gall, and five different jet packs. 
  • Filled with history, science, technology, engineering, and interesting bits of trivia, all in one kid-appealing package 
  • Part of the Uncommon Compendiums series 
  • Vehicles range from submersibles to dirigibles 
Unconventional Vehicles explores very strange modes of transportation for vehicle fans, rocket inventors, budding space-and-aeronautics experts, and anyone who's ever thought, "Why can't I ride a motorized suitcase through the airport?" 

Brimming with fascinating facts and diagrams presented with wit and humor, this book is sure to enthrall vehicle enthusiasts of every age.
  • Ideal for children ages 8 to 12 years old, especially those interested in vehicles and engineering
  • Author Michael Hearst brings his signature verve and humor to this fascinating read.
  • Young readers will devour all the substantive and silly content in this book, proving definitively that nonfiction is anything but dry.
  • Resonates year-round as a go-to gift for birthdays, holidays, and more
  • A great pick for teachers, parents, grandparents, and caregivers
  • Add it to the shelf with books like Cars, Trains, Ships, and Planes: A Visual Encyclopedia of Every Vehicle by DK; Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections by Stephen Biesty; and Cool Cars by Quentin Willson
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 104
Size: 8 1/2 x 11 V
Age Range: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: 05/18/2021
ISBN: 9781452172866
05/18/2021

"This fun and informative entry in the Uncommon Compendiums series will appeal to lovers of vehicles of all kinds. Hearst provides hilarious asides as he presents facts about 45 quirky and unusual vehicles, which he defines as 'just about anything that moves (and typically carries something else) . . . including animals!' Each entry's history, manufacturer, and year of production is accompanied by colored line drawings, diagrams and cross sections, and related factoids. . . . Kids will enjoy learning about these fascinating and outlandish vehicles."
—Booklist

"From Airboard to Zamboni, a lighthearted look at some of the wilder ways to get things or people from here to there. . . . It will have young readers wondering why they should settle for a mundane bicycle or (later) car when options like a jet train, the multirider beer bike, or the steam-powered Liberty One rocket exist. . . not to mention no fewer than five different personal jet packs."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Children ages 6-13 will want to pick their favorites among the 45 modes of transport in 'Unconventional Vehicles' (Chronicle, 104 pages, $19.99), a collection compiled and described by Michael Hearst and illustrated with tongue-in-cheek earnestness by Hans Jenssen. . . . Jaunty text and witty captions make this nonfiction excursion as enjoyable as it is informative."
—The Wall Street Journal

"Vehicle enthusiasts are treated to a fast and funny examination of wild inventions in our transportation history. . . This silly encyclopedia. . . has just enough to tap into curious minds. Hand this to future engineers.
—School Library Journal

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