Ali Mitgutsch's World on Wheels

Ali Mitgutsch's World on Wheels: Rolling Along from Ancient to Modern Times ~ Ali Mitgutsch ~ Golden Press, 1975

Probably the question I get asked most on this blog is...

"Know any vintage children's books about cars, truck, trains and the like?"

Seeing as I live in a house with a child who has almost no interest in the subject, it stinks to always have to recommend the same books over and over again. Seriously, how many times can I expect Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go to single-handedly make me look like I know what I'm talking about?

Now, I have a new go-to book that even my animal-loving, almost-grade schooler enjoys. And, it's an over-sized Golden Book, even better!

Ali is a German illustrator who became famous in the late 60s and 70s for creating busy books that had lots going down on each page (not unlike our dear Mr. Scarry or another Big Golden Book fave Joe Kaufman). Here, we learn all about the discovery of the wheel and where the circular invention has gotten us over the years, from the prehistoric to the "somewhat" present.

People have always had clever ways to carry things. But there's no doubt about it -- the wheel has made life alot easier. Moving heavy objects was a problem right from the start. People struggled along with their loads as best they could, until a little over 5,000 years ago, when the wheel was invented.

Nothing not to love about this book. From watching a caveman try and heft a downed bear on page one to milestones in auto racing, everything you ever wanted to know about how things go is here.





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