Transportation Books

I have the first book, "The Cobra in the Barn", this book is as good if not better, worth the price!

If you are into old cars then its a good book written is chapeters you can easily pick up and put down .

Tom Cotter is a good writer, a good editor (some of these pieces were written by others or with others) and above all, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic car collector. Both this book and its' predecessor, "The Cobra In The Barn" are great bedside reading; the stories are just short enough that you can enjoy a few before you drop off. They are also great for those times that you come in from the garage needing a rest after struggling with ONE bolt for two hours. They help you remember why we love automobiles, why we work on them and try to bring them back to what they were when new, and why there are really only two kinds of people in the world: those who can't resist looking in old barns, behind doors, and under tarps- and those who couldn't care less. These books are for those of us who look, and dream.

A good read and there are interesting search methods which others have employed to make their barn finds a reality. Many of the stories point out how dedicated and diligent people have gotten in finding these more unique barn finds. This is a good compilation of the story behind the car, or more specifically a set of stories which can complete the car enthusiasts education.

awesome!!! if i could write as an author- this would be my life long story! it made me feel like i was 21 and hunting again--in fact i may start again. a real treasure for classic car lovers!!!

This book is way over my expertise. It is in-depth and probably a very good resource for many people with cabin cruisers and larger boats with sleeping quarters and galleys, etc. I was looking for a more basic electrical book for my deckboat...more like "simple electrical for boat owning dummies".

This is a really impressive book. It provides a really good understanding of the many forces/dynamics of electrical systems on a boat.

There is a lot more to 12 volts, than a positive and ground. To my surprise, it's more complex than 120 VAC in my house. At home, for the most part, you use one standard type of wire and have no concerns about your wiring causing any part of your house to corrode. While there is virtually a perfect and repeatable way to wire everything in your home, surprisingly their isn't a perfect way to do things on your boat, you need to continuously make tradeoff's when you add something new, and it helps to understand the tradeoff's that were already made on your boat by the manufacturer's and prior owner's in making your next modification. Also, at home for the most part, your not worried about corrosion, while on a boat, the various metals in your boat want to use the water to establish electrical currents that are destructive ... in the very worst case in a matter of days, if not months and years, to metal parts in your boat.

This book explains it all very well. Be sure to start from the beginning where it explains what a battery is. I skipped that section initially (I know the chemistry of a battery more than most people), but found it very helpful to read this section, as the following sections establish how the various metals in your boat colude to form their own battery like behavior where you didn't intend, the result being corrosion.

Also, don't underestimate the importance of the proper and frequent use of fuses/breakers on virtually every electrical run, fuses need to be sized to the diameter wire as well as the device, selection of wire diameter (larger diamater = heavy wire = boat goes slow, small diameter = voltage drops of a 1/2 volt or more potentially unaccaptable to devices), and standard ways to make electrical connections that will be trouble free.

While at somepoint you will want to look at various aspects of your boat to see what tradeoff's were made by the manufacturer or previous owners, you don't need to be near your boat to read this book and understand whats going on, making it a good winter read.

You should really read this in advance. While it also makes an excellent reference later, the worst time to read this is when your under time pressure to change something, since you really need to appreciate that there is more to modifying your electrical system than knowing the difference between 12v postive and ground.

b393capt

This book has all the detailed information a person would want about DC wiring - particularly in a marine environment. It covers the basics as well as goes the extra distance to explain, in depth, the mechanisims and chemistry of how systems actually work. A great book for either the novice just getting started, or the veteran who wants to further flesh out his informational knowledge. I'd highly recommend it to a friend.

Harry Homeowner wouldn't give it a second glance, but Bob Boatowner should. Dr. Charles has put it all together, from shore power to solar, it has plenty of references to ABYC standards for electrical installations. All of the inforamtion is precise and clear, he makes
references to the ABYC and the NEC as necessary. If you're a licensed electrican (like me) you'll appreciate the nomenclature.
If you're Bob Boatowner with little or no experience making electrical installations - this book might not be for you. But, if you are willing to read and read again - you'll be OK.

