Me and my cars

A concept book about many kinds of vehicles.Simple, first-person text translated from Dutch and delivered by a child, is divided into four sections: "Want to come for a ride?"; "Want to help?"; "Want to get some work done?"; and "Want to race along?" In all but the final section, which has but two race cars, the child introduces several kinds of vehicles, one per double-page spread, as racially diverse, unnamed characters interact with them. The "work" section includes a tractor, garbage truck, street sweeper, bulldozer, excavator, dump truck, and crane truck. The brief "help" section includes an ambulance, police car, police van, fire engine, and a tow truck. The lengthy, first section about "a ride" isn't so straightforward and includes a car, bus, jeep, camper, ice cream truck, moving van, delivery van, limousine, semi truck, tanker, and car transporter. Those listed after the camper in the first section aren't vehicles that the child rides in, and many readers might feel they'd be more appropriately located in the working-vehicle section. There is no story to follow, but bright, boldly colored illustrations with thick outlines and cheery characters match the direct text's style and evoke the feel of Lucy Cousins' work. The narrator has a perfectly round face, pink skin, and dark hair.A book for car-loving kids. (Picture book. 1-3) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.