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Vroom! Vroom! A convoy of trucks
Reviews by Alice Cary
Before my son was born, I could barely tell a bulldozer from a back hoe. But Will has been slowly educating me for most of the three and a half years of his life.
Whenever we're on the road, he's on constant watch for tow trucks, car carriers, convertibles -- you name it. I sometimes wonder what the mothers of girls discuss when driving with their daughters. It's difficult to avoid being sexist on this issue, but I've heard rumors that a certifiable "truck gene" will soon be revealed in major medical journals.
Here are some of our favorites:
Little Green Tow Truck, by Ken Wilson-Max Bumper to Bumper, by Jakki Wood Dig and Dug, by Caryn Jenner Truck Talk, by Bobbi Katz
Barney's Book of Trucks, by Monica Mody Tonka Big City Dump Truck, by Mary Packard
Tonka Big Book of Trucks, by Patricia Ref
ages 3-6
Little Green Tow Truck
By Ken Wilson-Max
Scholastic, $14.95
ISBN 0590898027
Like others afflicted with Truck-itus Syndrome, Will can't get enough truck books. One of our favorites is "Little Green Tow Truck" (), with flaps to lift and tabs to pull. Ken Wilson-Max's bright, cheerful book is the latest in a popular series that includes "Little Red Plane," "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Big Blue Engine."
In this new saga, the Little Green Tow Truck is summoned to help a red convertible stranded on a busy highway, and it's the reader's job to get him there. Each spread contains one or more simple activities -- change a tire, turn the key, check the map, move the tow truck along the highway, hook the truck to the convertible, drive back to the garage. While the adventure is sure to be a huge hit, books such as these are inherently fragile, so be careful if your favorite young reader is a toddler or particularly rough with books.
ages 1-5
Bumper to Bumper
By Jakki Wood
Simon & Schuster, $14
ISBN 0689803915
"Bumper to Bumper" is a clever tale that works well for preschoolers, toddlers, even babies. All will love being thrown into the midst of an enormous traffic jam of more than 30 vehicles illustrated with great humor and style by Jakki Wood. When will the backup end? What's the cause? The text consists of nothing more than the name of each vehicle. The youngest readers will simply enjoy the pictures, while older children (and their parents) can follow the amusing threads of detail throughout the book.
For instance, several cars contain flowers; near the front of the line, a red-haired boy sells them. Similarly, bits of trash litter the road; later a trash truck appears. This title is simple, yet so enormously appealing, that it makes you wonder, why the heck didn't I think of that?
ages 2-6
Dig and Dug with Daisy
Trouble with Trucks
By Caryn Jenner
DK Publishing, $9.95
ISBN 0789411075
"Dig and Dug with Daisy: Trouble with Trucks" made Will absolutely roar with laughter. When Farmer Stubble's tractor breaks down, he asks Dig and Dug, two bumbling handymen, to help transport his vegetables to Mrs. Green's store. Dig and Dug bring in several vehicles to tackle the job -- a pickup truck, tow truck, forklift, bulldozer, digger, and a giant dump truck -- but disaster awaits at nearly every turn. The duo is aided by niece Daisy, who acts as straight woman to the comedy team. The characters and vehicles are nifty-looking Claymation figures, and fans will want to share more of their adventures.
Truck Talk
Rhymes on Wheels
By Bobbi Katz
Scholastic, $10.95
ISBN 059069328X
Bobbi Katz gives a poetic spin to a panoply of trucks, each telling in clever rhyme what its main purpose is in "Truck Talk: Rhymes on Wheels." Bold, brightly colored photos of each type of truck give a good perspective on both the size and the contents. The last truck shown is summer's favorite -- an ice cream truck.
ages 2-5
Barney's Book of Trucks
By Monica Mody
Illustrated by Joseph Hernandez
Barney Publishing, $2.95
ISBN 1570641285
It may be chic to dis Barney, but there's no denying the mystique this dinosaur holds for young children. Will doesn't even watch the television show, yet "Barney's Book of Trucks" by Monica Mody, illustrated by Joseph Hernandez was the first of this group he wanted to read. The plot is positively predictable yet classically beloved -- Barney and BJ visit such places as a neighborhood, farm, airport, work site, and see tons of cars and trucks.
ages 3-5
Tonka Big City Dump Truck
By Mary Packard
Scholastic, $6.95
ISBN 0590044648
When it comes to toy trucks, the name to know is Tonka, and the company's books are equally appealing. Fans get both a small toy and paperback book in sets such as "Tonka Big City Dump Truck" by Mary Packard, illustrated by Thomas LaPadula. A boy named Chris spots a dump truck from his apartment window, then he and his mother tour a construction site -- every boy's dream.
ages 3-7
Tonka Big Book of Trucks
By Patricia Relf
Illustrated by Thomas LaPadula
Scholastic Cartwheel, $11.95
ISBN 0590845721
If you're looking for a truck bible, I recommend the sizable "Tonka Big Book of Trucks" by Patricia Relf, illustrated by Thomas LaPadula. The volume contains a series of two-page spreads devoted to such themes as house building, road building, town and city life, farms, fire stations, state fairs and space shuttles. Each scene is complemented with individual explanations of each vehicle, all succinct, clearly written and interesting.
Truckaholics just can't get enough big rig lore. A reasonable person would think this stack of books would be enough for one week. But where did Will go when we went to the library?
Straight to the truck section, of course.
Alice Cary and her son Will review books and trucks in Groton, Massachusetts.
©1997, ProMotion, inc.
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