Little Blue Truck

I'd kind of avoided this book because it looked hokey, but I finally caved and I'm glad I did! I liked the fun animal sounds that were woven into the rhyme scheme (nice way to do some predictions), and the story is a cute version of the gigantic turnip, with everyone helping and the smallest being the turning point.

Driving through the countryside, Little Blue Truck cheerfully responds to the greetings of animal friends along the way until Dump Truck rudely hurtles through, eventually needing everyone’s roadside assistance. Children will discover that helping others, despite their flaws, is a test of true friendship. The singsong couplet-rhyming scheme on each leaf moves the action forward; though this might tempt the younger listener to turn the page before the reader is finished reciting the text. The traditional animal replies allow for the adult reader to generate a spirited call and response-type delivery popular in preschool story times. As the plot rolls along the drawings become a little too muddy and it is difficult to appreciate the show more detail of the carefully drawn and painted folk art-style watercolor illustrations. The progressing darkness of the illustrations does not detract from the tale, but the drawings are better represented in the picture book edition of this story. Nevertheless, a good-natured, “All for one and one for all!” is the motto that children will take away from this encouraging board book. show less

"Little Blue Truck" by Alice Schertle is my favorite picture book to read to the little boy I babysit. The central theme of kindness and cooperation is shown throughout the story through a friendly little blue truck. The little blue truck drives through the farm and is nice to all the animals honking at them as a hello. Whereas the big dump truck does the opposite. The dump truck ignores all the animals and eventually gets stuck in the mud and so since he wasn't nice to the animals before they didn't help him out. However, the little blue truck decides to help the dump truck and then gets stuck too. Since the little blue truck got stuck the animals all rush over to help him out. This teaches the dump truck to always just be kind to show more others and good things will come your way and to "treat people how you want to be treated." The book uses personification by giving the vehicles and animals a distinct personality which makes it easier for children to relate to their actions and emotions. The rhythmic rhyming of the text helps keep it lively and fun to read aloud and helps keep young readers engaged as they might anticipate words or the repetition of sounds/phrases. The illustrations play a crucial role in bringing the story to life. The colorful, detailed, and accurate drawings of the trucks and farm animals makes the countryside setting seem warm and fun. Also, the expressive faces of the animals and trucks adds to the emotional depth of the story helping the readers understand the characters emotions and reactions. show less

A story about helping others, even if they're mean to your friends (and also maybe an intro to anthropomorphic cars). And like, your friends will help YOU so maybe they'll indirectly help you help the person who was a dick? anyway lots of fun onomatopoeia.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to do whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

Maybe it's because I have boys, but this book got requested, and read, a lot in our house. And I never minded it. The language and rhymes (and truck sounds) are fun to read. The lesson is gentle, but heartfelt. I felt good every time we got to the end.

This children's book tells the story of a bunch of different farm animals coming together to save the little blue truck who becomes stuck in a puddle of mud. Through a series of rhymes and description words, the theme of always helping others when they need it is portrayed. This book would be good to introduce to children when teaching rhymes, because the entire story is told through rhyming words. It would also be a good tool to teach basic descriptive writing, looking at each character in the book is described by their size and/or color. Children would enjoy this story because it is cute and short and has a problem that creates anticipation due to whether or not the truck will get out of the mud.