Photographs from Thrasher Magazine adorn a colorful guide to skateboarding that includes tips on buying and maintaining skateboards, information on surfaces, and a listing of skateparks and associations around the country. Simultaneous.
Gr 3-12-- As a ``radical'' informational title, this has strengths and weaknesses. Reiser's Skateboarding (Watts, 1989) and Cassorla's The Ultimate Skateboard Book (Running Pr., 1988) cover skills and techniques in a more concise form. Here, unusual design and use of full-color provide attractive layouts. Full-page photographs and six double-page spreads of techniques (shown in sequence in black-and-white photos) add interest. There is historical information, types of skating on varied surfaces, basic moves, equipment, associations, and a listing of parks in the U. S. and Canada. The text appears to be current; sections on style, coping with ``unstoked'' parents, fashion, and political action add uniqueness. The chatty writing style is helpful, opinionated, and sometimes humorous. However, females and minorities are not shown to be skateboarders, and while the authors stress safety, very few of the photographs show youngsters using related equipment. Nevertheless, readers of all ages can enjoy the book for the facts provided, beautiful photographs, and magazinelike look. (It concludes with an ad and subscription coupon for Thrasher magazine.) --Janice C. Hayes, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro Copyright 1992 Cahners Business Information.
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