Go, go, go!

There's heavy traffic on the roads and on the water, but everyone must "Stop" to make way for nine little web-footed pedestrians. The text features nine distinct words and helpful repetition ("Cars go. Trucks go. Fire trucks go") and is well supported by the lively illustrations for a satisfyingly simple story. The vehicles' attention-getting colors and patterns offer lots to notice on repeat readings. Transportation buffs will get a lot of mileage from this zippy early reader. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A rainbow of brightly colored vehicles brings this newest entry in the I Like To Read series to Technicolor life. Cars, trucks, boats, buses, and more are on wild display in this peppy, easy book. In each double-page spread, one type of transportation presents itself in wild array. The "Cars go" page, for example, yields one finned roadster with a Starry Night--esque paint job, some that seem dipped in every possible hue, and a couple on the subtler end that just sport a single color. The art shows swirls, spots, splats, patterns, and gentle color gradations. The same treatment is applied to the other vehicles, most driven by dogs (the fire engines have all-Dalmatian crews, natch) in various attitudes of glee that communicate easily despite the cartoon simplicity of their renderings. In one double-page wordless display, all of the vehicles come to a screeching "Stop" (signaled on the page before) when a family of ducklings crosses with mama in the lead. Everyone safe? Then "Go. Go. Go." The sheer energy contained in these images guarantees that children just starting to read will be as floored by the artwork as they are by the sweet rides. Though ideal for the earliest of readers, the subject material found here is bound to appeal to pre-reading vehicular enthusiasts as well. Go, dogs! Go? This book kicks it up a notch. Drive, dogs! Drive! (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.