Review by Booklist Review
While riding in their car to a birthday party, Henry and his parents encounter stalled traffic. But with several child-enticing service vehicles on the scene (a truck, a backhoe, a crane), the way is cleared and Henry presents his friend with an appropriate present when he finally arrives at the party. Designed for shared reading, this I Can Read! adaptation of Brian Biggs' picture book features repeated words and phrases in basic language ( The car goes up the hill. The car goes down the hill ), which emerging readers will be able to understand and possibly handle on their own. A few words with which they may need help (ambulance, policeman) are sprinkled throughout. Easily identifiable, brightly colored figures in open, familiar cartoon-style illustrations clearly portray the action of the text. Not a high-drama ride, but one that children wanting to hone their reading skills might want to make more than a few times.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Henry is tucked into the backseat, with Mom and Dad up front. If readers look closely, they can see that he is holding a wrapped package. Traffic suddenly stops; a fallen tree is blocking the road. This becomes a big adventure for the family as they get out of the car and watch a fire truck, an ambulance (no one is hurt), and, finally, a crane. The tree is moved, and Henry makes it to a birthday party. While Biggs's "Everything Goes" series is fun, this "based on" title with the text by a different author and illustrations "in the style of" almost shouts: "copy this idea and make some more books (and money) just by piggybacking on a successful idea." The book is part of a new level in the "I Can Read" series and is meant for emergent readers. Unfortunately, the writing is reminiscent of the texts in the "Dick and Jane" books; it is flat and lacks the real sense of excitement that should accompany a fallen tree and lots of traffic. The simple, bright pictures show the action and would appeal to preschoolers, but they are not strong enough to make this title worth purchasing.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City (c) Copyright 2012. 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
Text by B. B. Bourne. Henry and his parents are on their way to a party when they encounter a fallen tree that's backing up traffic. Henry sees all sorts of vehicles (trucks, ambulances, backhoes) working together to fix the problem. Vehicle and machine enthusiasts will be delighted by the action-packed illustrations; the story has just the right amount of suspense for beginning readers. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A genial elementary reader that taps into the electricity generated by Brian Biggs' Everything Goes: On Land (2011). This book has been designed to share with very beginning readers, as Bourne's text amply illustrates in its simple repetitions: " Woof, woof, woof.'The dog wags his tail. The dog does not want to stop. The dog wants to see." Then there is the truck honking--"Honk, honk, honk!"--at the tree that has fallen across the road, causing the traffic jam that is the story's pivot. Though the text can feel overly purpose-driven, and the words more to be absorbed than befriended, such is not the case with Abbott's artwork--"in the style of Brian Biggs,"according to the title page--which is amiability itself. The line work is crayon bold, and the color so saturated it is thick as fudge. But there is something else lurking in the illustrations, something Claymation-tangible, which may arouse the urge to bring them home and introduce them to mother. If one of the objects of an early-early reader is to keep the reader focused, this artwork immeasurably helps. Traffic jams, it turns out, can be good fun, and children might even learn a word or two. (Early reader. 3-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