I bought this book because a friend and I intend to ride from North to South America in 2018 when all our kids have grown old enough not to miss us. I really hope that we don't have to live through what Glen did but who knows what the continent will be like in 10 years? This is a brilliantly written book with lots of good information and tips for travel. The section on Columbia is well done and doesn't overdominate the story. I wonder from Ted Simon's comments in 'Dreaming of Jupiter' after meeting Glen following his ordeal, if Glen has downplayed his emotional state a little. It must have been a totally awful experince and one I doubt I could have survived. It just goes to show that it helps to be strong when attempting a journey like this but like so many things at the end of the day its all about mental toughness. I take my hat off to Glen and he has inspired me yet again to start my own adventure.

I first came to know about Glen's journey through a tv documentary on the kidnapping, if you get a chance to see it, do so, it brings to life the book in real terms.
Glen does an excellent job of describing the journey, his fears and feelings both before and after the kidnapping. It's not a "how to" book, it's an insight , in my opinion, to inner strength and positive thinking.
Great read.

Action packed true fact based chronicle of a motor cyclist's trip from Palm springs,CA down to the tip of South America and back. You will ride with him through splendid vistas, suffer with him during his capture by the ELN in Columbia and wonder how he would ever escape. You will learn from the psychologically trained mind how Greg Heggsted deceived his captures to eventually go on to complete journey. This is a must read.

I bought this book for my boyfriend to read on the train after hearing the author speak on a radio program. My boyfriend loved the book, literally couldn't put it down.

While the title of the book and most of the comments focus on his stay with the Columbian terrorists, for me the most inspiring bits of the book were his descriptions of the parts of his journey through Mexico and Argentina. Now I want to visit Mexico and see if it is as wonderful a place as he described. Ditto Argentina, though it is not quite as close.

A very well-written book by a talented and very versatile author. Much more than a tale of terror. You could skip the Columbian fiasco and still get your money's worth (and then some) from this book.

My toddler boy is nuts about trains and he likes this book pretty well, although he can't quite understand everything it says. The illustrations are rather good and the information generally is very useful. We'd buy it again.

We ordered this book as recommended with a "Thomas The Train" DVD. It is a little advanced for my 2 year old grandaughter, but she loves the pictures and story, and as she gets older will read it, I'm sure.

It is good to see real trains added to the Thomas models. We have an active track 50 yards from our house. She loves them.

Very neat little book for the buck. Great pictures, which appeals to my 2 yr old now, as well as informative text that will keep him interested as he gets older. A definate plus for the library of a little train lover.

My 5-year-old son loves trains and this book has been his favorite library book since he was 3. It is very informative, yet easy to understand for preschoolers through first-graders. I was so happy to find it on Amazon.com so that we can add it to his personal library!

This is a really cute book. My nephew (4 yrs. old) loves listening to me read it to him and looking at the pictures. As a teacher, having a child really interested in something is just the first step to get them to read. I would say that if you have a child who loves trains (like my nephew), then you should really look into getting this book ..... and others like it! :)

Byron Barton's Trains has become an unlikely favorite for our 2-year old. I say unlikely because it's so different from what most of his favorites (which are heavy on Sandra Boynton, Jez Alborogh, and the Spot series) are like. The art is extremely simple, using lots of bold colors, and the story doesn't rhyme or feature any noticeable repetition. It's not really even a story at all, but rather a descriptive sentence on each page highlighting the kind of train or activity shown.

I don't know whether it's the bold colors or just the subject matter (my son is absolutely fascinated by all kinds of vehicles), but this little board book went straight into his bedtime "top 5" and shows no sign of leaving! I may not get it, but I'm confident enough after seeing my son's reaction to this book to recommend Trains to the parents of any toddler interested in trains.

