Save the Crash-test Dummies: An Action-Packed Journey through the History of Car Safety Engineering

by Jennifer Swanson, TeMika Grooms (Illustrator)

Jump in the driver's seat for this entertaining, STEM-filled tour of the history of car production and the science and engineering that makes cars safe.

Cars take us to work. To school. To soccer practice. To the grocery store and home again. Can you imagine a world without them? It's not so easy!

One of the reasons we can use cars so much in our everyday lives is because they are safe to drive. But that hasn't always been the case. If it weren't for the experiments conducted over decades that involved all kinds of crash test volunteers―dead, alive, animal, or automated―cars as we know them might not be around. And then how would you get to school?

Filled with historical photographs, graphics and humorous illustrations, this nonfiction book from science educator and award-winning author Jennifer Swanson will appeal to lovers of all things that go and readers who are interested in getting under the hood and seeing how things work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, History, Technology, Science

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Science Rocks! And so do Jennifer Swanson’s books. She is the award-winning author of over 45 nonfiction books for children. Using her background in science and history that she received from the U.S. Naval Academy, and her M.S. in Education, Jennifer excels at taking complex facts and making them accessible, compelling, and humorous for young readers, Jennifer's passion for science resonates in in all her books but especially, Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact and BEASTLY BIONICS which both received Florida Book Awards and NSTA BEST STEM book awards. Her Save the Crash-test Dummies book received an NSTA BEST STEM Award and a Parent’s Choice GOLD Award. Jennifer has been a featured speaker at the Tucson Book Festival, National NSTA conferences, the Highlights Foundation, the World Science Festival (twice), the Atlanta Science Festival (twice) and the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival in 2019. You can find Jennifer through her website www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com.

Reviews

[Valerie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read with my boys and we learned a lot about the history of car safety in a fun way!

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction book for middle graders, who like machines and cars is a hoot (imagine saying that about a book about safety engineering). The author introduces us to her “main characters” of sorts—the crash-test dummy, more accurately an entire family of crash-test dummies and a crash-test dog. The dummies come in all sizes. She brings up an obese dummy and an elderly one, more frail and with brittle “bones.” A valid addition what with the Boomer generation driving longer than is healthy for others on the road. (Yes, we should most certainly Uber everywhere or hire a chauffeur. But that’s another book). There is a pedestrian dummy and one that rides a bicycle to help self-driving cars to interact with bicyclists. Great photographs and illustrations of the dummies. Pictures of older and futuristic cars, failed safety features from the early years of the automobile, and other historical moments add color and fun. The diagrams help explain the intricacies involved.
For the grammar sticklers out there, I did find a typo or two, which I’m sure was an error of the copyeditor as the author knows her grammar. If one of those had not been my pet peeve, I wouldn’t care, but non-possessive plurals with apostrophes drive me crazy. Fortunately, it’s in the back matter, but a section some children will want to read: “So You Want to Be an Engineer?” Something to think about for the second printing.
Even those who don’t think they enjoy engineering will be pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed every page (and learned something, too). I knew I would because I read ASTRONAUT and AQUANAUT by the same author and enjoyed that, too. Jennifer Swanson writes in a lively voice, not allowing the reader to become bored. She makes the more difficult aspects of safety engineering accessible through her comparisons.
Highly recommended, especially for children interested in vehicles and engineering. Free teachers’ Guide available from the publisher, Peachtree Publishing Company. #safetyfirst

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Save the Crash-test Dummies by Jennifer Swanson, 104 pages. NON-FICTION. Peach Tree Publishing Company Inc., 2019, $20.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

All about safety, this book covers the history of car innovations designed to keep us out of hospitals. This book is filled with cool facts. For example, engineers introduced a new bumper that was filled with water to soften the impact of a collision. Safety belts were only offered as optional in 1956 and cost extra, and it wasn’t until 1911 that a rearview mirror was used in the very first Indianapolis 500 race instead of carrying a passenger to be the spotter.

Less a story of crash-test dummies and more a story of safety, this book is a quick overview of the history of safety in cars and ends with inflatable airbags and the promise of self-driving cars. The layout is inviting and easily accessible and the pictures are appealing.

