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Little Blue Truck
Little Blue Truck
Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.
Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.
Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2008
About the author
Alice Schertle
85 books130 followersAlice Schertle has written more than 40 books, mostly for children. A mother and former elementary school teacher, Ms. Schertle is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Many of her most famous works are poetic in nature, though she writes about a wide variety of topics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,078 reviews
January 6, 2020
My son has at least a hundred books at this point, which is impressive considering he's not yet six months old. I've read this one three or four times while trying to keep him occupied. While cute, this is not one of my favorites.
While written in verse, the author plays fast and loose with the number of syllables per line at times, making it a little awkward when I half sing it aloud to him. I like the little blue truck, the green frog, and the others. The yellow dump truck is an asshole, though. The message seems to be about helping others but why should I teach my son to help someone that's been a dickhead to the entire neighborhood? Relax, I'm not as cynical as all that and I've helped my share of dickheads over the years against my better judgement. On a side note, the art is pretty spectacular.
Kidding aside, Little Blue Truck is a cute little book. Just not in the league of the Pout-Pout Fish or the Elephant that Liked to Smash Small Cars.
While written in verse, the author plays fast and loose with the number of syllables per line at times, making it a little awkward when I half sing it aloud to him. I like the little blue truck, the green frog, and the others. The yellow dump truck is an asshole, though. The message seems to be about helping others but why should I teach my son to help someone that's been a dickhead to the entire neighborhood? Relax, I'm not as cynical as all that and I've helped my share of dickheads over the years against my better judgement. On a side note, the art is pretty spectacular.
Kidding aside, Little Blue Truck is a cute little book. Just not in the league of the Pout-Pout Fish or the Elephant that Liked to Smash Small Cars.
January 19, 2021
A dump truck gets stuck in the mud; plucky little blue truck can only get him out with the help of all his friends. Kids learn about kindness and teamwork.
Or...do they?
In the end it's the addition of the little green frog who pushes them over the edge; that last little bit is enough to help the dump truck.
Or...is it?
Let's tell this story another way.
A mighty machine can only be moved by the combined strength of every citizen. Whatever their individual strengths, all must join in the struggle to move the enormous truck. Even if, like the frog, they are not best suited for pushing, they must join equally in the fight. If all pull together, even the largest tasks can be accomplished.
Sound familiar? That's because it is COMMUNISM!
"Everybody is fully occupied in production"
You know what Little Blue Truck sounds like to me? It sounds like Little Red Book, and this story is an allegory for Mao's Great Leap Forward, during which everyone, regardless of their innate ability or training, was set to melting metal down into steel. The real-life result was a lot of bad steel and no one had any pots left. But is any of that acknowledged in this insidious communist propaganda? Of course not!
"With great labor we will fulfill the plan"
Real talk: a frog can't move a dump truck. That's stupid. The American Way is you best call a tow truck, and if you can't afford a tow truck then you have a truck problem. And if you allow your child to be indoctrinated into the Red Army, before you know it she's going to run off thinking she can farm or smelt or push dump trucks or whatever, and let me be straight with you, friend: she can't. She can't do any of those things. You've been reading her cute little rhyming books. She's suited to go to college and become a software engineer. Here's some real propaganda:
Indoctrinate your child at the altar of Atari, friend, or she's gonna learn the hard way what really happens when frogs meet trucks.
Or...do they?
In the end it's the addition of the little green frog who pushes them over the edge; that last little bit is enough to help the dump truck.
Or...is it?
Let's tell this story another way.
A mighty machine can only be moved by the combined strength of every citizen. Whatever their individual strengths, all must join in the struggle to move the enormous truck. Even if, like the frog, they are not best suited for pushing, they must join equally in the fight. If all pull together, even the largest tasks can be accomplished.
Sound familiar? That's because it is COMMUNISM!
"Everybody is fully occupied in production"
You know what Little Blue Truck sounds like to me? It sounds like Little Red Book, and this story is an allegory for Mao's Great Leap Forward, during which everyone, regardless of their innate ability or training, was set to melting metal down into steel. The real-life result was a lot of bad steel and no one had any pots left. But is any of that acknowledged in this insidious communist propaganda? Of course not!
"With great labor we will fulfill the plan"
Real talk: a frog can't move a dump truck. That's stupid. The American Way is you best call a tow truck, and if you can't afford a tow truck then you have a truck problem. And if you allow your child to be indoctrinated into the Red Army, before you know it she's going to run off thinking she can farm or smelt or push dump trucks or whatever, and let me be straight with you, friend: she can't. She can't do any of those things. You've been reading her cute little rhyming books. She's suited to go to college and become a software engineer. Here's some real propaganda:
Indoctrinate your child at the altar of Atari, friend, or she's gonna learn the hard way what really happens when frogs meet trucks.
