 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
- By Richard Scarry
- Genre: Transportation
Common Sense Media says
Excellent vocab builder is also big wacky fun.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is THE book to get kids who love vehicles and are just starting to string together words and simple sentences. With lots to see and talk about on every page, it'll really get their motors running. Of course with any book filled with moving machines there are a few accidents, but it's all kept light with exploding mustard and flying bananas. In the back of a vehicle dubbed the "bigshot car," a pig smokes a cigar.
What's the story?
The pig family drives their car from home to the beach for a picnic and home again. Along the way they encounter almost every imaginable vehicle on the road, rail, and waterways, and some only Richard Scarry has imagined -- such as a giant pickle truck, a hammer car, and a wolf wagon. Meanwhile Officer Flossy is in hot pursuit of Dingo the dog who knocked over a whole row of parking meters in his flashy red car and is trying to escape a ticket. "Go get him, Officer Flossy!"
Is it any good?
Parents can approach this book in many stages. Toddlers, with their shorter attention spans, get the "point and laugh" method, attention given to silliness like the pickle truck and a cheese car filled with mice. Months later, a bit of the storyline can be added. Kids can track the pig family car, and parents can try to get through some of the text. Or just follow Officer Flossy as she chases Dingo -- another exciting option. When parents get through the whole story for the first time it's a real accomplishment.
Then it's time to find Goldbug on every page. That could involve a whole week of intense study and lots of shouting "there's Goldbug!" Then you can return to the story and enjoy it all over again. Long story short, this is a book that really grows with kids and gets them pointing, talking, laughing, and learning. What a wonderful investment.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about things that go -- while reading this book and while on the go. What's that car for? What does an ambulance do?
Where's Goldbug? You can look for the little gold bug on every page.
Why is Officer Flossy chasing Dingo? The book asks the question at the end and so can you: "When will he ever learn to drive properly?"
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| Topics: | cars and trucks |
| Author: | Richard Scarry |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Transportation |
| Publisher: | Golden Books |
| Publication date: | June 1, 1998 |
| Number of pages: | 69 |
| Hardcover price: | $14.99 |
| Read aloud: | 6 |
| Read alone: | 7 |
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