A History of Travel in 50 Vehicles

In A History of Travel in 50 Vehicles, Paula Grey explores how creative thinkers--sometimes collaborating, sometimes competing, and always building on the work of their predecessors--have envisioned new ways to move about in the world. From the first foot migration out of Africa to the Model T Ford, hot air balloons, submarines, rickshaws, and moon rockets, humans have combined imagination, daring, and scientific and technical knowledge to improve existing vehicles or create new ones. Geography, culture, and available technologies have all influenced the development and use of vehicles in different parts of the world, and human travel has, in turn, often had a profound influence on society and the environment.Notable Features -Illustrates the persistence of creative ideas by tracing modern vehicles back hundreds of years to their original conception.-Includes a mix of common and not-so-familiar vehicles from a variety of cultures.-Presents inventors failures as well as their successes.-Challenges readers to think and engage by discussing social and environmental impacts.-Includes sources by chapter; teaching resources as jumping off points for student research; and endnotes.

Paula Grey is a former grant writer, software technical writer, and technical editor. She has written a variety of short fiction and nonfiction, but this is her first published work. Paula lives in Wakefield, Rhode Island and enjoys traveling by land, sea, or air whenever she gets the opportunity.History in 50 series editor Phillip Hoose is the acclaimed author of the National Book Award winner Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. He is also the author of the multi-award winning title, The Race to Save the Lord God Bird, the National Book Award Finalist We Were There Too!: Young People in U.S. History, and the Christopher Award-winning manual for youth activism It's Our World Too! His picture book Hey, Little Ant has sold over one million copies in ten languages. His love of sports is reflected in his acclaimed books Perfect Once Removed: When Baseball Was All the World to Me and Hoosiers: the Fabulous Basketball Life of Indiana. He lives in Portland, Maine.