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Want to Play Trucks?
Jack likes trucks. Alex likes dolls. What will they play together? Their new favorite game, of course!
Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks — big ones, the kind that can wreck things. Alex likes dolls — pink ones, with sparkles. And tutus. But Jack doesn’t want to play dolls, and Alex doesn’t want to play trucks. Readers will smile at the quintessential playground squabble on display in this amusing, relatable tale from Ann Stott and Bob Graham. Luckily for Jack and Alex, the day is saved with a little bit of compromise — what about dolls who drive trucks? — and the easy acceptance that characterizes the youngest of friendships. Not to mention a familiar jingle from nearby that reminds Jack and Alex of something else they both ice cream!
Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks — big ones, the kind that can wreck things. Alex likes dolls — pink ones, with sparkles. And tutus. But Jack doesn’t want to play dolls, and Alex doesn’t want to play trucks. Readers will smile at the quintessential playground squabble on display in this amusing, relatable tale from Ann Stott and Bob Graham. Luckily for Jack and Alex, the day is saved with a little bit of compromise — what about dolls who drive trucks? — and the easy acceptance that characterizes the youngest of friendships. Not to mention a familiar jingle from nearby that reminds Jack and Alex of something else they both ice cream!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2018
About the author
Ann Stott
6 books22 followersAnn Stott is a children’s book designer and the author of Always, illustrated by Matt Phelan. About Always she says, "It dawned on me one day that I hadn’t tied my son’s sneakers in months. I suddenly realized that there were many things that I no longer had to do for him. He was growing up." Ann Stott lives on the Northshore of Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 5, 2021
Jack and Alex have to work out what they want to play - what do they have in common - so that they both feel good about the time they spend together. Nice message - nice art.
August 14, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Want to Play Trucks? is a short young children’s book written by renown author Ann Stott and illustrated by artist Bob Graham.
The book is about two little boys (we are not told they are boys but the illustrations to me show they are) who are playing together. Jack likes trucks and asks Alex if he wants to play trucks with him. Alex is playing dolls but agrees to play dolls that drive trucks.
The pair are having lots of fun together until it comes to the crane. Alex wants his doll in a tutu to drive, but Jack tells him dolls in tutus can’t drive cranes – I won’t tell you the outcome, but I did laugh at the reason why.
The book just shows that it doesn’t matter what toys children play with. Let boys play with dolls and girls play with cars, does it really matter. When I was younger I had a male friend who lived across the road who used to come over and play Barbie dolls with me. I never once thought that because he was happily playing with me that he must be gay, or bi etc. He’s now about 6’6″ lives with his girlfriend has three kids and is built like a bodybuilder.
A very sweet children’s book that has short sentences, so perfect for new readers and has a wonderfully engaging story too.
Want to Play Trucks? is a short young children’s book written by renown author Ann Stott and illustrated by artist Bob Graham.
The book is about two little boys (we are not told they are boys but the illustrations to me show they are) who are playing together. Jack likes trucks and asks Alex if he wants to play trucks with him. Alex is playing dolls but agrees to play dolls that drive trucks.
The pair are having lots of fun together until it comes to the crane. Alex wants his doll in a tutu to drive, but Jack tells him dolls in tutus can’t drive cranes – I won’t tell you the outcome, but I did laugh at the reason why.
The book just shows that it doesn’t matter what toys children play with. Let boys play with dolls and girls play with cars, does it really matter. When I was younger I had a male friend who lived across the road who used to come over and play Barbie dolls with me. I never once thought that because he was happily playing with me that he must be gay, or bi etc. He’s now about 6’6″ lives with his girlfriend has three kids and is built like a bodybuilder.
A very sweet children’s book that has short sentences, so perfect for new readers and has a wonderfully engaging story too.
September 20, 2018
I applaud Ann Stott for writing a book about a boy who does quote "girl things" and that's ok. This is the story of two boys who are friends. One likes trucks, the other likes dolls. They learn to navigate their differences and play together. All of this is illustrated with Bob Graham's gentle watercolors. It is a great story about compromise and negotiating with a friend. It also is one of the only stories I've ever read that gives boys permission to play with and like whatever they want.
August 9, 2019
Super adorable children's books about two boys - one who likes to play with dolls, one who likes to play with trucks - and how they learn to play together.
I wish adults had this kind of problem solving!
I wish adults had this kind of problem solving!
