THE VILLAGE GARAGE

The crew at The Village Garage works all spring, summer, autumn and winter, having fun while they patch potholes, clear leaves, plow snow, fix cars and keep their friendly town in good working order. Outdoorsy readers keen on machinery, construction, toting and hauling will grunt with pleasure at the Garage guys’ practical skills and unflagging energy. Gouache, acrylic and pencil illustrations conjure a cheery, busy village, whose community spirit is captured by the important work at The Village Garage. The crew’s smiling faces appear on every page, even those depicting many phases of hard labor. Abbreviated sentences, with powerful verbs (people holler, storms blow in) effectively capture the honed, pragmatic thinking that makes real-life problem-solving so satisfying. Characters, almost all men, break a sweat fixing the town’s perennial problems but laugh through the seasons too. A Fourth-of-July party and winter karaoke give the crew (and readers) a break for much-deserved playtime. Sunny, energetic artwork makes life and work in this village feel joyous and rewarding. Inspired readers might head straight outside to their own yards, ready to weed the garden or rake leaves. (Picture book. 3-8)