HELLO, BICYCLE

Name: HELLO, BICYCLE
Author: Ella Boyd
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5964-4

by Ella Boyd & illustrated by Daniel Griffo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2011

Togged out in a pink helmet and riding an ultra-cool red bike complete with wicker basket, handlebar streamers and a seat...

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A young girl says goodbye to her tricycle and learns to ride a two-wheeler in this rather misleading debut from Boyd.

Togged out in a pink helmet and riding an ultra-cool red bike complete with wicker basket, handlebar streamers and a seat with a backrest, this little girl is ready to go. “Climb the seat. / Twist the bars. / Helmet’s on. / Check for cars. // Pedal’s up. / Dad’s in view. / Ready, start—coming through!” The rollicking rhythms match the bounce of a bike ride, while the rhymes are spot-on. But unfortunately, the text glosses over reality and matches the experience of only a tiny minority of children. Dad does not accompany her, just sees her off. There are no crashes, no skinned knees, no wobbles and no walking the bike up the long, steep hill. From the artwork, it appears that she is riding in a brick-pathed park with nary a car in sight, and based on the reactions of the people she passes, she is almost out of control. Griffo’s digital illustrations are a textural delight if a representational miss. The animals and much of the clothing have fabric-like patterns, while his beautiful blustery fall day is perfect for bike riding.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-7614-5964-4

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011

Categories:

CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

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CRANKY

by Phuc Tran ; illustrated by Pete Oswald ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

Kids will come for the construction vehicles and leave with some social-emotional skills.

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Anthropomorphic trucks and construction vehicles work through big feelings.

“I’m Cranky,” announces a yellow crane—that’s our protagonist’s name and state of mind. It’s a big day at the construction site; everyone’s completing work on the construction of a new bridge. Friends like Zippy the cement mixer and Wheezy the forklift encourage Cranky to cheer up. But their positivity only makes Cranky feel worse. Cranky eats alone at lunch and feels increasingly isolated as the day goes on. When Zippy and Wheezy express concern, Cranky suddenly becomes even more upset: “Asking me what’s wrong makes me feel like it’s not okay for me to be cranky!” The others back off, and slowly, the grouchy crane’s mood starts to improve. And the friends are right there when Cranky is ready to open up. Bright colors, adorably anthropomorphic vehicles, and layouts that alternate between vignettes and full-page spreads will hold readers’ attention through what is a mostly introspective narrative. Tran imparts some solid messages, such as the importance of giving pals the space they need and communicating your needs, even if you choose not to share everything. Some of the nuance will be lost on younger readers, but the story will spark conversations with others. Construction puns such as “self-of-steam” should get some chuckles from older kids and adults.

Kids will come for the construction vehicles and leave with some social-emotional skills. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9780063256286

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

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LITTLE PURPLE TRACTOR

From the Little Heroes, Big Hearts series

by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Annelouise Mahoney ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2024

Only for kids who really, really want to look at pictures of tractors.

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A purple tractor discovers his purpose.

“Deep in farm country…Purple Tractor had a comfortable home and loving parents, but he was unhappy.” The other tractors—orange, red, and blue—make fun of him because of his inability to perform farm-related chores. He finds comfort talking with Brown Truck, who’s lived on the farm longer than any other vehicle and tells stories about the old days. Brown Truck has the perfect job for Purple Tractor: working on a construction site. Purple Tractor heads to a construction site with Brown Truck and enjoys the work. His fellow farm tractors start to feel threatened by his new sense of self, but once he saves the day after a severe weather event, he eventually finds his place in both worlds. Exhaustingly long blocks of text are paired with static illustrations of pastoral and urban scenes. While heavy machinery is often an automatic hit with young children, this one will have a hard time finding an appreciative audience. The story is wordy, with a leaden sentimentality that comes from painstakingly explaining what lessons readers should be taking away. The heroism in this Little Heroes, Big Hearts series leaves a lot to be desired.

Only for kids who really, really want to look at pictures of tractors. (Picture book. 4-7)