Driving Buddies (by Apple Jordan)

Skimpy on plot or characterization, this beginner's book won't mean much to kids who haven't seen Cars. Even parents who saw and liked the film will be hard-pressed to read this book out loud more than once. Even so, kids who are Cars fans will probably like revisiting the story.

Part of the Random House Step Into Reading series, DRIVING BUDDIES is written in large type and short sentences and is accessible to beginning readers. The series is designed for kids who can recognize some words by sight and are ready to try to sound out others. Movie tie-ins aren't known for their inspired illustrations or text, and this short book is no exception. However if you have kids who loved the movie and could use a push toward reading confidence, it might be worth adding to your library.