Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-In a story reminiscent of John Burningham's Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car (HarperCollins, 1976), Rabbit, driving his purple convertible to town, picks up Mole, Squirrel, Porcupine, Possum, Beaver, Crow, Skunk, Fox, and Cow. As each animal climbs into the "old junker," something else goes amiss with it. Just before they reach their destination, the "hunk-o-junk" comes to a screeching halt. All hop out and push it uphill until it is able to roll down the other side to town. There Rabbit "junk[s] that clunker," buys a new red auto, and drives his friends home in style. Simple, rhythmic text with plenty of action words and lively pastel illustrations make this a good choice for sharing aloud with preschoolers.-Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Rabbit gives first one, then two, and then more and more animal friends a ride in his dilapidated car. With each additional passenger it seems less and less likely they'll make it to town. Young kids will have fun with the silly premise, occasional rhymes, and recurrent onomatopoeia. Catalano's pastel art engenders suspense without exacerbating any of the situation's anxiety. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A catastrophic clunker of a car stars in this jovial, cumulative tale. It's a lovely day; Rabbit decides to take a spin into town. Along the way, an increasing company of friends joins him: squirrel, mole, porcupine, skunk. With each new passenger, Rabbit's junker offers a protest: It sizzles; it belches smoke; it sheds parts; finally, it gives up the ghost. Sweat not, Rabbit--what are friends for but to give a push? Catalano's pastels are alive, warmly unctuous and can set a scene: a double-page spread with a text-box on one side and a spot of Rabbit describing the latest calamity on the other. He's a poet, of sorts, too. Some rhymes are obvious and will be fun for the quite young, but there are also some off-beat syncopations--sometimes working internally, sometimes slipping a line or two before nailing the corresponding sounds--that will bring pleasure to more sophisticated readers. Best are the various boings, fizzles, squeaks and thunks that emanate from the "hunk-o-junk." A terrific traveling companion for John Burningham's Mr. Gumpy's Outing (1971). (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
