The Story of the Car

Starting from the invention of the car and journeying through its development as a mode of transport (and a thing of beauty in itself) to electric cars and the future of motoring, this fascinating book about the history of cars feels well overdue. It’s not a subject that has received much attention in children’s nonfiction, despite a great interest among young readers for knowing how cars work but also why they were made, and in what context.

There’s a perfect balance of statistics on satisfying categories like top speeds and most popular makes of car, alongside clear and fascinating explanation on how events like war and environmental developments have shaped how we travel, and how people’s needs have changed over time. There’s also great sections on motor racing and famous cars in films and TV, like Back to the Future’s now iconic Delorean.

The stylish, 20s style illustration gives it strong visual appeal for boys and girls, and would be a fantastic book to use either in school projects or to share at home with other motoring enthusiasts in the family.