When Daddy's Truck Picks Me Up

by Jana Novotny Hunter

Daddy drives a big red tanker truck, and he's away on the road a lot. But once in a while, he's near enough to pick up his little boy from preschool. And today is one of those very special days!

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Jana Novotny Hunter was born in Czechoslovakia and grew up in England. A graduate of Hornsey College of Art, Jana married an American and spent many years living in California. She now lives with her family in a tiny village in Rutland.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The parallel structure following the protagonist and his long haul trucker father really worked for me, less so for the toddler. Real emotional journey as well.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm... The premise of this book is cute, but the whole execution didn't really excite me.

Basically, this is a rhyming story about a little boy excitedly waiting for his truck-driver father to pick him up from school. It's easy to see the love the kid has for his dad, and his anticipation of his father picking him up in the big red tanker truck is palpable. Still, it's kind of a small premise to hang a whole book on, as we basically just witness the kid waiting all day.

The illustrations don't really excite me here. They're rough and scribbly, and while they're colourful, I just didn't feel all that drawn to them. As for the rhyming text, it's very clunky. The meter is off, and the words aren't that exciting.

This might find a better audience in kids whose parents travel a lot for work. I'm not sure if it will have that much appeal to anyone else.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy wakes up so excited for his day! Why? Because daddy is going to be picking him up that day in his truck. The boy talks about it all day long. He shares with everyone that daddy will pick him up in his big truck. At the end of the day he starts to worry because daddy's truck is not there to get him. His teacher reassure him that dad will be here soon. Shortly after that dad flies in with his big rig. Daddy had made it and the little boy was over the moon excited. Now it was him and daddy time. This book was so cute and showed a great relationship between a boy and his dad who works a lot but still made time to pick his son up from school.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

great illustrations. well done. so fun. quick and done. great addition to anyone's bookshelf.

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy waits anxiously for his dad, whose a big-rig driver, to pick him up from school. This rhyming book is refreshingly different from most children's books which show "typical middle class" families. It's not just the story line about a parent who works for days away from home, but I love the illustration of dad with his long ponytailed hair and his big muscular arms that covered with tattoos. Fun read aloud book!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little boy waits for his daddy to pick him up from school in his big tanker truck. This book is kinda strange - the story line is rather confusing - but in all other areas it's a good book.

[Mckinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

For starters the title is problematic...

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Told from a stereotypical perspective.