Three Grumpy Trucks

PreS—The title page introduces a trio of construction toys zooming toward the playground on a scooter steered by a helmet-clad child. There they come to life with a "Whirr! Whomp! Grind! Chomp!" Hours later, when the child returns from playing with friends to announce that it's almost time to go, they take on the attitude of a recalcitrant toddler and refuse, begging for extra time. But as readers will surely notice, they are on the verge of melting down with "Hoses hissing, warnings beeping./Red lights flashing, fluids seeping./Fuses now about to blow." When the three grumpy trucks finally collapse into a dusty heap, the child takes off her construction hat, joins them in the mud, and soothes the dirty trio. At home, refueled, cleaned, and tucked in, they all fall asleep dreaming of their next big job. Tarpley uses rhythm and rhyme to cleverly show what happens when the trucks don't listen to their own gears and gauges, thus opening up the dialogue for families learning to do the same. Parker-Rees's colorful animated trucks have humorous toddler expressions, and his depiction of an awesome construction-themed bedroom for a girl is refreshing.