October 18, 2018
Cute. Love the casual take on removing gender from toys. Sadly I'm not sure it's quite engaging enough for my toddler groups. Maybe if you're good at doing the bickering voices :)
February 23, 2019
My 6 year old didn't enjoy this after reading it alone. But he and his little brother seemed to enjoy it a lot when it was read *to* them. It's a story about finding common ground and making our differences work together. I thought it was nicely done. It also gave me the chance to tell our son about how one of his uncles liked to play with dolls when he was little, so grandma had a feeling he'd be a good daddy someday. And that sure is the case. There's always something to learn from our differences. Something to appreciate.
June 22, 2018
Succinct and sublime. Graham's illustrations as always, are beguiling and beautiful. A delightful, recognisable storyline that celebrates individualism and childhood innocence in the most delicious and humorous way.
September 20, 2018
more like 2.5. nice concept but kind of blah
January 31, 2019
Good read-aloud book about liking different things but still playing together. Love the ending. Mr. Keith read this one to me!
January 4, 2019
I really like this book. ‘Want to Play Trucks?’ is a bit smaller than A4ish in size and is a paperback filled with thick glossy pages of some lovely colourful illustrations and some text. Jack likes trucks but Alex likes dolls, can the two boys find a way to play together while both enjoying trucks and dolls?
The story is simple but good and I like what happens as the two boys share with each other their interests. Jack spends time showing Alex how he likes trucks and likes to play with lots of different toy vehicles. While Alex shows off his doll with the sparkly pink dress. The boys find a way to compromise though, even after a bit of a argument and it ends nicely with both boys enjoying playing together and then enjoying an extra treat. The story is very effective in showing how it’s okay for kids to be different, to like different things and how there’s always a way to enjoy everyone’s interests.
The illustrations are very fun and interesting with more happening than you initially see. The pictures of the boys playing their toys while at the park all have things happening in the background. The boys mothers are constantly chatting and as you turn every page you see more happening with the conversation. As well as this there are lots of people who walk past the kids playground, some of these people appear in more than one image and shows you the progression of what’s happening to them. I really like all this extra level of detail in the illustrations and even the front and back covers are part of one image when you open up the book and look at them!
The story may be simple but I really enjoyed this and the images make it all the more enjoyable. I’m sure lots of kids will enjoy looking at the pictures and it’s a great message showing that kids can like different things and get along well.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
The story is simple but good and I like what happens as the two boys share with each other their interests. Jack spends time showing Alex how he likes trucks and likes to play with lots of different toy vehicles. While Alex shows off his doll with the sparkly pink dress. The boys find a way to compromise though, even after a bit of a argument and it ends nicely with both boys enjoying playing together and then enjoying an extra treat. The story is very effective in showing how it’s okay for kids to be different, to like different things and how there’s always a way to enjoy everyone’s interests.
The illustrations are very fun and interesting with more happening than you initially see. The pictures of the boys playing their toys while at the park all have things happening in the background. The boys mothers are constantly chatting and as you turn every page you see more happening with the conversation. As well as this there are lots of people who walk past the kids playground, some of these people appear in more than one image and shows you the progression of what’s happening to them. I really like all this extra level of detail in the illustrations and even the front and back covers are part of one image when you open up the book and look at them!
The story may be simple but I really enjoyed this and the images make it all the more enjoyable. I’m sure lots of kids will enjoy looking at the pictures and it’s a great message showing that kids can like different things and get along well.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
January 19, 2019
CLEL2019 shotlist play
need to reread with apiano handy. Endpapers have the music. Might work for preschool story or music time/ drama.
need to reread with apiano handy. Endpapers have the music. Might work for preschool story or music time/ drama.
August 13, 2018
Ha, I loved this! 😄
I love Jack's thoughtful reasoning about why Alex's tutu wearing doll could not drive his crane - I'm not going to spoil it for you but it's an adorable and valid reason and Alex's practical solution is wonderful as well.
I like the ambiguity of the characters two. There are no gender pronouns used at all so Alex could be a boy or a girl and even Jack could be used as a nickname for either gender as well.
There's just so many little thinks to like about this short but sweet story.
I love Jack's thoughtful reasoning about why Alex's tutu wearing doll could not drive his crane - I'm not going to spoil it for you but it's an adorable and valid reason and Alex's practical solution is wonderful as well.
I like the ambiguity of the characters two. There are no gender pronouns used at all so Alex could be a boy or a girl and even Jack could be used as a nickname for either gender as well.
