FICTION

If You Were a Garbage Truck or Other Big-Wheeled Worker!

by Diane C Ohanesian (text) & illus. by Joey Chou
Random House Studio. Feb. 2022. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780593375150.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2–A brightly illustrated picture book poses questions to trucks, trains, and other vehicles about whether they like their jobs or not. The idea is clever, but unfortunately the clunky attempt at rhyming impedes the flow. The author is successful with the first two lines that rhyme on each page, for example: “If you were a train, Would you boo-choo and complain?” In subsequent lines, “hopper” is paired with “waste recycler.” Sometimes the rhyme works in these paired lines (“track/back,” “snow/tow,” “ton/done”), but children will stumble over the uneven syllable counts even as they cheer over the illustrations. These eye-filling pages show friendly vehicles wearing happy smiles and children with different skin tones in the scenes.
VERDICT Children who love cars and trucks will still enjoy this book despite its uneven verse. But for a smoother and more enjoyable ride, turn to Alice Schertle’s Little Blue Truck or Sherri Duskey Rinker’s Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.
Reviewed by Heidi Dechief , Apr 15, 2022

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Hoot Hoot
by Georgette
BOOKS

My Dinosaur Shoes
by Tassopoulos Wehner, Eleni
BOOKS

The Smushkins: ABC Zoinks
by Rueda, Claudia
BOOKS

Our World: Vietnam
by Tran-Davies, Nhung
BOOKS

Happy Chinese New Year, Little Red Panda
by Wood, Amanda
BOOKS

One Night In Bethlehem
by Lord, Jill Roman
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?