Tough Trucks

May 1, 2004
PreS-Rhyming texts and busy cartoon art introduce these vehicles. A tanker, concrete mixer, garbage truck, and big rig are highlighted in Trucks. Parts such as pistons, a cab, CB radio, and semitrailer are mentioned in the text and depicted on a concluding labeled picture. Unfortunately, the illustrations don't always show the complete vehicle; only parts are shown at a time. Tractors provides solid information on farm equipment. Children learn that a tractor pulls a plow, harrow, roller, seed drill, mower, baler, combine, and trailer and see the roles that these pieces of equipment play on a farm field. Tractors are shown in their entirety, which makes the pictures appear less cluttered and better suited for toddler/preschool audiences. Both books feature the same animal characters-a bird, what appears to be a rabbit or dog, and a mouse-and they all have the same expressionless faces (a smile illustrated with a single black line). The rhymes are not exceptional, and the pictures are mediocre.-Olga R. Kuharets, Broward County Libraries, Fort Lauderdale, FL

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