HONK HONK! BEEP BEEP!

A young boy’s toys come to life for a nighttime trek across the bedroom in their jeep. As the father-and-son pair (wooden dollhouse figurines) travel, they pick up more and more passengers: two rabbits who leap out in front, a road crew done for the night, a farmer and his flock of sheep and a monkey whose banana car has a flat. With all that and stopping for a passing train, will they make it in time for sunrise on the mountain? While similar to the illustrator’s Tugga-Tugga Tugboat (2006) and Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo (1999), both by Kevin Lewis, the text suffers from sometimes-uneven scansion and obvious rhymes: “Wake up, sleepyhead. / Time’s a-wastin’. Out of bed.” And while Kirk’s illustrative style is much in evidence with his rich colors and up-close views of the bedroom floor, the artwork lacks the just-right details that made the previous collaborations such a hit. Fans of the other two will likely find this title’s familiarity comforting, but it just doesn't measure up. (Picture book. 2-5)