Amber Stewart (1)

The title says it all: the Van Go family (who are red pandas from Scotland) take a trip around the world while learning about how people get around, including subways, streetcars, airplanes, and boats, along with emergency vehicles in various countries and some more unusual transportation methods. It also touches on international food and tourist destinations.
The talking animals are the only thing that puts this book in the fantasy genre, and much of the text is pretty informational. It is a show more little Richard Scarry-like in that way. I like that when they talk about a vehicle, they show pictures of what they look like in several different countries. Great for kids who are obsessed with cars and trucks! show less

A cute and not-entirely-predictable story about a little bunny giving up her Blankie. Pretty but not precious illustrations reward careful attention (see butterflies, snails, etc. around the edges).

One reader was frustrated by the library plastic cover protecting the book's jacket - the bunny and blanket on the jacket are fuzzy. :-)

I grabbed this book because I have a grandson who loves cars, trucks, planes and boats. The Van Go family (a family of red pandas) has decided to go around the world for summer break. They use and see a variety of transportation methods as they drive across Europe, and then fly to Asia, the United States (New York), Africa, and Australia/New Zealand.

The illustrations are a fun and cute cartoon style that kids should find interesting, but they are so busy and I found them a bit distracting. show more The family started their trip by driving their blue van across Europe from England to Turkey. They take rides on buses, metros and boats as they tour cities they stop in, as well as having a book or journal to compare things such as taxis in various countries. They also take planes and other transport methods as they go beyond Europe. My complaint was that there was too much tied up in this little book. Things were mentioned and there was a small picture but then they moved on. I would have loved to have seen them in a rickshaw or tuk-tuk in India, and I can’t believe the creators passed up those opportunities. I really don't think this book lived up to its title. Despite these areas of disappointment, the book does introduce many types of transportation all over the world. My grandson wanted to know what the various types of transportation were called and used for, if I had ever used them, if he would ever get the chance to ride in them, but he was not really interested in this story. This is not one I would necessarily recommend. The publisher, Quarto Publishing Group - QEB, generously provided me with a copy of this book. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own. show less

They're so cute and furry!

Hopscotch, like most small rabbits (and children) knows exactly what he likes and what he doesn't like. And what he doesn't like most of all is having his ears scrubbed. But when his big bunny cousin Bobtail comes to spend the night, Hopscotch discovers there may be more to this washing-ears-business than he had thought.

Verdict: This simple story with cute and well-executed illustrations will resonate with children starting to grow up and take responsibility for show more simple tasks. Plus, the pictures are quite funny!

ISBN: 1582349592; Published March 2006 by Bloomsbury; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library show less