Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because it is a great alphabet book for young kids.
Alphabet Trucks
by Samantha R. Vamos
Illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke
32 pages – ages 4+
Published by Charlesbridge Pub Inc on August 1, 2013
Theme/Topic- Alphabet, Books for boys, trucks
Opening and Synopsis-
Start the engines
Lift and load.
Shift the gears and
hit the road.
Vroom! Rumble! Zoom!
Alphabet trucks.
A line of trucks drive past a group of people and show their uses. From A to Z, there is a truck for each letter!
Why I liked this book – I really like how the cute and colorful illustrations really portray the trucks as they are but in a fun way.
The trucks have a wide variety of jobs. I like how Ms. Vamos found a truck for each letter – including Q, X, V, and Z (I had no idea what a quint truck was before I read this book!). 🙂 I think this is a great example how an author and illustrator works together to make a wonderful picture book. I love how the letters are involved in the pictures (like how the Vacuum Truck is sucking up capital and lowercase v’s). The rhyme is also a great part of the book – it makes it even more fun to read!
Activities and Resources –
I thought of a fun activity. You get a dump truck and some alphabet blocks (if you don’t have blocks you can write the letters on pieces of paper) scatter the blocks all over a room (or outside). Have your kid/student go around and collect the blocks in order of the alphabet.
Tonka truck (Photo credit: unloveablesteve)
Alphabet (Photo credit: james.swenson13)
Come up with your own alphabet trucks or cars. You can find pictures in magazines and make an alphabet truck collage! 🙂
You can learn more about Ms. Vamos and her other books by visiting her website HERE.
You can see more of Mr. O’Rourke’s illustrations at his website HERE.
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!
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Categories: Other Stuff Related to Books and Reading
Cute, Erik! And what super activities.
Thanks!
It would be interesting to read about each truck found for each letter of the alphabet 🙂
Yes it would, Ms. Brown! 😀
A cute book! And I like your dump truck activity!
Thank you, Ms. Cho! It’s a great book! 😀
You always have great activities, Erik. I’m a truck lover, too.
Thank you Ms. Greenley!
Great activities, Erik. Sounds like a cute book.
~Cool Mom
This IS a cute book Cool Mom! 😎
This is really a great boy book — those who are obsessed with truck. Great activities.
Thank you Ms. Tilton! I think boys AND girls would love this book! 😀
My grandson would love this one for sure, Erik. Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks for stopping by! 😀
Wow, I’d never have guessed one could find a truck for every letter. How cool!
Amazing, isn’t it?
Erik – thank you so much for your review. I think you nailed it from A to Z! You also mentioned one of my favorite trucks: the Quint Truck (did you notice the fire hose is coiled in the shape of a letter Q)? All best, Samantha
Thank YOU so much for taking the time to comment, Ms. Vamos! The hose was a great addition (yes, I did notice it!)! 😀
Who doesn’t love a good truck book? Especially one as clever as this!
Aye – who doesn’t?
This sounds like a fun book, and a fun activity, too! One of these days I plan to learn the alphabet. Then there will be no stopping me!
Love and licks,
C=Cupcake
Oh no… 😉
Pats and scratches,
E=Erik
This book is next on my list to review, so it was fun hearing your reactions to it. I also like how the letters are shown in the illustrations — fun!
It’s great like that, right? 🙂
I love the idea of this. Very clever.
It is a great book!
I really love alphabet books! This one looks pretty clever. Trucks. Who woulda thought. I like to ride in trucks. R for Rhythm truck rumbling down the highway. I’ll have to look for this book. Thanks Erik!
This is a great book for EVERYONE, Rhythm! 😀
I’m glad you liked Alphabet Trucks too!
Thanks for showing it to me on your blog! 😀
Love the lilt of the rhyme, Erik. This book looks like a fun way to learn about the alphabet. Wish I’d had it for my son 🙂 Thanks so much for adding it to our list!
It IS a pretty awesome book Ms. Hill! 😀
Great Choice, Erik! Can’t imagine what trucks are for X and Z. Guess I’ll have to look up the book to find out. Love your activity ideas, too.
They stand for X-Ray truck and Zipper truck. They have cool jobs!
I know my nephews would love this one! One of my nephews is obsessed with trucks. Looks like a good Christmas present. Thanks for the information. 🙂
Sounds great! 😀
Ms. Vamos has created a great twist with alphabet trucks. Mr. O’Rourke’s illos are the perfect counterpart. Wonderful interview Erik.
Thank you Ms. Heger! This book is great, but not as good as yours! 😀
You’re right about the art. It really makes this book super. I’ll have to look for it at a local library branch. It’s not at my regular stop. Thanks.
It IS a great book! 😀
Looks like a new twist for an ABC book. We’ll check it out.
It’s great! I think Enzo would love it! 😀
Love the cover and the opening! I really like books published by Charlesbridge. They do such an awesome job. Plus, I’m a fan of alphabet books so this is a multi-winner in my book and I can’t wait to read it!
I can’t wait to read your review (when you read it!)!
I so love ingenious alphabet books, I think I have an entire Pinterest board just devoted to this. Will definitely pin this one up and add it to the list. 🙂