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Kevin loves to play with cars and trucks. He also enjoys watching other vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, excavators, cranes, and tractors. Kevin tells readers, “Vroom! Watch out for that fast race car! Will you come for a ride with me through this book?”
Kevin has many experiences with the vehicles he loves: filling up the car with gas, naming the various parts of cars and firetrucks, explaining the jobs of emergency helpers, sitting in a bulldozer, building a garage, and riding on a tractor. During these experiences, he learns a great deal about vehicles, but he also learns about farming, construction, and emergency response.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this picture book is the interactivity that readers will have with the text. While on the farm, Kevin rides along with the tractor. Readers will learn about farming by answering questions such as: “Do you know what else a tractor can do?” “Where does wheat come from?” "Do you know which vehicle [the wheels] belong to?” The answers to all of these questions are provided in the vivid illustrations.
Liesbet Slegers has written and illustrated a very appealing picture book with marvelous illustrations and interesting interactive text. The illustrations combine bold primary color drawings with photographs of various vehicles. The photos are integrated into the text using a collage technique. Simple poems interspersed throughout the book deal with Kevin’s adventures. On many pages, readers are invited to interact with the text by discussing various aspects of vehicles. These pages will provide a wonderful springboard for caregivers or teachers to discuss vehicles with young readers.
This picture book is a wonderful read-aloud because of its elements of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. Parents and teachers will be able to use this book to discuss important topics such as transportation, helping professions, construction, and farming.
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Vroom! Kevin's Big Book of Vehicles (Kevin and Katie)