The Trucker

by Brenda Weatherby

Mark Weatherby's artwork explodes with excitement and adventure in this story about a little boy whose toy truck magically grows as big as a real one!

Early one morning, Wesley plays with his toy truck when something odd begins to happen. It gets bigger, and bigger - until it's the size of a huge, real truck! He packs it full with lumber, and he's off on an eventful road adventure to the lumberyard.
Mark Weatherby's lush, nostalgic paintings capture all of the wonder of a boy who actually dreams himself behind the wheel of his father's truck. And soon he awakens from his marvelous dream to the next best thing - spending a day with Dad in his semi for a truck stop breakfast and a day's work. What a treat!

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Britteny Gilge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author and illustrator do a good job at working together to lead into the dream. The truck starts to get bigger and as this is happening the word “bigger” is also written in a larger font. I liked that the text had different layouts depending on what was going on in the story. The pictures in this story are very life like, detailed, and eye catching. The child’s dream is relatable, and entertaining. The use of onomatopoeia made the story come to life and keeps the reader engaged. This also helps the reader get a feel for what it would be like to be in his situation. For example, when the storm comes the author does a superb job setting the scene for us, the picture shows us what it would look like from his perspective and then we get a sense of what it would sound like to him with the onomatopoeia “Thwamp, Thwamp, Thwamp”.

[Avel Rudenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, at first I thought is was a boy hallucinating about trucking. Not so per se. It had all been a wonderful dream, when he woke up, he has in his dad's semi and on the road, ready for another big day of trucking ahead of him. This book gives you that warm-fuzzy feeling when reading it, be prepared to start hallucinating a little bit yourself. Great read!

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

Learn all about trucks and what truckers do with Wesley, as he follows in his father's footsteps.

Realistic photos, informational text. Appropriate community helpers book for 1st or 2nd grade.

[Emerson and Theodore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emerson would give it a 5 star, daddy only 3 stars. Emerson liked it. Good for boys who love trucks: asked to read it twice in a row.

[CFAITC]

Learn about the important job truckers have transporting goods from one location to the next.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute story about a trucker boy who lives out his dream...in a dream. LOVED the realistic expectations.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for kids who are interested in what truckers really do. And great for kids who are familiar with a trucker's day and want to see their family experience in a book.