Two children are fascinated by the vehicles that surround them. Big, small, noisy, quiet, an endless stream passes through the streets each day, and the children wave them all goodbye. But exciting though they are, many vehicles also have a damaging impact on the environment. Is there a better way to get around? A greener alternative, BYE, CAR takes a positive look into the future.
I HATE EVERYONE (2018) illustrated by Cinta Arribas. Is narrated by a little girl who, at her birthday party, wants everyone to go away and leave her alone. I've been delighted by the number of enthusiastic people who've said more or less these words: "Hey, somebody wrote a book about me!"
WHILE GRANDPA NAPS (2019), illustrated by Junghwa Park, was inspired by a true story about my late husband when he was a little boy and his grandfather asked him to sit by his side and make sure no flies would bother him while he napped in a backyard hammock.
MY BEST FRIEND, SOMETIMES (2020) , also illustrated by Cinta Arribas, was described as "An emotionally honest take on the complexities of (childhood) friendship" in a Kirkus starred review.
BYE, CAR illustrated by Daniel Rieley comes out September 2021, Exciting though they are, many vehicles also have a damaging impact on the environment. This very young picture book asks if there is a better way to get around, a greener alternative.It takes a positive look into the future.
Long ago I earned a BA and MA in English at Stony Brook, and then an MSEd at Bank Street College. I was an early childhood teacher in Israel for a few years in the 1970s, and continue to visit often.
BYE, CAR is a simple and fun rhyming read of opposites. Two children are heading out for the day, saying goodbye to all the cars they see. Notably, many of these are opposites, such as near and far and noisy and quiet. The book ends with them saying hello to greener and cleaner vehicles, giving it a subtle message about changing and updating cars to be kinder to the environment.
What I loved: This is a simple and quick read of vehicles that young lovers of cars will enjoy. The use of opposite words is helpful for some additional learning opportunities. An interesting thing in the book is the use of face masks in the illustrations that will reflect children's own experiences. The rhyming text rolls off the tongue smoothly and makes for a pleasant read. The super-simple and brief text will appeal to the youngest of readers, particularly toddlers. Colorful illustrations and a unique style make for a visually pleasing read as well.
What left me wanting more: The story makes more sense when you are able to read the synopsis, as the only mentions of more environmentally friendly vehicles is at the very end. I am not sure if this message will come across, but it may be too complex for the intended audience anyway. As a small thing, the text is also sometimes scattered across a page, so it can be tough to make sure you find them in the rhyming order.
Final verdict: A simple and colorful read, BYE, CAR is a rhyming journey that will appeal to toddlers who love vehicles.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
With sparse language, two children say goodbye to every car they see—which includes several opposites (near, far, big, tiny, etc.) Then, they say hello to all kinds of greener, cleaner options, like bicycles and a tram. Books like this can help children be more environmentally aware as they grow up.
There are so many little "hi car, bye car, big car little, car" type children's books, that that's all I thought this was originally. It's actually a propaganda piece on pollution, which is very obvious at second glance. I don't generally read the "blurb" on the back (also included on the inner flap) on picture books, but this one does spell out what it's trying to say (more obviously than within the pages).
It wasn't until a few pages in that I noticed the masks. At first, I thought "Covid" and I had a negative reaction ... I really disliked having to wear masks. The pictures brought on a little PTSD from the whole Covid experience. Then I noticed that the people were only wearing the masks outdoors, out in the open. Not in the cars, or in the buildings. Not Covid. Air-quality issues. Ahhhh ... again, not on the first few pages, but on the illustrations on the cover, and the pre-pages, all the cars have visible exhaust.
... the story then shifts from all the cars (not really saying anything about them, just showing them all, showing ONE electric vehicle, called a "quiet" car, contrasting with a "noisy car" playing music loudly) to "Hello" ... no more masks, a e-bus, and bicycles, a tram and in contrast to the gray/exhaust pages before the story starts, now it's lovely and green illustrations.
I appreciate the idea ... it felt a tad manipulative.
This comes across as propaganda for the green movement and is firmly set during COVID as the children (and others) are often shown with masks on their faces, making it dated.
Two children are standing on their apartment balcony, watching cars, trucks, and buses pass by and saying "bye" to them and "hello" to green alternative modes of transportation. Spare text make this seem an ideal book for emergent readers. Bye, bye, bye cars! Green alternatives given include e-bus, bikes, trams, and "greener vehicles" (showing a skateboard, a scooter, an extended bike, an eco rider mobility scooter, and a wheelchair scooter. No mention of EVs.
Front endsheets set the tone for this one. It features multiple rows of cars, trucks, and SUVs emitting exhaust from their back, shown on a blue-gray background. It ends with trees, plants, birds, people walking and riding on/in green vehicles, as i the text, on a mint-green background.
I hope books on this topic find their way into the hands of kids, however not one as message-heavy as this one.
This picture book originally published in the United Kingdom is a 2.5 for me. I'm not sure I would have completely understood the point of this picture book if I hadn't read the blurb on the back after I finished reading it. Two youngsters pass the time by making note of all the cars moving below their window or along the street. Naturally, there are all sorts of vehicles, and the children keep saying, "Bye!" to them. Near the end of the book, though, they begin greeting more eco-friendly modes of transportation with a "Hello!" that welcomes this particular change in how folks get around. It's worth noting that the youngsters and adults walking along the street are wearing masks, perhaps a sign of COVID protection or to protect them from the noxious fumes of the cars zooming everywhere.
Two children say goodbye to every car they see, a big one, a tiny one, a red one, and more. Then, they say hello to various greener, cleaner transportation options like bicycles and a tram. This is a nice book that is sure to please lovers of things that go. I like that the book promotes environmentally friendly transportation, but I'm not sure kids will pick up on it. Something I did notice is that this is the first picture book I've seen with illustrations of people wearing masks out in public that isn't about COVID-19. A sign of the times. Overall, a nice picture book about transportation.
Goodbye to cars, hello to greener (cleaner) vehicles. Took me a minute to get the subtle message. I loved the illustrations and sparse text (reminds me in places of Margaret Wise Brown) -- toddlers will love. I think the environmental message will be lost on them, but invites future conversation.
Themes: cars, stories that rhyme, the environment Ages: Pub year: 2021