There's just so many little thinks to like about this short but sweet story.
September 26, 2018
A book about compromise that presents a diverse cast of characters that plays with norms and expectations. As a small detail, I was very distracted reading through the second half worrying that the tutu would be forgotten and left in the sandbox, and that is not resolved in the final illustrations.
Also, I think it was smart to choose "Alex", a name that can be used for either a boy or a girl, so that the book is still approachable for a parent that does not want to focus on that aspect of the story.
Also, I think it was smart to choose "Alex", a name that can be used for either a boy or a girl, so that the book is still approachable for a parent that does not want to focus on that aspect of the story.
December 5, 2018
Age: Toddler-Preschool
LGBTQ: Gender nonconforming boy
Toys: Things that go, dolls
While the title seems to convey that the book is primarily about trucks, dolls share half the spotlight in this friendship story. Alex and Jack love to play together at the park. Jack loves smashing, crashing trucks with loud sirens and Alex likes dolls with pink, sparkly dresses that can do dips and twirls. With these two different styles of play, it's a delight to see how Alex and Jack problem solve and generally enjoy playing together as friends.
LGBTQ: Gender nonconforming boy
Toys: Things that go, dolls
While the title seems to convey that the book is primarily about trucks, dolls share half the spotlight in this friendship story. Alex and Jack love to play together at the park. Jack loves smashing, crashing trucks with loud sirens and Alex likes dolls with pink, sparkly dresses that can do dips and twirls. With these two different styles of play, it's a delight to see how Alex and Jack problem solve and generally enjoy playing together as friends.
August 31, 2018
This book left a bad taste in my mouth. Like....who eats ice cream - actual ice cream, not a popsicle or other treat - while *lying* in a sandbox? EWWWWWWWW. (Seriously, though, the last illustration grossed me out so much!)
Other than that though, I loved it. Kids won't think something's weird unless they're told to. If parents didn't make a big deal about boys having to play with trucks, it wouldn't be a big deal.
Other than that though, I loved it. Kids won't think something's weird unless they're told to. If parents didn't make a big deal about boys having to play with trucks, it wouldn't be a big deal.
January 10, 2019
A day in the park in the sandbox as Jack and Alex play together even though they like different things. One likes trucks and one likes dolls but they both like ice cream.
August 23, 2018
Detailed illustrations help show how two young friends play, argue, compromise, and then realize they have the most important thing in common. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to teach children about how to treat others, what it means to be a true friend, and accepting others for who they are and not trying to make them copies of you.
September 4, 2018
This sweet picture book shows young readers that good friends can have different tastes and interests and still get along together. Whether you like to play with trucks or dolls, it's possible to play both together. This would be great to share with primary grade kids to start a conversation about acceptance and building community.
October 24, 2018
Jack and Alex play together at the playground. Jack likes and wants to play with trucks. Alex likes and wants to play with dolls that have tutus. They find a way to compromise so they can play together. This is a lovely book about learning to share and get along. It also subtly defies gender stereotypes regarding toys and that is lovely to see. Overall, a great picture book about friendship.
August 12, 2018
Jack and Alex like to play with different toys, but most of the time, dolls and trucks work out together. Sometimes Jack and Alex fight, but then they compromise. In the end, they both love ice cream.
November 27, 2018
The way the world socializes & boxes our youngest ones into gender roles is one of my biggest soapboxes (don't get me started!), so it was awesome to see a quality picture book showing it's cool for children to play with whatever toy they feel like.
August 7, 2018
A picture book which pushes the norms of gender roles as Jack and Alex play trucks in the sandbox. Beautiful illustrations in this fun book!
September 20, 2018
Ehh. It was fine.
September 20, 2018
This book broke the adorable meter. I'm not sure kids in a group setting would like it, but I think kids would enjoy it one-on-one.
September 23, 2018
A great short book that shows it is OK for boys to play with stereotypical "girly" toys.
September 24, 2018
When reading this, you have to look at everything in the drawings as they tell a story in themselves.
September 26, 2018
Simple story of two boys who love to play together despite their interests.
September 26, 2018
Darling. I struggled with this as a read aloud at toddler storytime. I'll try it with preschoolers ASAP.
November 6, 2018
Jake and Alex play in the sandbox everyday, one likes trucks, and the other likes dolls. This story talks about compromise, and finding common ground that leads to agreement.
November 24, 2018
Cute story about compromise, respecting differences, and celebrating commonalities.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews