Little Blue Truck
Author: Alice Schertle
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry
Publisher: HarCourt Books
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: Animal-Fiction, Rhyming Children's Book
Horn Book or Kirkus Reviews rating: Rated 2 on Horn Book
Summary: The little blue truck was driving along, when he passed by several different animals and a dump truck stuck in the mud. The little blue truck and animals worked together to get the dump truck free from the mud.
Summary of Professional Reviews: According to the Horn Book Review, Little Blue Truck received a rating of a 2. The review provides a descriptive summary of the storyline and helps identify the author's use of rhyming within his written text. The review also connects to McElmurry's ability to use illustrations in order to help extend the message that, "...some days, nice guys finish first."(HornBookReviews)
Review by Alicia Watson: Little Blue Truck demonstrates a loving story of the importance of helping others. Schentle's use of rhyming within the written text, creates a soothing and happy mood throughout the store. As the little blue truck travels along on his journey, he beeps to each of his animal friends. His animal friends then find a way to help their friend, in the end. The colorful illustrations helps the reader enjoy the storyline through bright colors and cartoon animals. The moral of this story is very evident through the combinations of written text and illustrations. The story moves at a slow pace, allowing the reader to recognize the overall moral.
This book would be useful when teaching…
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry
Publisher: HarCourt Books
Year of Publication: 2008
Genre: Animal-Fiction, Rhyming Children's Book
Horn Book or Kirkus Reviews rating: Rated 2 on Horn Book
Summary: The little blue truck was driving along, when he passed by several different animals and a dump truck stuck in the mud. The little blue truck and animals worked together to get the dump truck free from the mud.
Summary of Professional Reviews: According to the Horn Book Review, Little Blue Truck received a rating of a 2. The review provides a descriptive summary of the storyline and helps identify the author's use of rhyming within his written text. The review also connects to McElmurry's ability to use illustrations in order to help extend the message that, "...some days, nice guys finish first."(HornBookReviews)
Review by Alicia Watson: Little Blue Truck demonstrates a loving story of the importance of helping others. Schentle's use of rhyming within the written text, creates a soothing and happy mood throughout the store. As the little blue truck travels along on his journey, he beeps to each of his animal friends. His animal friends then find a way to help their friend, in the end. The colorful illustrations helps the reader enjoy the storyline through bright colors and cartoon animals. The moral of this story is very evident through the combinations of written text and illustrations. The story moves at a slow pace, allowing the reader to recognize the overall moral.
This book would be useful when teaching…
- The Little Blue Truck can be used introduce a lesson on helping others. This story could be used within a preschool or kindergarten classroom setting in the beginning of the year in order to introduce the concept of helping others and working together to accomplish a certain goal. There is a lot of group work within a kindergarten classroom and students need to recognize the importance of helping others.
- The Little Blue Truck can also be used within a preschool classroom in order to identify several different animals and connect to the noises the animals make. As the teacher reads the story aloud, the students can help make the noise of the animals the teacher points to within the story. Puppets or a felt board can also be used to reenact the story.