Michael Hearst 
Unconventional Vehicles 
Forty-Five of the Strangest Cars, Trains, Planes, Submersibles, Dirigibles, and Rockets EVER

Think you know vehicles? Think again!


Unconventional Vehicles is a nonfiction collection of 45 of the strangest, most unconventional vehicles that have ever existed.


Vehicles include an underwater battery-powered scooter, a carriage pulled by ostriches, a hot air balloon shaped like the Cathedral of Saint Gall, and five different jet packs.


• Filled with history, science, technology, engineering, and interesting bits of trivia, all in one kid-appealing package

• Part of the Uncommon Compendiums series

• Vehicles range from submersibles to dirigibles.


Unconventional Vehicles explores very strange modes of transportation for vehicle fans, rocket inventors, budding space-and-aeronautics experts, and anyone who’s ever thought, ‘Why can’t I ride a motorized suitcase through the airport?’


Brimming with fascinating facts and diagrams presented with wit and humor, this book is sure to enthrall vehicle enthusiasts of every age.


• Ideal for children ages 8 to 12 years old, especially those interested in vehicles and engineering

• Author Michael Hearst brings his signature verve and humor to this fascinating read.

• Young readers will devour all the substantive and silly content in this book, proving definitively that nonfiction is anything but dry.

• A great pick for teachers, parents, grandparents, and caregivers

• You’ll love this book if you love books like
Cars, Trains, Ships, and Planes: A Visual Encyclopedia of Every Vehicle by DK;
Stephen Biesty’s Incredible Cross-Sections by Stephen Biesty; and
Cool Cars by Quentin Willson.

Circa l’autore

Hans Jenssen is a Dutch-Norwegian illustrator who has drawn cutaways and cross-sections of vehicle interiors for the Star Wars Incredible Cross-Sections series for over 20 years. He lives and works in the United Kingdom.