Little Red (Little Red)

A warm Christmas read and a reminder of the best gifts: friendship, kindness, helpfulness, and cooperation.

"Honk! Honk!/ Beep! Beep!" Little Red, a peppy pickup truck, and driver Katie, deliver true holiday spirit and a special gift to a small town's residents in a celebratory early concept book with plotting reminiscent of Katy and the Big Snow. On a snowy winter's eve, smiling Little Red and pale-skinned Katie are heading down a mountainside, loaded up with a bushy evergreen. When they hear a cry--"Help, Little Red, help!"--Katie steers the duo to Purple Delivery Van and hops out with jumper cables to lend a hand. More calls for assistance come from various friendly-faced vehicles of different hues, including Yellow Popcorn Wagon, Orange Utility Truck, and Shiny Silver Sleigh, hitched to a single red-nosed reindeer and piloted by a pale-skinned Santa. Finally, with all of Little Red and Katie's friends pulling together in the town square, the Christmas tree goes "up, up, up!" Colors, cumulative counting, and cute hardworking vehicles are all part of a day that Little Red calls "Jolly fun!" Ages 3-7. (Oct.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

A visually appealing picture book that's fun for reading aloud.

For young truck fans, this seasonal picture book has plenty to offer, from the work ethic of this determined pickup and its capable driver to the wintry setting with a nod to (but no mention of) Christmas. The narrative makes good use of repeated phrases, and children will happily chime in. A visually appealing picture book that's fun for reading aloud.—Booklist