Every volume of Science Comics is terrific! The Cars volume taught be things I didn't know. Extremely educational as well as interesting and fun -- it is perfect! I can't wait to read more of them!

I hate to say this, but I think this might be one of my least favorite volumes of the Science Comics series and part of that comes from the fact that the Maker Comics series already touched on car maintenance and I felt like I got more out of that volume. Yes, Science Comics: Cars is more focused on history than how to take care of your car, but it just didn't have that same fervor that the other volumes have. Will I still purchase it for my collection? Absolutely! It's still a great book, but if you're tight on money, go with Maker Comics: Fix a Car.

Every child needs this series! It's amazing and this one did not disappoint!



Thank you, NetGalley

This is a very cool book for kids who love cars. It is very technical though, so I would recommend it for older kids. It goes into the inner workings of cars, the history of how cars began and how they have changed over time. Very informational!

Science Comics: Cars: Engines That Move You is an excellent companion to First Second’s Maker Comics: Fix a Car! While that book concentrates on taking care of a vehicle, this graphic novel by Dan Zettwoch focuses on understanding how they work and came to be with incredibly comprehensive, well-cartooned content. The book covers, among other topics,

* some history of vehicle travel
* the physics of combustion and how engines work
* the history of the wheel and the steam engine
* the development and operation of the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine
* the first cross-country road trip and how roads were built
* the Ford Model T
* customization, hot rods, and lowriders
* racing and speed records
* how gas gets from the earth to the car
* hybrid and electric vehicles

I particularly liked the occasional diversions, which include various odd vehicle inventions of the past, a history of tiny cars, 1950s body design (fins!), amphibious cars, and a history of car audio.

It isn’t strictly chronological, instead introducing concepts and background as it makes sense to the reader. There’s a ton of detail, using the comic format to full advantage with lots of diagrams and labeled illustration and plenty of historical images and expressive characters. The book serves as a survey of the topic, with lots of ideas quickly mentioned and at the end, followup material for further reading, including a glossary, end notes, a cutaway diagram of car parts, and a bibliography.

Science Comics: Cars: Engines That Move You is well worth reading, even if you’re not already interested in the concept. If you are, it’s fantastic.