Showing posts with label motor vehicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motor vehicles. Show all posts

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

This is one of those books that you read once, as a child or an adult - and then you keep coming back to it the rest of your life. Of course, for me that could just be because I have a sister named Katie who has the same grit, determination, and just plain stubbornness to get the job done as Katy does. But I think that's only part of it.

You see, Katy of our story is a big strong crawler tractor - a beautiful red crawler tractor - who works for the city of Geoppolis in their Highway Department. She has a bulldozer attachment for helping with road construction, and a big smooth snow plow for in the winter.

During the summer, Katy is always busy helping with the road construction and upkeep projects around the city. The bigger the task, the more she loves it and the harder she works - and she never gives up until the job is done.

But then during the winter, Katy mostly sits in her barn with her shiny snow plow and has nothing to do. The little bit of snow on the ground can be handled by the trucks - Katy's too strong for this job!

But then it begins to snow... and snow... and snow... and snow... When the whole town is snowed in and unable to move, who do you think can save the day?

Children will enjoy exploring the pen-and-ink drawings of construction equipment, town landmarks, and Katy's quest to clear the city.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

This is probably my all-time favorite storytime book! Readers (or especially listeners!) are asked to watch over the bus while the driver is gone - oh, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Kids get a kick out of telling the adorable Pigeon "No you can't!" every time he makes a plea, demand, or suggestion for control of the wheel.

Whenever I read this book, I can't help but get into it. Willems' drawings are super-simple, but they do an amazing job of portraying all sorts of emotions - from sly to totally-innocent-I-wouldn't-do-that to totally enraged. In turn, I find myself acting out the part of the pigeon, making faces, altering my body language, and changing my voice for each panel.

This book is a true delight!