March 21, 2019
5 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover -
Zo leuk, ik ken het in het Engels. De moraal van het verhaal voor mij is dat al ben je klein, de de grote bromberen van de wereld kun jij helpen, met de hulp van veel lieve vrienden. Eendracht maakt macht. Mooie herfstachtige tekeningen met op elke bladzijde vier regels op rijm. Wat ik erg leuk vind zijn de in aparte kleuren aangegeven woorden de de dierengeluiden weergeven. Zo kan je peuter al snel meedoen in het verhaal. 🐈🐥🐇🦋🦋
Zo leuk, ik ken het in het Engels. De moraal van het verhaal voor mij is dat al ben je klein, de de grote bromberen van de wereld kun jij helpen, met de hulp van veel lieve vrienden. Eendracht maakt macht. Mooie herfstachtige tekeningen met op elke bladzijde vier regels op rijm. Wat ik erg leuk vind zijn de in aparte kleuren aangegeven woorden de de dierengeluiden weergeven. Zo kan je peuter al snel meedoen in het verhaal. 🐈🐥🐇🦋🦋
July 12, 2019
Wonderful book that teaches children the value of friendship!
April 8, 2015
My toddler is obsessed with this book. We have to read it every morning as soon as he wakes up. He's three, and he's been going through that phase where they won't sit still and you can't read to them, and then suddenly WHAM he loves this book and can't get enough. I usually have to read it, then Little Owl Lost, Sheep in a Jeep, and then Little Blue Truck again. And that's okay! All the rhymes scan, I love the art, and it's not annoying! Hooray for board books that a mommy can read over and over without becoming stabby!
September 1, 2016
The Little Blue Truck drives through the country, making friends with all the animals. This comes in handy when he gets stuck in a mud puddle trying to help out a big, yellow truck who doesn't see the value of friendship at first.
Filled with rhymes and the opportunity to mimic animal sounds from frogs to goats to sheep to ducks, this one was a big hit with Shortcake. It's a fun book with colorful illustrations that has a good message in there about friendship. I could see us reading this one several more times as Daddy works on his silly animal sounds.
Filled with rhymes and the opportunity to mimic animal sounds from frogs to goats to sheep to ducks, this one was a big hit with Shortcake. It's a fun book with colorful illustrations that has a good message in there about friendship. I could see us reading this one several more times as Daddy works on his silly animal sounds.
November 26, 2022
Never got to find out how it ended because nephew was turning the pages too fast
February 1, 2020
5 stars for the experience of this book...I sang it. While reading it aloud my daughter said it reminded her of a country song hahaha, so I turned it into one and sang the whole book. We had some laughs. So the memories created gave it 5 stars.
The book it's self 4.
The book it's self 4.
March 2, 2020
Too preachy but cute; good rhyming though the author doesn't know a bay horse from a brown horse (or maybe it's the illustrator who doesn't); simple story line; toddlers and threes enjoy the pictures and the word play and enjoy reading it over and over.
October 22, 2021
Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.
Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others
Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others
December 15, 2019
An absolute masterpiece.
A lot depends on a helping hand from a few good friends.
Let's arrange our society around this message.
A lot depends on a helping hand from a few good friends.
Let's arrange our society around this message.
September 12, 2019
Yeah, that’s right. I’m giving myself credit for reading this book. A baby book, hard pages and all. And I’m giving it five whole stars. Because this was one of the least-dumb baby books I’ve read, and we’ve been reading a lot of them lately.
Don’t be hating. That’s for big fat dump(truck)s.
We’re lovers in this family, just like the little blue truck, bitches.
Don’t be hating. That’s for big fat dump(truck)s.
We’re lovers in this family, just like the little blue truck, bitches.
February 24, 2021
This is the best children’s book. Definitely my favorite. Lots of friendly animals and vehicles. Also the illustrations are fantastic.
March 14, 2012
What a treat! I love the blend of farm animals, vehicles, and rhymes--all popular with little ones; when combined in such a winsome and skilled fashion, with Schertle's fine text and McElmurry's adorable, expressive illustrations, they make one great story about friendship, compassion, humility and staying true to yourself. This would make a superb read-aloud!
January 14, 2016
We have been reading this a lot lately. It's so cute. Love the rhyming, love the illustrations, love the story.
