Race Day!

by Gail Tuchman

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! The driver zips up her jumpsuit and squeezes through her racecar window. Engines rev. Tires SCREECH and SQUEAL...and they’re off! Around and around the cars go VVVRRRROMMMMM! Pit stops! CRASHES! POPPED tires! Race to the finish line...and the checkered flag SNAPS down. Race day roars into life in this breathless book.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Transport, Sports, Picture Books

24 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2010

Reviews

[C. John Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is meant for those who have not yet started to read, or in the very early stages of reading. if you are going to have to read it to your child the sentences on a page are quite short. In fact the bulk of the page is comprised of photo(s) of what is going on. Younger children will of course love this as the visual component is likely of more interest to them. As well the sentences are for the most part in rhyme, thus making it more fun to read. This is a National Geographic book, which surprised me when I saw little label on the book. With its colourful photographs of race action and its short rhyming sentences this will be an excellent book for your littlest ones whether they be not quite ready to read (they might even just want to sit and look at the pictures), or those just starting to read and need easier books. Oh yeah, the racing involved is stock car. All in all I recommend this one. Happy reading.

[Cathy Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Race Day, by Gail Tuchman, is a prek through kindergarten National Geographic Kids book about auto racing. The text is rhythmic and rhyming, which helps the reader feel the action and excitement as the cars race along the track. The repeated zoom and vroom sounds give young readers the opportunity to join in with sound effects, making the book interactive and engaging for children and adults who read with them.
I chose the book, Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord, to use as a read aloud twin text for Race Day because my grandchildren all love the Hot Rod Hamster stories. This k-2 story shows teamwork and safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet when riding in an ATV and taking a map along to find your way. I would tie these two stories together by having the children look for examples of teamwork and safety in each of the stories. I would then ask the students to share what safety precautions they take when riding in a car or on their bike.

[Talia Vazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Race Day is a National Geographic Kids early reader about Nascar racing. It covers the basics of race day from the green "go" flag to the final checkered flag. I enjoyed the book for its many photos and short, rhyming sentences. I would recommend this book to early readers still working on their literacy skills. It would be particularly interesting to students interested in racing, Nascar, or cars.

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple text, but the Reading Rainbow version makes this one of my son's favorites. Lots of sounds from the races to make it exciting. He's a huge racing fan, just like his father. He would probably give this book 5 stars! The illustrations are photos of real racing cars and races.

[Alaina Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short and simple read and kids who like cars will really enjoy this book.

[Ella Zig · Rating 2 out of 5]

My child is learning to read, is yours?
This is a leveled reading book.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be wonderful in a car theme storytime.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent read for Maddie, though a bit repetitive.

[Annora · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess I was hoping for actual information about cars and races.

[Courtney Brandriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction/ Twin Text Entry #4

This book is a well documented and illustrated book that teaches children how to read while helping them to appreciate NASCAR. The text is written in big bold print and coupled with photography that allows readers to imagine themselves being in a race car. It also allows the readers to imagine what it is like to drive a race car, using short sentences, rhymes, and repetition to describe the feel of the race.

This reminded me of a book I have read to the children at my work, "Doc McStuffins Run-Down Racecar"
by Sheila Sweeny Higginson. In this story when Donny's toy racecar, Ricardo, loses a race for the first time, it's time for Doc to look under the hood. Doc soon realizes that Ricardo is run down from so much racing and diagnoses him with "No-Vroom-Vroom-atosis". Ricardo simply needs his batteries recharged! Both books listed here share a message and valuable lesson about the importance of getting enough rest and recharged so you can continue to thrive and strive at your best efforts.

Both of the books are probably best suited for younger grade levels because of the simplicity of the vocabulary and layout of the content.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple, basic text with bright photos that are sure to appeal to little race car fans. It's not a bad book, but it is highly simplified, so kids who are really into racing, or who are older or who really want to know a good amount about racing probably aren't going to find too much satisfaction with this book.

Still, kids may not only get racing out of this book. Race Day lead us into a brief discussion about gender equality:

My nephew (age 5): "Girls can't drive race cars."
Me: "Yes they can. There are girl race car drivers. Girls can do almost anything boys can do."
My nepehw: "Oh."
Long Pause...
My niece (age 9): "That's true. Girls can do almost anything boys can do. Except they can't take their shirts off in public."

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

F&P Level F. Best for independent reading.

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course this book had to be read first in the pile of books I took to read to my cousin the other day. Anything to do with cars and trucks always ends up as the first and last title read. We enjoyed doing the little activity at the back of the book after reading the "story". It's a simple hand clapping activity with a little song to the tune of "Miss Mary Mack".

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Beginner Reader book for the race car car fan. Put out by National Geo so you know there are great photos.

[Sarah W · Rating 2 out of 5]

The photographs make this book visually appealing. It portrays a race at the track for the preschool to first grade audience.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple text (pre reader) but great pictures from actual races illustrate the action of a race's progression from start to finish.

[Jackie316 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Fun for kids & easy to read.

[Karin Parsons]

non fiction informational