Rating: 4 stars
So far we've had heaps of luck with the 2014 Children's Choices Award-Winning Books. The books on this list we've printed out guided our book lending last week. These books were selected by kids and for kids--with the goal of encouraging kids to read more for pleasure. These kids were spot-on. There are some really great books on the list!
Including Alphabet Trucks, a compact little read that I've read half a dozen times to Kiefer already, and we've only had it a few days. At three, the alphabet--recognizing the letters and learning the sounds they make--is exactly where he needs to be. Nothing makes him happier than riding in his dad's old Chevy pick-up truck (if only it were orange!), but a book about trucks--with a pick-up truck on the cover--comes pretty close.
The rhymes (the fact that it rhymes at this age is a wonderful thing!) are a solid good:
E is for elevator truck,
Raise the forklift--up it goes!
A is for apple truck, carting produce to the store.
F is for fuel truck,
with a meter, pump, and hose.
G is for grapple truck,
And its grabby, massive claw.
H is for horse truck,
Full of water, feed, and straw.
As you can see, there's not a lot of information on each truck, just a brief introduction and a great illustration by Ryan O'Rourke. In each picture, he's sprinkled in a bunch of those letters--Kiefer particularly likes how the Ms are sliding down the chute of the Mixing Truck. I like how the Junk Truck is hauling off a whole lot of Js to the dump.
But my favorite is the zipper truck. Because I know what that is! And I knew it when we first read it, promise. I am NOT the know-it-all in the house, so I am rarely the one who has The Answer. But this time I did! (Enter triumphant ha-HA! here) Years ago I saw a zipper truck, also known as a Barrier-Transfer Machine, do its thing as I drove into Washington, D.C. I thought it was cool back then, and I didn't yet have boys who would verify its coolness for me. I told the kids about it. I did my best to explain how it moved barriers to accommodate the different rush hour traffic needs on a single road, but this video helped them truly understand:
There you go! One good book and one cool video to explain the car that exemplifies Z!
From one zipper truck lover to another, thank you so much for taking the time to share your terrific review! (The zipper truck is what inspired me to write this book. I saw one while riding in a car and began a rhyme about it for my son.) Love the video, too. All best, Samantha
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