GOOD NIGHT, TRUCK

Personified vehicles merrily perform their daily functions in this rhyming bedtime tale.

It’s morning, and Truck is already hard at work. A bevy of crowd-pleasing vehicles follows suit, as Digger, Boat, Tractor, and Rocket happily dig, sail, plow, and fly. But as the sun sets, all head to their respective beds for a good night’s sleep. Simple, perky rhymes keep the momentum moving in this familiar rhyming tale. An energetic “Hello” greets each vehicle, and then a warm “Good night” sends each to bed, until even the boy who loves them is tucked in tight. Straightforward illustrations done in a bright, primary pastel palette are accessible. There is an attempt to create earthy textures and interesting angles using the digital medium, and McKenzie’s artwork emulates a style that uses shape and pattern to create playful imagery. Confusion may occur over the different points of view the author incorporates (second-person singular mixes with first-person singular and plural); and unfortunately, the pictures may further confuse rather than clarify this aspect of the text.

It’s certainly cheery, but it may be lost on the already overflowing vehicle bedtime shelf.