About the Author

Janet Piehl lives in Evanston, Illinois, and is a children's librarian. She grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin, and attended Macalester College. Janet has lived, among other places, in the Twin Cities and France. She got her start as a writer working in the editorial department of Lerner. Janet liked the research aspect of writing and editing so much that she became a librarian. Now she helps kids find and use books just like the ones she writes!

Reviews

Gr 3-5-These three well-illustrated automotive titles share nearly identical formats. Each book includes a "What Is-" section to define its topic, a brief history, the culture associated with the hobby, NASCAR or Formula One racing series, track diagrams or a description of building a hot rod, and a closing "gallery" featuring photos of the cars and their drivers. In addition, the books share other common features, such as a diagram of a four-stroke engine. In general, the volumes are readable, informative, and generally accurate. An occasional error does crop up, though; Braun refers to a Model B Ford as a Model A and fails, in photos, to distinguish between hot rods and simply old cars, while Doeden's track diagrams show the sports car rather than the stock car configurations of two road courses. The color photos are very good and are sure to appeal to racing aficionados, and the books succeed as basic introductions to the hobby and sport.-Jeffrey A. French, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.