Strollercoaster
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Dad gives daughter exciting ride in fresh pre-nap tale.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In STROLLERCOASTER, when an attentive dad sees his young daughter Sam getting bored and frustrated indoors, he seeks to change her mood by taking her outside for a ride in her stroller around their diverse city neighborhood. The dad imagines it like a roller coaster ride, going fast, racing up hills, around parks, with lots of twist and turns and fun things to looks at, and going through a dark tunnel at the end. She's tuckered out and falls asleep in her stroller and continues to nap -- with Dad -- on the couch once they return home.
Is It Any Good?
This fast-paced romp begins with a kid in a cranky mood and ends with a peaceful nap thanks to an imaginative dad who knows the power of a change of scenery. Any parent who's driven or walked kids around to get them to sleep will relate to this appealing and creative dad's approach to a familiar challenge. As the unseen narrator says, "There's a time each and every day when the inside feels too small for Sam." Dad turns an ordinary day into an exciting adventure by doing nothing more than exploring their own neighborhood -- with the speed, ups and downs, and twists and turns of a roller coaster, including the "click clack, click clack" sounds of it ascending.
Kids will enjoy spotting all the colorful details in the street scenes by illustrator and colorist Raúl the Third and Elaine Bay. And author Matt Ringler conveys all the warmth, patience, and creativity of an energetic, loving dad.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the neighborhood in Strollercoaster. Does it look like yours? How is it the same or different? What kinds of things do you notice when you're walking or riding around where you live?
The dad in the story pretends the stroller is like a roller coaster. How does he make it feel that way? Do you ever pretend you're in a car or on a motorcycle, boat, skateboard, or surfboard? How does that make what you're doing more exciting? What's fun about going fast?
How do you like the art in Strollercoaster? Does it remind you of a comic book or a cartoon? Do you like how much there is to look at on each page? Try drawing a picture of your neighborhood. What people, animals, and buildings would you include?
Book Details
- Authors: Matt Ringler , Elaine Bay
- Illustrator: Raul the Third
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publishers: Little , Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: June 1, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Hardback
- Last updated: January 9, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate