Big Tractor

PreS-Gr 2—Clement is a deity of vehicular lit. When kids enter the moving machinery phase of childhood, they revel in his Drive (2008), Job Site (2011), and Speed (2013, all Boyds Mills). Big Tractor is another wonderland of superlative illustrations that convey interesting information with the help of minimal text. The main characters here are a farmer in a checkered shirt and green-and-white cap, and a large green tractor. On the first page, the farmer opens a huge door and says, "Wake up, Ol' Partner. It's springtime!" He talks to the vehicle about the jobs they are tackling as they proceed through the growing season: "Hurry up! Time to tow the planter. Time to seed the rows." "Take a break, Ol' Partner. Time to start up the combine. Time to cut down the wheat." Each spread is a lesson in agriculture, demonstrating the many phases of activity and the attachments a tractor pulls in order to get the work done. The computer-rendered images are dramatic and beautiful, treating readers to a wide variety of colors and perspectives.