Review by Booklist Review
This action-packed picture book follows a stream of cars through a hazard-filled off-road race. The focus is in on the smallest car, which barely squeezes in next to the big cars at the starting line. The cartoonish illustrations, filled with exaggerated proportions, eye-popping colors, and explosive type for action words (Dart! Dive! Swerve! Sway!), invite attention and add a sense of urgency. Readers at first may accept the cat-shaped tunnel and stegosaurus-shaped mountain that the cars zoom through as features of a creatively designed course. However, as the cars race past a gigantic birdbath, a mud landslide, and hills that resemble parts of a patchwork quilt, they may start looking more closely, until the sight of a hand at the corner of a page reveals that a small boy is playing with his cars in his own backyard. The story's absorbing action, intriguing art, and fun payoff will please young readers, who will want to return for the clues after the first reading.--Fletcher, Connie Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Ready, set, go! It's a race; all the cars are lined up at the start. Even a car who is smaller than the rest squeezes its way into place. And they're off! Rhyming text makes generous use of onomatopoeia to tell the tale of how the littlest car wins the race. Brightly colored cartoon illustrations depict close-ups of seemingly fantastical landscapes that are also oddly familiar. The cars race under a cat bridge and down a dinosaur tail mountain. The ending spread unveils a wide view of the whole race course to reveal a little boy playing with his cars in the backyard. The child picks up the smallest car, saying, "You're my favorite racing star." VERDICT A rollicking read-aloud and a fun choice for one-on-one sharing so youngsters can flip back through the pages and see how the boy's flights of fancy compare to his reality. An additional purchase for most collections.-Emily E. Lazio, New York Public Library © Copyright 2017. 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
Colorful, energetic illustrations depict a small red racecar struggling to win a race. Spirited rhymes and sounds make this ode to car-racing suited for reading aloud ("SLIP! SLAM! SQUEAL! SOAR! / Through the tunnel! Thunder! Roar!"). A surprise ending reveals it's been little boy Maxwell's imaginative backyard play all along, and there's no doubt as to which car will ultimately win. (c) Copyright 2018. 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
Wacky racers zoom through an unconventional course. Who will win?The row of cars at the starting line is a riot of color and a hodgepodge of shapes. "One car, so small, / squeezes in between them all." The small red car is only half as big as those on either side. Each vehicle emits clouds of exhaust as the race begins. "Go! Go! Go!" The course is wild. There's an enormous golden cat-shaped tunnel and an equally large birdbath spilling water. "Watch out for the waterfall!" Another tunnel, a landslide, and a big red locomotive running side by side with the cars provide more challenges for the determined speedsters. "Ramp up, fast lane / try to beat the moving train!" Butterflies and bees hover overhead, and the small red car's almost blocked by what looks like a giant hose. In the home stretch, the race tightens. The little car drives right off a cliff, landing on the track next to car No. 12, in the lead. Suddenly: "Maaaxwellll" and a wide-angle view shows a backyard, where a small white boy is holding that little red car in his hand. Ohhhhh. Clues along the way should help children figure out the surprise twist, and readers will love flipping back and forth to see the play between Maxwell's imagination and real life. Fliess' crunchy, rhyming text will have readers barreling along. Energetic automotive fun. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
