Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Blue helps a friend in need in cheerful school tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK, Toad and Blue are driving down the road when they pass the school bus carrying their barnyard freinds. Blue likes the big, long yellow bus, and wishes he were a school bus, too. Then he passes Piggy who's crying after oversleeping and missing the bus. Blue tells Piggy to hop in. "I know a path/ right through the wood,/ I'll get you there/ like a school bus should." They pass woodland creatures -- fox, deer, owl, squirrel -- as they get through "bushes and brambles and towering trees" where, Toad points out, "there's "no room here for a great big bus." They arrive at school on time and the school bus observes, "Looks like this job/ is just your size!/ You're not big, not yellow, not long and wide, but you had room for a friend inside."
Is It Any Good?
This cheery, rhyming story of helping a friend in need also has a positive message about having special talents and abilities than can make you right for a job even if you're little. Time for School, Little Blue Truck is a fun addition to the popular series that shows Blue taking on a challenge and proving his worth doing a tough job. At its core, the story is about being kind, helpful, and taking care of your friends. But on another level, it encourages feelling good about who you are and what special abilities you may have that bigger folks don't. "You did this job in your very own way," the school bus tells Blue. "We needed a tough little truck today."
As always, Jill McElmurry's cjaunty illustrations help move the adventure along and give kids lots of details to notice.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Blue's willingness to help in Time for School, Little Blue Truck. It seems like he's happiest when he's helpinig others. Do you know anyone like that? How does helping someone else make you feel good?
How does the big yellow school bus help Little Blue Truck feel valuable?
Blue learns that you don't have to be big to do certain jobs well. What jobs to do you well?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jill McElmurry
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Friendship , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion
- Publication date : August 16, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 7
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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