Puppy Truck

When Carter receives a red and yellow toy truck instead of the puppy he wants, he doesn't throw a fit. Instead, "he pet it and put a leash around it," writes Pinkey (Hip-Hop Lollipop), and magically, the truck responds just like a rambunctious pup, with bright eyes and a shiny black nose. "Vroom beep bark!" says the truck, and the two are off, running toward a wonderful day in the park, where they make a friend and romp in the sandbox; back at home, they enjoy a soapy bath in a big purple tub and a bedtime cuddle. Pinkney's swooping, ribbonlike ink lines and splashes of bright color pop off the cream-colored pages. Detailing is minimal and evocative, with a few swift black lines conveying a gentle hill, and cloudlike green scribbles evoking the park's foliage. Brown-skinned Carter has a lean dancer's body, and he moves around the page with an energized grace and a look of pure contentment. There's no huge dramatic arc or epiphany here, and no grown-up supervision or mediation--just a joyful celebration of imagination at play. Ages 5-8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (June)

PreS-Carter wants a puppy, but when he receives a truck instead he doesn't let it stop him for a moment. He grabs a leash and with a playful, "Vroom beep bark!" they're off to the park to chase squirrels, race down hills, and play in the mud. Carter's imaginative view of the world is even shared when he makes a friend who then discovers their own ability to transform their world. Pinkney returns to an artistic style similar to On The Ball with simple, colorful, and energetic illustrations. The two young characters in this story (Carter and a girl he meets at the park) both have brown skin and curly black hair. Thick swirling lines and color move the children and Puppy Truck across the pages on their adventure. The text is placed in large, bold font and is both simple and repetitive, perfect for beginning readers. Full of onomatopoeic lines, this would be an excellent storytime read for an audience that loves trucks or puppies, or hopefully both. VERDICT A first purchase that is sure to please.--Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library