My son loved this book from the time he was about 15 months old. The words and the illustrations are simple and catchy. I'm not sure if this one comes in paperback but I highly suggest getting all of the Barton books in the board book style. They are sure to be read over and over!!

This story was kind of boring, not as melodic as some of the other books (Cars is our favorite) but kind of cute. Graphics are somewhat boring too (compared to the others)

My kids love this very cute little book.. They want me to read it to them over and over again. A great book for your little one. Must have!!

I was a teacher in early childhood and I love to find new books for my grandson, who is almost 3. At the early level they need simple books both in text and pictures. The Barton books have a very simple text and great pictures and my grandson loves all of them. I always let him choose what books to read and Barton is his favorite since he was 1 1/2. I would recommend all of his books for young children ages 1 to 4. We have read Trucks, Trains, Men at Work, Planes, Airport & Dinosaurs.

My son loves to repeat the sound words in this book. He is beginning to tell me the story!

My son (age 2) has loved this book and the whole series of books by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker. The books use a lot of aliteration and poetry, so even younger children who can't understand the words like the rhythm of the words. The illustrations are pleasing and he gets a kick out of the fact that animals are driving. I don't agree with the reviewer who said they are only for under-three year olds; they actually give a lot of information and contain a glossary at the end. My son knows what a piston is that raises a dump truck, that a semi and tractor trailer are words for the same kind of truck, knows how tractors work, etc.. from reading this series to him (I even learned some things!).

My 3 year old daughter and I really enjoy this book and the others in this series. My daughter loves fire engines and this book is informative as well as fun. The story begins with the fire engines waiting at the fire house. The alarm bell sounds and the crew rushes off to fight a fire. As the story continues everything the fire crew does is explained in easy to understand terms. I really liked the expanation of how the water is pulled from the ground through the fire hydrant to fight the fire. After the resident of the house is rescued and the fire is extinguished, the crew goes back the fire house to clean up, take a break, and await the next fire. The illustrations in this book are just okay. The animals that make up the fire crew look a little strange to me but my daughter was able to identify what they were (bird, mouse, rabbit). The best part of this book is the informative rhymes that make up the story. Not too much information for a tired mom like me to read at night. My daughter and I really like the the last page of the book that lists pictures of fire engine parts and equipment and their names. Thanks to this book my daughter knows new words like water tank and pump and what they do. My daughter asks me to read this book often and it has become a favorite. If your child is really into fire engines and books about them check out the book Dot the Fire Dog. It's another one we really enjoy.

My 2 1/2 year old son loved the book from the minute I brought it home from the library. No matter which other books I take out to read, he asks for this one instead. What attracted me was the illustrations have a "Richard Scarry" feel to them. So they are three gentle looking animals that are firefighters and save a dog in a fire. It's a fairly quick read, good for those nights where everyone is a little more tired than usual, and it rhymes. I'm here buying a copy now since the library book has to be returned in another week and I know I'll get the request for it. At the end, it has the back page where they explain in more detail different things a fire fighter uses like helmet, air mask, etc.

We checked this book out of the library and my 2.75 year oldloves it. The sentences are too complicated for him, but he likes thepictures and the detailed explanation of the firefighter's equipment on the last page.

this is a great companion book for those who wish to build a "Locost" sports car. Very similar to the original which as far as i can tell is no longer printed (and being sold on ebay for as much as ten times it's original cost.) If you want to get into the "Locost" sportscar world this book will get you there. (that and three years of weekends)

Big improvement over the last two books. You REALLY need to spend time on the book's web site (forum) to get the lastest information. I needed the website to understand the front suspension.

A nice starter book. If planing on building the frame from scratch this book will help.

Great book, but definitely Eurocentric. None-the-less, this book offers excellent technical drawings. I recommend a calculator that converts metric measurements to inches if you want to use this as an assembly guide. An Excellent book for its intended purpose.This is of course, assuming like myself, you're a Yank.