January 25, 2018
What a charming little book this is with a lesson to little ones on how being kind, friendly, and caring brings its own rewards. The rhymes and the country setting make me automatically add a twang to my delivery as I'm reading it to my son.
Sheep said, "Baaa!"
Cow said, "Moo!"
"Oink!" said a piggy.
"Beep!" said Blue.
It sort of makes me feel like I'm calling out a square dance which adds to the entertainment value. No doubt this one will age well, I can see my little twanging along and singing out the noises along with me as he gets older.
Sheep said, "Baaa!"
Cow said, "Moo!"
"Oink!" said a piggy.
"Beep!" said Blue.
It sort of makes me feel like I'm calling out a square dance which adds to the entertainment value. No doubt this one will age well, I can see my little twanging along and singing out the noises along with me as he gets older.
August 14, 2022
Lovely illustrations and a sweet message.
Read as part of my new "Settle back Sunday" initiative where I take advantage of access to children's books I can borrow and give back. When I was a kid, the weekly trips to our town library were some of the few things I loved about my childhood. And the pile of books mom would bring home, from picture books to chapter books, were the things that got me through many a terrible time.
Read as part of my new "Settle back Sunday" initiative where I take advantage of access to children's books I can borrow and give back. When I was a kid, the weekly trips to our town library were some of the few things I loved about my childhood. And the pile of books mom would bring home, from picture books to chapter books, were the things that got me through many a terrible time.
April 3, 2018
Such a fun, rollicking read about the blue truck and how his friendliness paid off. My 2 year old and 5 year old quote sections of this book and flex and wink like the big, green toad. The detailed illustrations add depth to the straight forward storyline -- you can see the storm moving in, and by the time the problem's resolved, all is sunny again.
August 27, 2019
What a cute little book about the importance of friends! I adored it and look forward to reading the sequels.
January 2, 2022
My son loves this book!
August 20, 2018
Ok. I don't like that the dump truck is such a jerk. Maybe it could have just gotten stuck in the mud without being mean to the LBT and all the animals. It just feels weird and kinda preachy to make the dump truck mean. Otherwise, this is a nice little story full of animal and car noises sure to entertain your little ones.
February 9, 2008
I LOVE this book. It has such wonderful rhythm and rhyme making it the perfect book to read aloud.
"Horn went 'Beep!'
Engine purred.
Friendliest sounds
you ever heard."
Little Blue Truck is friends with all of the barnyard animals, he is always nice to everyone. Meanwhile big, mean Dumptruck has no time for anyone smaller than him and thinks he's the biggest, most important thing around. Then Dumptruck gets stuck in the mud and since he's been so mean no one wants to help him out...
"His heavy-duty
dump truck tires
were sunk down deep
in muck and mire.
"Honk!" cried the Dump,
and he sounded scared
but nobody heard
(or nobody cared)."
...but beep, beep Little Blue Truck is there to lend a helping hand and when too gets stuck in the mud and calls for help his barnyard friends come to lend a paw... or hoof... or claw and get both trucks out of the mud. And the Big Dumptruck learns that a lot depends on having good friends!
"Horn went 'Beep!'
Engine purred.
Friendliest sounds
you ever heard."
Little Blue Truck is friends with all of the barnyard animals, he is always nice to everyone. Meanwhile big, mean Dumptruck has no time for anyone smaller than him and thinks he's the biggest, most important thing around. Then Dumptruck gets stuck in the mud and since he's been so mean no one wants to help him out...
"His heavy-duty
dump truck tires
were sunk down deep
in muck and mire.
"Honk!" cried the Dump,
and he sounded scared
but nobody heard
(or nobody cared)."
...but beep, beep Little Blue Truck is there to lend a helping hand and when too gets stuck in the mud and calls for help his barnyard friends come to lend a paw... or hoof... or claw and get both trucks out of the mud. And the Big Dumptruck learns that a lot depends on having good friends!
January 16, 2012
The Little Blue Truck drives along sleepy country roads. As he drives he makes friends with the animals along the road. His horn beeps at each one and they croak, cow, oink, or baaa back. Suddenly, a huge yellow dump truck zooms rudely past the Little Blue Truck. Unfortunately, rain has turned the road to mud and the dump truck is soon spinning his wheels in the muck. Little Blue Truck to the rescue!
