The Little Snowplow

October 5, 2015
When a small blue snowplow joins the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, the larger trucks doubt his abilities. “It might be too much for a little snowplow. We’d probably have to help,” says one of the seasoned trucks, which have headlights for eyes and grilles for mouths. But the snowplow trains hard, clearing streams, pushing fall leaves, and hauling concrete blocks. When a blizzard arrives, he singlehandedly digs a dump truck out from underneath an avalanche and pulls it free. Debut author Koehler fills her story with vehicular action that will appeal to young gearheads (“The little snowplow plunged his plow into the avalanche debris”), while Parker’s illustrations balance cutely characterized trucks with mid-blizzard drama. Ages 3–7. Illustrator’s agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary Agency.

September 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-In the town of Mighty Mountain, there is a great team of big trucks with important jobs, but there is also one little snowplow who has just joined the crew. The big trucks scoff at his size and declare that the little snowplow will never be able to handle a snowfall the way the old, retired snowplow had. In the seasons leading up to winter, the mighty trucks bulldoze mudslides, build roads, and mound salt and sand while the little snowplow clears streams, cleans streets, and pushes leaves into piles. The little snowplow works hard to build strength and make sure that he is in tip-top shape for the upcoming winter. Sure enough, as expected, the big snows come. As the big trucks haughtily predicted, the little snowplow indeed needs their help, but what they fail to realize is that maybe the little snowplow will have much to offer them in their hour of need as well. A story of hard work, determination, and graciousness, this picture book will reinforce to young readers that a strong work ethic and forgiving spirit will take one far. The colorful illustrations are created in pencil and rendered digitally. Each vehicle is artfully designed with a face that humorously displays feeling and expression. Boys and girls alike will enjoy pointing out the different types of trucks and stating their functions. VERDICT Reminiscent of The Little Engine That Could, this story is a modern take on a timeless message.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Despite skepticism from bigger vehicles, the small, new-kid-on-the-block snowplow works to stay fit, sure that he will be useful one day soon. "On the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, the trucks came in one size: BIG. That is, until a new snowplow joined the crew. 'You're such a little snowplow, ' the big trucks said. 'Leave the heavy lifting to us.' And off they roared." So begins the tale, accompanied by an appealing, full-color illustration of a shyly smiling little snowplow looking up at an array of larger trucks, all of them sporting comical, doubtful facial expressions. In spring, summer, and fall, the little snowplow performs tasks secondary to those of the big trucks, as in creating leaf piles when the bigger trucks mound "mountains of salt and sand." His early-winter training includes such whimsical exercise as raising and lowering his plow: "Ten times. Fast!" His strength, speed-and, yes, his small size-eventually allow him to be a snowstorm hero. Will, the human road-crew foreman and snowplow driver, enters the story at an appropriate time, taking the little snowplow out for his inaugural blizzard. There is a pleasing combination of Little Toot and The Little Engine That Could to the book, in both text and illustrations. Droll humor and excellent layout add to the fun. There's always room for another well-told yarn espousing the themes of small-is-beautiful, hard work pays off, and, of course, "I think I can." (Picture book. 3-6)

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