I own all the previous editions of this book. This has been the least usefull unless you really do have the donor car used in it. I recommend the Ron champion book instead because it gives more latitude to adapt many old cars instead of one single rear suspension from a European ford. If this will be the first book of this type that you will purchase then I would recommend it. Those with experience and access to the internet would be better off with Ron champions book.

My two year old grandson is totally in love with trains, especially Thomas and friends. He loves anything with trains. This was a perfect fit for him.

The illustrations are interesting and lend themselve to questions and answers. The flaps are large and sturdy, and opening one actually changes the action in the picture.

My little girl's birthday gift arrived on time and in great shape. It also cost a lot less that it would have if I had gone to the mall AND I didn't have to drive. :-)

This book was just right for the price. I bought it for my 2 yr. old boy because he loves Thomas and I needed to spend a few more dollars to save on shipping costs. The book has been a huge hit with him! He loves the flaps and that James is on one of the pages also.

Thomas is our 2-yr old son's favorite thing right now so we got him a new Thomas book. "Wave Hello to Thomas" is a very simple book with nice pictures and fun flaps. After just a few weeks he has memorized the book and will sit happily "reading" and lifting the flaps. He even takes the book to bed with him.

We have all 4 books in this series and we love them all! Great pictures and words for my little two year old.

Great pics!! The only con--if any, I think is that maybe the words could be a little more general. (i.e just "firetruck" or "tractor" instead of the formal full name.) But overall this book is awesome! Because of this book, one of my son's first words was "mail truck!" :) We love it!

My 18 month old is talking up a storm and LOVES trucks. He insists on reading this book over and over. The pictures are clear and he can now name EVERY truck in the book although he has some trouble with "car transporter". The word is a bit long for a kiddie book but he's certainly up for the challenge. I would recommend this book for any truck lover or word enthusiast. It is not a story book, just pictures and words. Some other vehicles include "mini loader", "digger", "ambulance", "fuel truck", "cement mixer", "fire engine".

my DAUGHTER loves things that go - trucks, buses, cars...we both have learned lots from this book -- there are so many types of trucks and things that go that I did not the names to and many common things we see every day like the mail truck or fire truck.

Encarta Dictionary defines truck as "large commercial freight transport vehicle" or alternatively "a large vehicle for transporting goods by road".

On the back cover of this Bright Baby book the publisher pledges "This book will increase your child's vocabulary by associating words with beautiful pictures".

So what's the problem?

On the front cover we see a bright yellow mini loader - interesting, but definitely not a truck. The book also wrongly identifies tractors, diggers, scrapers, bulldozers, grass cutters, and excavators as trucks. All are fun to look at heavy equipment, but none are trucks.

Books purporting to be educationally valuable should be factually correct.

Therefore the most I can give it is two stars. It would be one except that my nephew's one year old Jacob just can't get enough of it, notwithstanding the inaccuracies.

Love this book as do my kids. Boys love diggers, but my daughter loves this book too. Simple to understand and the big brother wants to teach his little brother to be a Digger Man too! I gave this as a gift in conjunction with a "digger" toy and everytime my son plays with it, he also wants to read this book.

My 2 year old son is fascinated with this book. He finishes the sentences on each page as we read it to him. It was one of his first non-board books. We place it on a shelf along with other "fragile" books and the "place of honor" makes it seem extra special to him - so he is very careful with it.

My older son loved this book and now it has become the favorite of my younger son who is now 3. We have it memorized because for awhile there we were reading it every night. It is sweet. It is imaginative. It is all boy! It's wonderful!

We got this book at the library and my 3 year old boy loved it nearly to pieces. I am looking into getting one he can keep, or maybe giving the library the new one and having him keep the torn and taped one! He has it memorized and "reads" it over and over to himself and his little sister. This book not only fascinates the little "digger men" that like to read it, but also teaches values such as hard work, good maintenance,productivity, and taking care of little brother. Your own little "digger man" will be sure to love it.

My boys love this one! My 3 yr old and 20 month old have me read this to them EVERY night! Such a great little book about diggers!! We love it!