CALLING ALL CARS

Automobiles galore in this ode to the particular set of pleasures and miseries that occur in a world full of cars.

The fun begins with a white rabbit clad in purple clothes. “Big cars, small cars, / let’s call ALL cars!” the rabbit bellows into a megaphone, as a highway full of animal-driven cars twists around a group of soft blue, bright green, and sunny orange buildings. Each double-page spread offers a surplus of amusing sights: three pigs in a convertible, a kitten chauffeuring a royal pair of lions, love-struck snakes hugging and tugging their cars too close together. Beise’s digital illustrations pop with vivid colors. Lots of curves and circular shapes make up the varied landscapes, providing a sense of momentum to the whole endeavor. At times, Fliess’ sing-along wordplay enlivens a scenario. Full of “traffic jam cars,” “honking horns and changing lanes,” the rhyming couplets bounce off the page, and small pictorial details continue this playful gesture. Yo-yos and crayons blend in with trees and shrubs, as A-B-C building blocks stack up beside buildings. The final image zeroes in on a young child clutching a car in bed, ending the call on a quiet note.

All in all, it’s an infinite loop of automotive joys interwoven with a rather charming narrative.