CHUCK’S TRUCK

Tight rhymes and loud pictures tell the story of a trip to town for a farmer and his critters. When the farm animals hear Chuck starting his truck, all of them wanna hop aboard! In turn, the duck, the chicken, the dogs, the burro, the workhorse, the cat and the old goat jump on. Anderson packs her lean text with simple rhymes (“Fat Cat Pat,” “The duck Luck rides in the truck with Chuck”), and her watercolor illustrations are a riot of bold hues. The horse is a vivid yellow with a white mane, Nip the dog an equally loud orange and the duck a brilliant turquoise. But when they get to town, the truck breaks down. It falls to Handyman Hugh, and naturally his crew, to fix the vehicle so Chuck and company can return home. A near-perfect marriage of text and illustration, and a bright, attractive vehicle for aspiring readers. (Picture book. 3- 8)