The illustrations use a palette of browns, yellows, and greens to depict the countryside, which makes the Little Blue Truck stand out. I love the smears and spatters of mud colored paint used to show the trucks stuck in the mud. The message of the book is very clear. As the dump truck says, “Now I see a lot depends on helping hands and helping friends.” This story can be used to start a discussion about the value of friendship and what it means to be a good friend.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
The illustrations use a palette of browns, yellows, and greens to depict the countryside, which makes the Little Blue Truck stand out. I love the smears and spatters of mud colored paint used to show the trucks stuck in the mud. The message of the book is very clear. As the dump truck says, “Now I see a lot depends on helping hands and helping friends.” This story can be used to start a discussion about the value of friendship and what it means to be a good friend.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
December 9, 2018
On the importance of not being a jerk. Plus, farm animals!
February 10, 2015
The twists and turns grip you from the very first line. It is possible that literature has reached new heights, never before obtained. With each beep you will be inspired to let barnyard animals become your companions in epic adventures on the scale of Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Mr. Brown can moo!
May 24, 2017
I don't know how I missed reading this one before today! This book is adorable. Fantastic rhythm, great sound effects, and a lovely story to boot. I suspect this will become a favorite in our house.
Used in "Cars and Trucks" storytime 5/23/17.
Used in "Cars and Trucks" storytime 5/23/17.
January 6, 2016
Really nice story with great animal sounds to make. Good lesson on friendship, arrogance, and helping each other out. Fabulous illustrations, too.
June 19, 2016
Beep, Beep Beep! With the help of all your friends anything is possible.
November 24, 2020
Big hit at pre-school story time!
May 28, 2019
Student Name: Hannah Timm Date Submitted: 4/30/19
Book Title: The Little Blue Truck Lexile: 390
Personal Response:
I read The Little Blue Truck to the boy I babysit every night I babysit. It is his favorite book, and it’s a very good book to be so. The book teaches a lot about kindness and respect. Sawyer likes the book because it is about a truck and has animals in it that he can call out their sound as you read about them. I like the book because it gets to the point and has a good theme for toddlers.
Summary:
Blue, the little blue truck, drives past a bunch of animals and always says ¨Hello!” as he passes them. The animals reply back hello in their own animal language. One day a big yellow dump truck speeds by the animals and rudely tells them to get out of the way and honks at them. The big yellow dump truck then gets stuck in a mud puddle. All the animals see this but they decide not to help initially because he was rude to them. Blue shows his big heart and tries to help the yellow dump truck get unstuck but he gets stuck too. Blue is not enough to get the job done. The animals go to help Blue get unstuck and also assist the yellow dump truck to get unstuck and it takes all of them to get him out of the mud.
Characterization:
The farm animals develop their kindness levels throughout the book. In the beginning, they wouldn’t help the big yellow dump truck because he was mean to them. They all came to the realization that they can’t be rude and just watch him struggle. They teamed up together to help the dump truck and accomplish one big goal. They really are the theme of the book through their development of teamwork and kindness.
Recommendation:
I recommend The Little Blue Truck to younger elementary students. It is a great book to read to toddlers to develop their kindness levels at a young age. I think both boys and girls would like this book. The stanzas and the pictures together really develop a great story. This is a very cute book that I read as a babysitter and I recommend to any babysitter.
Book Title: The Little Blue Truck Lexile: 390
Personal Response:
I read The Little Blue Truck to the boy I babysit every night I babysit. It is his favorite book, and it’s a very good book to be so. The book teaches a lot about kindness and respect. Sawyer likes the book because it is about a truck and has animals in it that he can call out their sound as you read about them. I like the book because it gets to the point and has a good theme for toddlers.
Summary:
Blue, the little blue truck, drives past a bunch of animals and always says ¨Hello!” as he passes them. The animals reply back hello in their own animal language. One day a big yellow dump truck speeds by the animals and rudely tells them to get out of the way and honks at them. The big yellow dump truck then gets stuck in a mud puddle. All the animals see this but they decide not to help initially because he was rude to them. Blue shows his big heart and tries to help the yellow dump truck get unstuck but he gets stuck too. Blue is not enough to get the job done. The animals go to help Blue get unstuck and also assist the yellow dump truck to get unstuck and it takes all of them to get him out of the mud.
Characterization:
The farm animals develop their kindness levels throughout the book. In the beginning, they wouldn’t help the big yellow dump truck because he was mean to them. They all came to the realization that they can’t be rude and just watch him struggle. They teamed up together to help the dump truck and accomplish one big goal. They really are the theme of the book through their development of teamwork and kindness.
Recommendation:
I recommend The Little Blue Truck to younger elementary students. It is a great book to read to toddlers to develop their kindness levels at a young age. I think both boys and girls would like this book. The stanzas and the pictures together really develop a great story. This is a very cute book that I read as a babysitter and I recommend to any babysitter.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,078 reviews