EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT CARS

“100% fact-free,” but “Chock-a-block full of stuff!,” this does for cars and car travel what Everything I Know About Pirates (2000) did for pirates—which is to say, puts a maniacally silly spin on every common myth, misconception, and factoid the over-caffeinated author can conjure up. Explaining that people have always “liked the idea of going fast while sitting on their butts,” Lichtenheld introduces such historical figures as ahead-of-his-time Viking inventor Leif Spring; supplies a quick tour of automotive principles (“Some other car parts you should know about are the transmission, which transmits; the suspension, which suspends; and the pistons, which, well . . . they work real hard too”); teaches proper back-seat “passenger duties”; and finally, offers a few useful pointers on drawing nifty imaginary cars. Replete with appropriately daffy cartoon illustrations, here’s a gassed-up laff-fest that will keep readers roaring back for more. (Picture book. 7-9)