John Nicholson’s fourth offering in the ‘Transport, Trade and Travel’ series—Steam, Steel and Speed would make an excellent resource for teachers and students alike, to find out about the Australian ‘industrial revolution’ from the 1850s to the 1920s. It covers how steam engines work, the advent of modern technology, the river trade and working for the railways. The illustrations are detailed and engaging and the text easy to understand. Learn about the Harry Potter-sounding ‘Hobnail Express’ and the ‘Tea and Sugar Train’. The book is aimed at the nine to 13-year-old age bracket and us sure to invoke interest in the budding train driver/boat enthusiast. Want to know what the most common injury to rail workers was? What a drover’s routine entailed, or what a fettler is? These questions and more are answered in a straightforward, matter-offact way. The next book in the series covers the years of 1900 to 2000 and the theme is on petrol power— lets hope A&U publishes it before the world runs out! A solid, informative read.

Katie Horner is assistant editor of Bookseller+Publisher

Tags: john nicholson