If I Could Drive, Mama

by Cari Best, Simone Shin (Illustrations)

When Charlie turns a plain cardboard box into a zippy new car, he can’t wait for Mama to have the first ride. He adjusts the mirror, checks to be sure there is enough gas, and reminds Mama to buckle up. Then off they go―REV REV VROOM! There are places to visit and bumps along the way. There is even a traffic jam! By the time they return home, Mama is exhausted, but Charlie can’t wait for her nap to be over so he can drive her someplace else.
A Margaret Ferguson Book

Genres: Picture Books, Transport, Family, Childrens, Cars, Adventure, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

Published November 22, 2016

About the author

Cari Best has written many award-winning picture books, including Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and My Three Best Friends and Me, described by the New York Times as “refreshing” and “exciting.” Her most recent picture book is If I Could Drive, Mama, was described by Publishers Weekly as “a wonderful tribute to an imagination in perpetual motion.” In the Country of Queens is her first novel. Ms. Best lives in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, imaginative story. But if this kid is basing his made up day on things he usually does with his mom, all I have to say is what lucky mom is able to go shopping for dresses and get a pedicure with their small child along?! :)

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable, adorable, adorable because the focus is imagination which is in short supply with children these days. The little guy of this story has a cardboard box that he imagines is his car and who does he want to drive to various locations--his mother and she is more than willing to play pretend with him as they drive all over the landscape of their home and yard and visit special places. The text is too long for storytime use at the library or a school. Wow, it would make a great read with a child and parent or grandparent. And let the imagination begin!

[Sheri Hoyte Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable story about a little boy who wants to take his mother to all of her favorite places (around their home) in his new car. In the story, Mama and Charlie spend the day together in an imaginative role-reversal setting, visiting the dress shop (mom’s closet) that has all the right-sized clothes; the library (living room) with its massive bookshelf full of books; the playground (backyard), etc. After a busy day, while Mama naps, Charlie washes his new car, getting it ready for the next adventure.

For me, the story carries sweet sentiments of days past, when my own son was an imaginative little boy, and that sweetness permeates throughout the book. The mother-son relationship – an unshakeable love and bond.

Charlie takes center stage, as he should. His delightful imagination is fun, creative, and takes “playing grownup” to another level. Mom is a great sidekick and Dad even makes an appearance, but it’s clear that Charlie is in charge of the story, doubling as the narrator.

Full review on www.sherihoytebooks.com

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quiet story about what the little boy would do if he could drive his mama around town. Using his box turned car and imagination the boy and the mama enjoy a pretend ride through town with pedicures, singing songs, the library, dancing, shopping, lunch with daddy, and onto the playground. They even get ice cream from a truck without leaving their home and yard. Fun story with lots of imagination for a pre-schooler to second grade student minus the nap.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can a box and a boy do-take off on a fun adventure throughout the day, driving here and there with the best passenger in the world, his mom. Demonstrates using your imagination and wonder.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book about a boy who pretends a box is a car and he drives his mom all around the house and neighborhood.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see this as a decent parent/child read-together.

[Liz C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how I wish this was shorter for storytime! You could pair it with a drive in movie theme and have the kids make cardboard box "cars."

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't into the "Princess Mama" angle (although the naptime for Mama part was great); my 5 year old seemed pretty intrigued byt he book.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super sweet, but wordy
Charlie takes his mom on a special outing filled with clothes shopping, storytime, dancing, and pedicure.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute, if a little long.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like I say or you say.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie takes his Mom on an adventure. Lots of imaginative play. I appreciated the depiction of a young boy who likes cars but is also cool with painting his mom's nails and taking her dress shopping. A bit long and reads more like an parent would enjoy it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Youngsters often enjoy pretending that they are driving a car, and after Charlie embellishes his large cardboard box, he squires his mother around the house. The two of them head to various destinations in the house, including the manicurist's shop, the library, even a dress shop. After lunch, they head outside and race around the yard. By the end of the day, that's one tired Mama, and Charlie must put her to bed and clean off his car in preparation for their next road trip. While I liked how imaginative Charlie is, even using a tire pump to fix his flat tires, the story dragged on a bit long for me, and I simply cannot imagine a parent spending that much time riding around in a box or having as much fun as this Mama seems to be having. Still, the book shows how effectively play can mimic real life and allow this young boy to rehearse for the day in the future when he will drive his own car. The ending didn't work particularly well for me although some young readers will like the fact that the journey continues. The illustrations rely on soft colors and shades and include some tracks of their journey on some of the pages.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book and the fact that it is a little boy driving his mom around in a cardboard box.

It celebrates the imagination and seems quite authentic (kids do love boxes).

There's not much of a story though, even if it is very cute. I was not asked to re-read it.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to LOVE this book because the premise is great, and the art work is just my style. It is clever and really portrays a day with mom, but like a day like this can be, this book just wore me out. It's a good one for one-on-one reads if you've got a little that will sit for the whole thing. I sense a kid that would be into this kind of book would get squirmy and need a break around the time that I did after the swings/ice cream.

The language while reflective of an interaction with a kid telling their adult what to say is so authentic, but I don't need to read it. Overall though, a lovely book.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best, Cari If I Could Drive, Mama, pictures by Simone Shin. PICTURE BOOK. FSG )Macmillan), 2016. $18.

Charlie is excited to spend a day driving his mom around in his brand new car.

What a brilliant tribute to imagination! Charlie’s car is just a colored cardboard box and the places he takes his mom are only around the house, but the whole effect is charming and fun!

Pre-K – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even finish this!

Too wordy! Too long! Too boring!

Who has a vacuum cleaner like that anymore??? Should have been a Rumba for Pete's sake; sure they haven't made vacuums like that since what, the 60s? 70s? 80s? Whatever....

Anyway, I have no idea if the end redeemed this book because I got bored right around the part where she was letting him paint her toenails blue. Yikes.

[Christine Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, yes, the story is a little long for pre-school, but with the right narrator - this story would be the bomb. So much creativity packed into this book. Every parent needs to put down their phone and read this book as tool on how to play with children. I'm serious. I would totally have a blast reading this book to a young one. You should, too.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could be great for a program. Read the story allow kids to decorate their car box and have places they could stop for a craft, etc.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a bit long for Storytime but I love the cardboard car. Use at Drive In program??

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretend driving in a cardboard box.

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about a young boy imagining with is mom that he's driving around town to have an adventurous day.
Car
Imagination

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable story about imagination. The best part is the mama going along with the whole thing.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe you have to be a parent to appreciate it? But I don't know; I found it overlong and not clever enough for the rest of us.

[Alison]

Though not tagged as a fantasy per se, it is indeed truly a preschoolers fantasy, of a mom's attention and willingness to play pretend all freakin' day.

Illustration technique seems to include stenciling and/or printing and perhaps crayon.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

My soon to be 4 was glued to this long narration. He did sayit's long, and he also said that the boy's car will soak if he washes it and can get soggy. I wish I had read this to my oldest, for she set realistic role plays like this till date. Every child is different.