Elbow Grease

August 15, 2018
If it first you don't succeed, try getting hit by lightning. The smallest of his four brothers, Elbow Grease is an electric-powered monster truck with big dreams. Each one of his brothers is tougher, faster, smarter, or braver than he is, but at least he's got enough "gumption" to spare. That comes in handy when he rushes off to join a Grand Prix in a fit of pique. And while in the end he doesn't win, he does at least finish thanks to a conveniently placed lightning bolt. That inspires the true winner of the race (Elbow Grease's hero, Big Wheels McGee) to declare that it's gumption that's the true mark of a winner. With his emphasis on trying new things, even if you fail, Cena, a professional wrestler and celebrity, earnestly offers a legitimately inspiring message even if his writing borders on the pedestrian. Fortunately McWilliam's illustrations give a great deal of life, emotion, action, and mud splatters to the middling text. Humans are few and far between, but the trucks' keeper, Mel the mechanic, is pictured as a brown-skinned woman with glasses. Visual fun overrides textual inadequacies, making this an enjoyable read with an inarguably valuable message. (Picture book. 4-7)

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October 22, 2018
In his children’s book debut, professional wrestler Cena kicks off a series about a family of monster trucks. Elbow Grease—’Bo for short—is the smallest truck in the entire Demolition Derby, and he has a battery that needs to be recharged daily. When the gumptious little blue monster truck decides he’s all in for the big win, he’s far away from the nearest plug. It would take a miracle to save the day at the big rally—but maybe a bolt from the blue will suffice? Cena hits the positivity and self-esteem messages too squarely (“He always tried his best and never, ever gave up”; “If you only stick with what you’re good at, you’ll never learn anything”), but jaunty back-and-forth banter among the brothers should please boisterous truck enthusiasts. McWilliams’s detailed characters appeal without being overly cutesy—readers can see every groove in those humongous tires. Ages 3–7.