Car Goes Far

April 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-What begins as a trip to a burger joint turns into disaster for a shiny red car. In a series of misadventures, it deals with dirt flung on it from a construction zone, smoke from a truck, and a flock of pigeons causing havoc with its beautiful exterior. The car's animated expression conveys sheer horror at its messy appearance until it makes a welcome trip to the car wash. There are only a few words to reinforce the action on each page; spreads created through digital media maintain focus on the vehicle at all times. Both lively facial features and succinct word choices clearly capture its perspective. "Car gets wet./Splash, splash./Car gets suds./Car gets a rub./Mmmmmmm." The spare text relies on repetition in the brief narrative. No need to putter along here; this entry in the series features a straightforward plot for those just beginning to read.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2013
Garland's little red car invites children along for a ride to reading success. Opening endpapers show an aerial view of a Levittown-like setting with a single driveway occupied by a car. The title page zooms in on this home, with the car facing the reader, its headlights like eyes and its fender a subtle smile. That expression is amplified in the closer view on the first page of the book proper, with the simple text "Car looks good." But when the car ventures out to "go far," it ends up becoming quite a mess after mud, smoke, and birds sully its shiny, red body. "Car does not look good now," reads the controlled text. "Car is sad." Happily, Car is also resourceful and heads off to a carwash. Simple lines--"Car gets wet. Splash, splash. / Car gets suds. // Car gets a rub. Mmmmmmm"--see it getting clean again. Closing endpapers picture the car driving back through the suburban neighborhood again, its bright yellow headlights echoing the lights in the houses. Digital illustrations may make some children think of Pixar's Cars films, particularly in scenes where Car's facial expressions are strongest and most humorous--as when the birds make their mess. An inviting, accessible title for new readers. (Early reader. 5-7)

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June 1, 2013
Preschool-G Cara shiny red coupe with headlight eyes, a hood ornament nose, and a smiling grillelooks good setting off on an adventure. But soon the proud auto is spattered with mud (courtesy of a front loader), engulfed in smoky exhaust (thanks to an egg truck), and covered in bird poop. The solution is a car wash, of coursewith lots of water, suds, a rub, and a dryenabling Car to return home looking good once more. The author of Fish Had a Wish (2012) offers another title in the I Like to Read series. The succinct text ( Car gets wet. / Splash, splash. / Car gets suds. / Car gets a rub. / Mmmmmm ) is enhanced by Garland's eye-catching digital artwork. Car's facial expressions are particularly engaging and range from wide smiles to surprised ohs to angry snarls. A perfect choice for toddler story hours or beginning readers. Pair with Sandra Steen and Susan Steen's Car Wash (2001) or Lisa Campbell Ernst's This Is the Van That Dad Cleaned (2005).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
A cheery car with animated expressions looks sparkling clean at the start of the day but quickly gets dirty ("Car does not look good now. Car is sad"). It recovers with a trip through a car wash ("Car looks good again!"). Word repetition and ultra-simple plotting paired with the bold and bright digital illustrations will interest young vehicle aficionados.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)