Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle

Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Rating: 5 stars

Little Blue and I go way back. I mean, waaaaay back.

The original Little Blue Truck was Ben's favorite book as a baby. Because I read it to him daily, I can still recite the words and recall McElmurry's sweet illustrations that correspond with the stanzas. I can still recall having baby Ben (who turns six in two weeks! what?!) sitting in my lap and reading again and again, him flipping the pages, making the animals sounds, laughing at the change in my voice for the different characters.

I also snapped up the sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way when it was released a few years later. Both of these books have all that you want in great children's books: a fun, interesting rhythm and rhyme; sweet illustrations of neat characters; a nice moral to the story. In the first book, Little Blue helps a big, rude truck get out of the muck and, through his kind actions (rather than preachy words), teaches him that it pays to be a nice guy. In the second book, country-boy Little Blue teaches big-city traffic how to slow down, be patient, and take turns.

This third book, Little Blue Truck's Christmas, is just as wonderful as the first two. It is in a board book format, so best for ages four and under. There's some counting, just from one to five and then back down again, which is best for littler readers. Little Blue puts five trees in back to deliver to his friends, who all (wonderfully) say please and thank you as they request specific trees in the truck bed of Little Blue.

Who gets the last tree? I like this part. I think in decades past the last tree would be saved for an elderly person, someone who needs it most--and while that is fine and dandy, I think the fact that Little Truck saves the last tree for himself is an example of the "self love" trend that has been occurring for the past few years: You've got to love yourself and regard your own happiness in this life we've got, and that habit starts when kids are kids...and hopefully lasts until they are old and gray (and hopefully still very happy).

It's good to see you again, Little Blue!

Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle

Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Rating: 5 beep! beep! beep! stars

This is the classic story of a country boy, or, in this case truck, coming into the fast-paced, rude, impatient, loud, and noisy city and teaching the other boys, or other vehicles, a lesson: how to take turns.  And then everybody just gets along and there are no more traffic violations for the rest of the city's lifetime.  That's it--no more, no less.

I can't say enough how much we all love this book.  Lorelei loves how all of the vehicles have faces with different expressions on them in each page--she cracks up at the limo's tongue when his engine dies.  Ben loves to find Little Blue, a bright little character, amidst all the buses and taxis and cars and trucks and motorcycles.  I love how there's a lesson to draw out: Everyone, not just the little brother and sister in our household, has to be patient and take turns.

But there's some magic in the pages.  It's that can't-put-your-finger-on-it stuff that makes one book about a truck brilliant and the other one silly.  Jill McElmurry's illustrations definitely have something to do with it.  They are captivating, especially to us non-city folk.  (I always glance up at those tall buildings whenever I'm downtown or in New York--they are just so impressively and oppressively high!). 

And Alice Schertle's poem like a song you can't get out of your head--but in a good way.  Sometimes I'll blurt out one line from it and Lorelei will follow up with the next line or two.  We wave to Little Blue as he leads the way (see picture) and we clap and cheer when the poem instructs us to do so.  I think that the first book is a little stronger than this one, but they are both so wonderful I'm left wondering how a beat up old truck could be so endearing.

This is a fantastic book for babies and toddlers, boys and girls, one that you can't go wrong in gifting to someone.  I'm going to try to resist the urge to buy it, but my confidence in myself is quite low because this, along with the prequel, Little Blue Truck (review here) is a Great One!

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Rating: 5 beep! beep! beep! stars

The word delightful is pretty overused when it comes to childrens' books.  But sometimes, it just fits.  It's the main word that comes to mind when I think of this book.  It's delightful to read aloud, it's delightful to listen to, and it's a delightful message overall.

Delightful, delightful, delightful!

I got it out of my system now, so I can get back to writing.

Over a year ago when Ben was just six months old or something around that--with the second you round up, starting a few weeks after birth--I felt a little badly that all he got was hand-me-downs.  His onesies were already stained, some of his blankets were pink, and all his books were already worn.  So we were at a bookstore and I decided to buy a few "baby boy" books.  I came across this one.  Jackpot!

This is a fun poem with lots of farm animals and a cool truck, all of which make sounds like Oink and Neigh and Beep--it makes Ben happy every time we read it.  They are speaking his language!  It is so fun to read aloud.  Oh, and I've not even gotten to the storyline: there's a good message plainly hidden in the words and the illustrations (which are super delightful...oops, I said it again). 

Little Blue is a friendly truck that beeps to everyone he passes.  Then we meet the dump truck, which "doesn't have time to pass the day / with every duck along the way." Then the dump gets stuck in the mud, and no one responds when he honks his important, busy, and frightened horn.  But Little Blue tries to push him out, of course, but then gets stuck himself.  And everyone responds to his "Beep!  Beep!  Beep! / I'm stuck, I'm stuck!" call of distress.  After all the animals come to the rescue, the dump truck sees "that a lot depends / on the helping hand / of a few good friends."

Little Blue doesn't gloat or say I told you so (how mature of him!); he just offers all his animal friends a ride home.

This is a wonderful, wonderful book.  I am reminded of it because the sequel just came out...a review of Little Blue Truck Leads the Way is coming soon!  I know you'll be on the edge of your seats, my imaginary friends.