Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--For Hot Wheels enthusiasts, this guide to track building might be just the resource necessary to "launch" them into innovative uses of their cars and tracks. Each activity includes a comprehensive list of materials, a designation of skill level to complete the task, and illustrated directions in a narrative form. Each activity also includes an "Epic STEM Fact," designed to give more information on a scientific concept that the task demonstrates. Following the well laid-out directions, users will be able to create a variety of ramps, bridges, and tunnels. Many of the activities bring in artistic or building elements and some activities even include music connections. The directions are easy to follow and supported by pictures that will act as a model for the reader. Font size is very small and at times the instructions may be a bit wordy for the target audience. Those epic facts feel more like an add-on than a central focus and several of the facts are too general to have an impact; for example, in the Drop 'N Launch activity, readers are told "You launched the car! In basic terms, you moved it" followed by a one sentence description of motion. More importantly, even though many of the materials can be found at home, each activity is dependent on a Hot Wheels product, giving this book limited value to a circulating collection. VERDICT Purchase only where Hot Wheels topics are in high demand or for maker spaces that include cars, toys, and tracks.--Louie Lauer
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