The McMullans’ series is now 10 books strong; thanks to its energy and charisma, this one may well end up being one of their...
The series of vehicles spouting declarative sentences about themselves returns once more with yet another self-confident machine: the not-so-humble pickup truck.
This pickup is the first to say, “I’m not the BIGGEST TRUCK in the parking lot,” but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in gumption. “Here I go, ridin’ low. Who’s got truck squat? Me. I’m HUFFIN’ and PUFFIN’, but hey, that’s nothin’….” After listing its physical attributes (the cab, cargo bed, tailgate, and engine are all highlighted), the truck attempts three very different loads. As with many other books in this series, humans make no appearances on the pages, focusing the attention entirely on the truck when, for example, it receives an extra-long load of lumber. Gravel comes next, and though it’s extremely heavy, a shift into four-wheel drive and an ample use of the clutch save the day. Carrying bales of hay on twisty roads can hardly compare in difficulty. Watercolor-and-gouache illustrations keep the art peppy, and the judicious use of bold and colorful typography will aid in making this yet another staple read-aloud.
The McMullans’ series is now 10 books strong; thanks to its energy and charisma, this one may well end up being one of their most requested. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-244925-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.
After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9780063436121
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
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Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted.
Imagination soars—quite literally—when a little girl follows her own set of rules.
Every year Oak Hill School has a go-kart race called the Going Places contest. Students are given identical go-kart kits with a precise set of instructions. And of course, every single kart ends up exactly the same. Every one, that is, except Maya’s. Maya is a dreamy artist, and she would rather sketch birds in her backyard than get caught up in the competition. When she finally does start working, she uses the parts in the go-kart box but creates something completely different. No one ever said it had to be a go-kart. Maya’s creative thinking inspires Rafael, her neighbor (and the most enthusiastic Going Places contestant), to ask to team up. The instructions never say they couldn’t work together, either! An ode to creativity and individuality to be sure, but the Reynolds brothers are also taking a swipe at modern education: Endless repetition and following instructions without question create a culture of conformity. Hopefully now, readers will see infinite possibility every time the system hands them an identical go-kart box.
Not astonishingly go-out-and-buy-it-at-graduation inspirational, but all it takes is one seed of change to be planted. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6608-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
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