The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based list of titles available only on-line. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months. Vroom! A List of Things That Go --selected by Kate McDowell Who hasn't been fascinated by the miracle of motorized motion? This list covers everything from trains to planes with a special emphasis on trucks of all kinds. Although many children of all ages are vehicle aficionados, this list is written with a slant toward the preschool audience, for whom the sheer size of these technological titans is stunning. Gas these up for a story hour and get ready for a great ride! --Kate McDowell, reviewer

• Alborough, Jez. Duck in the Truck. HarperCollins, 1999. 3-6 yrs
  In this inviting picture book, a duck in a truck gets stuck in the muck, and readers will giggle along as a menagerie of friendly critters pitch in to help push the stuck duck's truck in this silly adventure.
• Baer, Edith. This Is the Way We Go to School: A Book about Children Around the World. Scholastic, 1990. 4-6 yrs
  "In rhyming couplets and morning watercolors, kids (some in a hurry, some lost in thought, some waving at the reader) go off to school-by foot, car, bus, El train, bicycle, boat, [and] radio." (BCCB 10/90)
• Crews, Donald. Truck. Greenwillow, 1980. 2-5 yrs
  This classic Caldecott honor books gives an up close look at bold road signs, tight tunnels, and a bright red truck drawn with slanting perspectives that help emphasize the truck's majestic proportions. (BCCB 4/80)
• Gammell, Stephen. Ride. Silver Whistle/Harcourt, 2001. 5-8 yrs
  Although the setting here is the family car, the real action happens in the vivid imaginations of two siblings whose backseat rivalry turns their everyday conflict into a fantasy battle in which they send each other into space and turn one another into dinosaurs. (BCCB 3/01)
• Imershein, Betsy. Construction Trucks and Trucks. Little Simon, 2000. 2-4 yrs
  "These slightly oversized board books feature color photographs of pristine tankers, fire engines, garbage trucks, concrete mixers, etc. set against glossy backgrounds in a variety of crayon colors." The youngest truck-o-philes will be delighted to have two books built especially for drivers their size. (BCCB 9/02)
• Kelly, Mij. William's Night Train. Farrar, 2001. 2-5 yrs
  While all the train's asleep, William is wide awake and exploring until a puffy cloud of sheep-shaped steam carries him off into dreamland. The gentle rhythms of this soothing story are perfect for putting the brakes on a long day as children ride the rails towards bedtime. (BCCB 06/01)
• Robbins, Ken. Trucks: Giants of the Highway. Atheneum, 1999. 4-7 yrs
  "Robbins capably rolls out a perfect pre- and primary-school-sized load of information: definitions of the parts of the rig, types of trailers and the freight they haul, and a bit about life as a long-haul driver." (BCCB 12/99)
• Sierra, Judy. Preschool to the Rescue. Gulliver/Harcourt, 2001. 4-7 yrs
  One after the other a pizza van, a police car, a tow truck, and a backhoe get stuck in the mud. Fortunately an enthusiastic class of preschoolers is nearby; they use their shovels, bricks, and Popsicle sticks to rescue the trucks from the muck. (BCCB 4/01)
• Steen, Sandra. Car Wash. Putnam, 2001. 3-7 yrs
  Through the power of imagination, a trip to the carwash is transformed into an undersea adventure, complete with soapy seaweed, a tidal wave, and octopus arm scrubbers. (BCCB 1/01)
• Sturges, Philemon. I Love Trucks. HarperCollins, 1999. 2-5 yrs
  "Spare, rhymed text and boxy, bright pictures of vehicles on the move will rivet the attention of tykes who'd gladly trade their trikes for a rig. Take this one on a car trip and spot the big rollers roaring past." (BCCB 3/99)
• Suen, Anastasia. Air Show. Holt, 2001. 5-7 yrs
  Although a trip to an air show provides the fictional frame for this book, the main attraction here is the art. Those who prefer wings to wheels will enjoy the drawings of vintage aircraft, including insets that show detailed front, side, and top views of specialized aircraft. (BCCB 5/01)
• Voake, Charlotte. Here Comes the Train. Candlewick, 1998. 2-5 yrs
  "From the rhythmic chug-chug of her language to her watercolor depiction of the bridge above the train tracks, with its crowd of train-and-noise-and-excitement lovers, Voake thrillingly captures the wild delight in watching the trains go by." (BCCB 12/98)
• Zimmerman, Andrea. Trashy Town. HarperCollins, 1999. 3-5 yrs
  Mr. Gilly is a trash collector who cleans up the whole town with his trash truck, chanting an inviting refrain for young story hour participants: "Dump it in, smash it down, drive around the trashy town!" (BCCB 5/99)

This page was last updated on April 1, 2002.

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