Also by Jon Scieszka: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs   Also illustrated by David Shannon: Too Many Toys Let's Dig It! (Jon Scieszka's Trucktown) Pirates Don't Change Diapers   Also written and/or illustrated by David Gordon: Let's Dig It! (Jon Scieszka's Trucktown) Hansel & Diesel   Also illustrated by Loren Long: The Great Truck Rescue (Jon Scieszka's Trucktown) The Great Truck Rescue (Jon Scieszka's Trucktown) by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Shannon, David Gordon and Loren Long Ages 3-8 40 pages Simon and Schuster August 2010 Paperback     Another in the Trucktown series, this latest paperback finds Rita (an ambulance) needing to be rescued by Cement Mixer Melvin, skip loader Pet and Jack, a flatbed truck. During a silly “jumping contest,” Rita falls into a big pit - and Melvin surprises himself by rescuing her. The stylized vehicle illustrations are what attract children to these books. Often the story lines are rather silly (if not just plain dumb), but The Great Truck Rescue is a little better than average. Not only is this a simple tale about someone (Melvin) who does something he doesn’t think he is capable of, but the text is simple enough to work well with beginning readers. There’s a little content here for a change. This adventure gets a “thumbs up.”     web reviews   Bob Walch/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)