Explore how the invention and evolution of agricultural technology transformed the farmer's day-to-day life in Machine Marvels: Revolutionary Red Tractors. The book travels through time on a journey that begins in 1830 and takes you into the future, exploring the pivotal tractors and harvesting machines built by Case IH and their heritage brands International Harvester, Steiger, and J. I. Case. Each piece of equipment comes to life with rich historical and beautiful contemporary photographs of the machine, accompanied by an engrossing narrative and detailed graphics that illustrates the agricultural history, mechanics, engineering, and physics of these ground-breaking tractors. This book is ideal for young people fascinated with machinery as well as for anyone who wants to learn more about the hardworking people and the machines that feed our world!
Kathryn (Katie) Free is a science writer and video producer based in Austin, Texas. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, she discovered her love of science and nature after writing her second grade book report about Jane Goodall. She graduated from Caltech with a degree in geobiology. Even though she loved doing experiments with iron-breathing bacteria, Katie wanted to tell science stories. She moved to New York and worked as a television producer for six years before enrolling in NYU's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.
Now, Katie specializes in writing about science for kids. In the past, she's worked for Scientific American, National Geographic, Science Friday, Scientific American Mind, Popular Mechanics, and Scholastic.
Lee Klancher's career encompasses more than thirty years of publishing great stories. As an editor and publisher, he has overseen the development of some of the most-respected and best-selling books in the transportation niche. A prolific author and photographer, Lee has contributed words and images to more than thirty books as well as dozens of national magazines including Men's Journal, Draft, and Motorcyclist.
A book junkie and an obsessive student of his craft, Lee has also taught writing and photography at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He is best known for his award-winning books and calendars covering farm tractors, including Red Tractors and Red 4WD Tractors. He has rented an abandoned air force base to create a book cover, and built a custom 20x40-foot studio to photograph 30 of the most valuable John Deeres in private hands. He and his camera have climbed the Julian Alps, explored breweries on four continents, and ridden backcountry motorcycle routes in the Bolivian Amazon, the Australian Outback, and on the island of Hokkaido, Japan.
When not working on a book or a photo shoot, Lee busies himself biking, reading, and enjoying good food and craft beer. Lee lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Joan, as well as their dog, Red.