Cars: Rushing! Honking! Zooming!

Things that Go!

by Patricia Hubbell, Megan Halsey (Illustrator), Sean Addy (Illustrator)

Cars go rushing up and down, through the country, through the town. Racing! Rushing! Honking! Squealing! Stopping! Starting! Turning! Wheeling! All kinds of cars, from sedans to SUVs to station wagons, take people here, there, and everywhere. Following the success of Whizz! Zoom! Rumble! and Steaming! Pulling! Huffing! Patricia Hubbell introduces the third installment to her popular series featuring “things that go.” Sean Addy and Megan Halsey portray a variety of cars using vibrant clip art, etchings, and original drawings, making this a perfect gift for children who love things that go!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Transport, Cars, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Patricia Hubbell has been writing poetry since she was eleven years old.
In 1998, her Wrapping Paper Romp was selected as a Parents Magazine Book of the Year.
Patricia Hubbell lives with her husband, Harold Hornstein, in Easton, Connecticut, the small town where she was born.
Remembering how much their children and grandchildren loved to bounce when they were very young prompted her to write Bouncing Time. "Bouncing is one of the joyous things little kids do," she says. "It reflects their constant enthusiasm."

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! I probably like this one a bit better than the kiddo does because I simply adore all the vintage illustrations used in the clever collages that serve as the illustrations. This has such a fun, retro vibe. But, the text is excellent, too, running smoothly along with great words for read-aloud.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 3 year old loved this book. I wish it would have been fuller in description. Rhymes so it's very engaging and the illustrations are terrific.

[Rachel S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am loving Patricia's writing ... and these illustrations are just amazing, i think her illustrators are different each book, i think?? any who ... the hubby and i are real car freaks ... we just appreciate really awesome wheels ... we have owned a Thunderbird ...he loved 70 fastback mustangs ... now he has his corvette ... so we just love wheels ... get into reading books from this author, she is awesome!! so fun and quick ... u have gotta add them to your book shelf .. i know kiddies would love them too!!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bright vintage feel picture book about cars racing around. Not much plot, but a fun rhyming text that paired well with the bright illustrations. Kids got a kick out of the pages where the text turned sideways (had to hold the book portrait style to read). Read to K-1 in library class.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying a bunch from this series. I like the variety in this one but did find it slightly odd that nearly every vehicle was driven by an animal. The octopus car wash page was our favorite.

[Y.Poston]

cute car & sound exploration!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic vintage looking illustrations, but incredibly simple text and no real story line. Suitable for the youngest readers or die hard car enthusiasts.

[Josh Campeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story about different types of cars driving. Has a nice rhyme scheme. Perfect for car lovers ages 2+

[Danie Williams-Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son really enjoyed this one - and I loved the vintage illustrations.

[Katherine Cowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes this book distinct (besides the use of exclamation marks and one word sentences) is the illustrations. To me, they seem a mash of 1950s magazines--happily smiling families, bright colors, etc. The best difference is they're not gender stereotyped (women take the driver's seat as often as men in the book) and in fact, the images are actually not human stereotyped either (there are lots of dogs, elephants, and other animals driving cars).

The words are engaging and fun (great use of rhyme!), and while for the first dozen reads the illustrations can't help but strike you as strange, they really grew on me.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed "Cars Rushing! Honking! Zooming!" written by Patricia Hubbell and illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy. I wasn't expecting the retro feel to the book when I ordered it but find that I like the illustrations of older style cars and the retro feel of the people in the book.

The rhyming text with simple words alongside the illustrations and clipart make this a fun tool for the child just learning to read. My 11 month old twin grandchildren like to have the book read to them (and of course Nana likes to read it to them).

Bright colors, lots of pictures, fun rhyming words - what more could you want in a quality children's book?

[Drew Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cars of all kinds go hither and thither in hipster illustrated fashion!

I was more than halfway through this book when I realized it was familiar and couldn't figure out why. Then I realized it's part of a series and we had read the one about trucks (unreviewed as yet), so the mystery was solved. This is a different sort of car book, with really unique illustrations and style, but there's something kind of pretentious about it -- But only kind of, and our car book expert (2.75) doesn't seem to mind. He likes looking at and pointing out who's/what's driving everything.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Racing! Rushing! Honking! Squealing! Stopping! Starting! Turning! Wheeling!” Energetic rhyme and spirited retro-style mixed-media images (think 1950’s and 60’s advertising) combine to create a picture book that is pure fun and a perfect practice tool for distinguishing between nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Read it out loud once and you’ll have a traffic jam of kids lined up for their turn to drive it off the lot.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is weighted heavily in favor of the illustrations in this book. They are very entertaining. I wasn't a huge fan of turning the book on its side to read several pages that used up the long side of the book. That was kind of odd and unexpected and a bit confusing in the flow of the story. Oh well. The throw back to 50's-type-advertising illustrations made up for it.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natalie's been making a "ca" sound which might mean car, so when this was showcased at story time for the letter C, I grabbed it for bed time. Natalie listened, but didn't seem that enthused by it. So, either she was too tired, or "ca" probably doesn't mean car. It was still a good book about cars. Lot of onomatopoeia and it covers all types of cars as well as their service.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A great rhyming book with wonderful detail. A lot of information too. The art work is very vintage and very funny. A lot of very cool vehicles with some very unusual drivers and passengers. The K-nine unit actually drives the police car! The horses are pulling the horse trailor, and Dalmations are driving firetrucks! Worthy of a second looksee.

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be really fun to use for a transportation storytime. The simple text has rhythm and is full of action. Excerpt: "Cars go rushing up and down, through the country, through the town." Some pages have a horizontal spread, and others need to be turned vertically to read. It would be fun to mimick the actions of the vehicles with toy cars.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great "little boy book" by Patricia Hubbell. My two year old was left with my friend today (thanks, Diane!). He's not too keen on that, but he did like this story which he requested that she read three times.

[Edna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book describing different kinds of cars with the sounds they make along with fabulous mixed media illustrations resembling 1940-1950's pen and ink drawings and a bit style like that of Terry Gilliam's artistic animation-stills talent (Monty Python).

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cutsy rhyming story of the many different types of automobiles and the noises they make. Includes picture of auto garages that take care of the insides of cars. A great book for those young boys who just love cars!

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say I believe this series of books are best shared one on one. I have tried to use these in story times and there is little interest as a group read. But find the child (most likely a boy) who loves any sort of vehicles and they will enjoy this very much.

[createitlibrarian (Amanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

More precisely, I would have given this book a 3.5. The book was engaging with short phrases, action words, and just enough description. However, I had to turn the book twice to reorient it--once is my limit. Also, some of the artist's style bothered me.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the art!! cute poems too

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, retro and well illustrated addition to the car market for car crazy kids.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son enjoyed this because it is a favorite subject matter. I love the vintage style illustrations.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read 3/7/11 as part of "Traffic Jam" theme. Great retro pictures, wonderful rhymes. Opportunities for the children to count items...like the taxis.

[Kim Foy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great book for a transportation unit. It not only shows many types of vehicles and their purposes, but it also includes the parts of a car.

[D'Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool mixed media illustrations and a clever rhyming text. My three year old really digs this book, especially the pictures of animals driving cars.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vibrant pictures and easy to read text. Great for using with transportation unit.