I Won

by Ruth Wielockx

"A fun, colorful book, with a lively pace, tone, and, topping it all off, a meaningful message.” – School Library Journal Attention, please! Is everyone ready for the race? Three . . . Two . . . One . . . Go! The competitors hurry to their vehicles. Which is the fastest? The scooter, the fire engine, or the tricycle? Maybe it’s the racing bike? And who actually won?
A cool picture book with a surprising ending. For quick boys and girls ages 3 years and up.

Genres: Picture Books, Transport, Storytime, Childrens, Friendship, Racing

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about a race. Each one thinks they'll win until another faster vehicle shows up. Surely the airplane will be the fastest right? Well, on a merry-go-round, who knows.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gr PreS-3 On your marks, get set, go! So begins a very unusual race where every child rides a different vehicle. The tricycle takes an early lead, but is quickly surpassed by the scooter, which in turn gets overtaken by a jeep, and so on and so forth. Whenever one kid passes another, the previous vehicle's front end peeks over the left-hand page, while the new leader fully occupies the right. In their moment of glory, each child is sure of their victory, however the narrator breaks the fourth wall to question this, making us wonder what will come next and who really will win. After steadily building up our excitement, Wielockx genuinely surprises us with her answer. She gives the often hollow assurance, "everyone's a winner", new validity with her clever ending. Even more important is how she actually means, everyone. Boys and girls from various ethnicities participate, and each has an equal chance of winning. VERDICT From the checkered starting line on the front cover, to the finish line on the back, I Won is a complete package; it's a fun, colourful book, with a lively pace and tone, and topping it all off, is a meaningful message.

*reviewed for School Library Journal

[Rachel Solomin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for kids 1-3 who love vehicles. The question that ends the book spurred a sweet discussion with my kids about winning/not winning. The illustrations are beautiful, and I appreciate the depiction of both boys and girls enjoying many types of vehicles.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clever little book, where many children are competing in a race. Each consecutive child is driving something a little faster than the previous one. A clever ending which I do not want to give away made this a clever little read

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

De cover van dit boek (knalgeel) met die mooie race-auto erop en ik wist dat ik hem niet kon laten liggen in de bibliotheek.


En inderdaad, het was echt een superleuk boek, mijn vriend heeft meegekeken en commentaar gegeven, en ook gelachen, net als ik. Die race was echt top, en ik vond het leuk om al die verschillende voertuigen te zien. Van driewielers tot race-auto’s tot vliegtuigen, het was gewoon hilarisch om een busje een auto, die veel sneller is, in te zien halen. Geweldig!

En dan komt het einde, met de finish, oh, daar moest ik toch echt hard om lachen, wat briljant! Kinderen gaan dit geweldig vinden, het is al zo spannend en dan gebeurd er dat. Top einde! Ik lag gewoon dubbel. Meer mensen moeten dit zulk creatieve eindes maken.

De tekeningen zijn mooi, de voertuigen (maar ook de mensen) zijn leuk getekend. Ik vond het ook fijn dat de achtergrond gewoon een groot geel vlak was (en je komt er aan het einde wel achter waarom dat gedaan is).

Echt een aanrader dus. Kinderen en volwassenen gaan dit zeker een leuk boek vinden.

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Kristina Silverbears · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a reader, I don't like being tricked. The story was over my 3 year olds' heads, but an older child might read this book too quickly for it to really be fun. The stars are for the author choosing to have both male and female racers.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simplistic

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but I think the concept of a circle going around and around without a winner might surpass some young readers.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A race book where everybody and nobody is the winner! ;-)

[Anja]

Erg leuk boek waar veel activiteiten bij passen.
Leuk voor thema vervoer: goede woordenschatactiviteiten mogelijk.
Leuke illustraties en een verrassend einde.

[Amy Allgeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute ending. E loves it.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overall transportation book.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5