Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street

Not just a counting book, the rhyming text artfully tells a story, which climaxes when the clever young observer suggests a nifty way to get the trucks rolling again. ... Good for storytimes and one-on-one sharing, this should delight even the most jaded of truck-book aficionados.

An ice cream truck breaking down in "the middle of our street" is a dream come true for many a kid—not to mention the ensuing traffic jam that strands 20 trucks of every shape and purpose. But one boy has something bigger in mind than licking a cone or being a spectator: he wants to solve the problem. That takes some persistence, but he eventually wins over the crowd with a solution that's literally right in front of them. Adult author Lee, making his children's debut, seems a bit stuck himself, delineating the mostly easy-to-recognize vehicles ("A pickup truck is number 4/ A crane truck makes 5./ And here come more!") rather than amplifying the mood so vividly established in Cyrus's (The Voyage of Turtle Rex) generously scaled and cinematically composed street scenes. It's his portrayal of the trucks as solid machines momentarily sidelined from their essential duties, along with the evocation of a neighborhood brought together by a benign "Didja ever..." moment, that makes the book feel inspired. It almost doesn't need words at all. Ages 3-5. Illustrator's agent: Michael Stearns, Upstart Crow Literary. (June)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2—This counting book presents a traffic tie-up of the proportion that will delight young children, especially those with a passion for trucks. A broken-down ice-cream truck is all it takes to bring the action to a standstill. Each page features one type of vehicle in all its glory, and there's even an aerial view that shows the entire neighborhood immobilized by the jam. Bold digital illustrations are crisp and sufficiently detailed to please those who have already acquired some knowledge of the topic. The use of concentrated color and minimal white space will also appeal to young listeners, who will identify with the young hero who gets everyone out of the mess. His idea is to use the crane to lift all the other vehicles and send them on their way. Of course, the disabled ice-cream truck will have to remain-a perfect reward. Counting books in verse are plentiful, but this one stands out. The words roll off the tongue, a good thing, as children will demand to hear it again and again.—Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

[H]andsome entertainment. This softly rhyming picture book presents children with a small but exciting dilemma that quickly involves—hurrah!—all sorts of trucks.
— The Wall Street Journal

The large format, bouncy rhyme and increasing mayhem all answer the energetic child's desire for things to be big and loud. However, the book subtly focuses the attention, too, as its captivating illustrations invite careful "reading."
— Newsday