Michelle in the Middle
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[Mary Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the cover and topic, but the writing lacks the energy. It’s straight forward history of engineering and design. Interesting details about air bags and design of dummies, but it over-emphasizes history and does not consider the interests and perspectives of young readers. For example, it goes into details about how airbags have been adjusted to account for overweight people, but doesn’t explain why they don’t work for children.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of NSTA's Best STEM Books 2020! This jaunt through the history of car safety engineering reveals that we have both human and mechanical crash-test dummies to thank for making driving much safer than it was a century ago.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love cars and learning how to be safe while in one, this guide will be perfect for anyone. Readers will enjoy learning all about the start of car safety and the crash-test dummy.

You may be used to getting in a car and putting on a seatbelt today. But, once upon a time wearing a seat belt wasn’t required. There weren’t any air bags or car seats for kids. Now, there are safety engineers who design cars with you and your family in mind. Crash dummies are used for testing a cars safety in the event of a crash. These dummies have a history.

This handy guide shares with readers the history of car safety the purpose of seat belts bumpers, and even the physics of a car crash. There are plenty of photos and biographies about amazing engineers. This guide is perfect for parents with a teen learning to drive, or for anyone wanting to learn more about cars and what parts ensure safety. After reading this book teens may even consider becoming an engineer.

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book that I plan to share with my kids next homeschool year while we do a transportation unit study. I’ve always been fascinated by crash test dummies, I don’t know why. I remember watching a TV show that showed how they are used. I loved it. So this book was a nice way to increase my knowledge of car safety and design in a fun way.

Do/Did you know:

Bumpers were replaced with wood during WWII?
The first seat belt was designed in 1885 for gliders, not cars?
The physics of a car crash?
How brakes work?
What an air bag is and how it works?
That there are different types of crash test dummies?
You will learn all this and more in the book. It was all very, very interesting. It is designed for ages 8-12 but would definitely work for teenagers too. I’m an adult and I enjoyed it. Anyone interested in or learning about cars, especially car safety would benefit from this book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about crash-test dummies and other safety features in cars. Well presented description of the safety measures. Illustrations are clear and concise. It allows a child to look at the family car and pick out the safety features that come in their car.

When I received this copy, I expected the illustrations to be more alone the line of drawn pictures but was surprised that it didn't dumb down the information. Excellent book for use in a classroom to discuss safety measures.

[American Mensa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Save the Crash-test Dummies by Jennifer Swanson is a chapter nonfiction book for both boys and girls ages 7 to 13. My favorite thing about this book is that it has lots of full-color pictures to go with the amazing, easy-to-read writing. I think that other boys and girls would like to use this book to learn about car history and machinery. I also think the other boys and girls would like all of the cool diagrams of what is inside of a car! It’s really good for homeschooling. I like this book, and I think that you will, too!
Dominic D., age 10, Tampa Bay Mensa

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This easy-to-read nonfiction book geared toward middle graders covers everything you've wondered about crash test dummies and more. As we move closer to a time where driverless cars may become a reality, it's interesting to go back in time and uncover how cars were first build, then how safety equipment has been added over the years.

The crash test dummies themselves are fascinating and provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse at all that goes into making rides safer.

This book will appeal to kids who enjoy nonfiction, history, car facts, and engineering.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A longer nonfiction that is equally fascinating and full of factual information. I think readers will find some of the original ideas interesting and appalling - a pedestrian body scooper? Sadly enough, I do remember the car seat belts attached to the car door that is shown as a part of history...

[Sharon Pegram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never knew auto-safety could be so interesting! With an engaging voice, lots of fascinating technical and historical tidbits, and the most personable crash dummies ever guiding us in the illustrations, this book reads fast and fun. A great introduction to the kinds of problems and solutions that shape the field of engineering.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for professional publication.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light hearted and witty, this book breaks down car safety into small chunks and then explains them bit by bit, from the basics of car design to the development of features to make them save, with a recurring theme of cartoon and actual crash dummies cheering things along. It doesn't try to do too much, but what it does it does very well.

Also, its cheerful format and size make it welcoming and kid friendly.