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TRUCKER AND TRAIN by Hannah Stark

TRUCKER AND TRAIN

by Hannah Stark ; illustrated by Bob Kolar

Pub Date: Aug. 6th, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-544-80181-3
Publisher: Clarion Books

A semi experiences a dark night of the soul when he discovers he’s second rate.

Imbued with a mighty engine, massive tires, and a healthy sense of his own superiority, Trucker rules the road. But the 10-wheeled narcissist experiences a swift kick to the gut the day he catches a glimpse of Train. Painfully aware of his relative inadequacy, the truck is taken down a further notch when he discovers that all traffic stops for trains. Not trucks. Fortunately ego takes a back seat to heroism when Trucker observes a broken gate at the next train junction and risks unpopularity to save his fellow road warriors. Judging by the title, readers would be forgiven for thinking this a buddy book, but Train remains utterly unaware of Trucker’s very existence throughout, even while his presence eclipses Trucker’s very sense of self. The lesson to be learned here is one of grounded self-esteem; while it’s familiar, its expression feels fresh. Kolar’s digital art will feed directly into any young vehicular enthusiast’s yearning for cars and trucks and things that go.

Grab your CB radios and hold onto your whistle. In this battle of truck vs. train, the true winners are the readers.

(Picture book. 3-6)