OLD MACDONALD HAD A TRUCK

A barnyard frolic puts a new spin on a favorite interactive song.

As dawn breaks over a rural landscape, a smiling, white-haired, white couple make their way down a road in a dilapidated pickup carrying an unidentifiable pile of metal. Old MacDonald and, presumably, his wife are greeted by a construction crew of farm animals ready to start their day. Traditional lyrics begin the story, but a turn of the page reveals that what Old MacDonald has is an “EXCAVATOR!” Digging and scooping lead to squishing and smashing, spinning and whirling as the exuberant text tumbles from one page to the next in a kind of visual onomatopoeia. A large trim size and landscape layout invite youngsters to follow the action of heavy machinery and sing along to “E-I-E-I-WHOOOA!” and “E-I-E-I-UH-OH!” While her spouse directs the digging, Mrs. MacDonald calmly rebuilds the truck’s engine, adding a supersized set of tires and a new coat of paint. She and an animal pit crew transform the pickup into a monster truck ready to roll, as her husband prepares a track and grandstand for viewers. By day’s end, the two of them drive off, this time with the wife in the driver’s seat. Loosely drawn illustrations in pencil and gouache are perfect for the lively setting, with tool-filled endpapers anticipating an extraordinary barnyard story.

Loads of infectious fun make this a read-aloud treat