Trucks Roll! (Richard Jackson Books

by George Ella Lyon, Craig Frazier (illustrator)

"Trucks bring ice cream.

Trucks bring blocks,

books and bulldozers,

dolls and socks."

Through mountains and flatlands, past deserts and towns, the trucks are rolling! With its rhyming text and bold illustrations, Trucks Roll! invites kids along on a day in a trucker's life and shows that many things we enjoy depend on the trucker's work.

Genres: Picture Books, Transport, Childrens, Trucks, Storytime, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 27, 2007

About the author

George Ella Lyon is a Kentucky author who has published in many genres, including picture books, poetry, juvenile novels, and articles.

Reviews

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it was actually about trucks, this book was great. Where it lost me was with all the weird cargo these trucks had (ie giant chocolate chip cookies, rabbits, puzzles, etc). It felt like it was trying to be playful, but missed the mark a bit because then the truck sections were more informative. Shrug! The kid-friendly truck illustrations were great, though!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The truck illustrations were great, as were the different descriptions of how trucks travel and haul things. Where this book lost me was in the randomness of what the trucks were hauling: space ships and rabbits and giant chocolate chip cookies??? I'm not sure if this was intended to be humorous, but it didn't work for me. A kid who's a HUGE truck enthusiast would probably love this book. It's a decent, but not outstanding, group read aloud. 2.5 stars

[Danielle Robertson Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book would be better if it didn't force the rhyme and also if the trucks carried realistic things. Trucks are already pretty amazing to many 2-year-olds, I don't think it adds anything when the truck is carrying cookies and puzzles, just for the sake of making the rhyme work.

[Evianrei · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 1 year old LOVED this book, his eyes were glued to each page as I read it. I actually checked to see if there was a board book version, and there isn't which is a shame. Might cave and grab a home copy anyway, hardcover. Right now we've only checked out the library copy. A good semi-rhyming (pun intended) book about trucks and what they haul, with silly imagery of their truck loads.

[Lynnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect for the toddler that loves vehicles. really interesting simple illustrations that are bright and colorful but not over the top. the rhyming is fine. the story is more educational than story but my toddler loved it still.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of rhyme about trucks that travel across the interstate highways to deliver goods, supplies, and food stuffs to various places in the United States.

[Mr. Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was able to just keep my almost two year olds attention. I liked the rhyming scheme and simple messages. My son did want to turn back to his favorite pages after we were done.

[Lynne Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't go wrong with a George Ella Lyon children's book!

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

While sharing this with little ones I turn it up a notch by using the picture and text prompts to make up a TRUCK version of "The Wheels on the Bus". Great fun.

[Allison Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son is 16 months old and he loves this book! If he gets to pick which book we read, this is the one he picks! He loves the pictures! It’s a book I don’t mind reading over and over again!

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book about what trucks haul and transport. Colorful illustrations.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her whole series of transportation-themed rhyming books, although I don't like these illustrations as much as the ones in the other books.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars?

[CN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forced rhyme and strange cargo (giant cookies?). On the other hand my 2.5 year olds didn’t notice and at the end of the day, if two toddlers are engaged for the duration, it’s a win.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get ready for a boldly colored picture book celebrating big rigs!

[Yasha]

EP PICTURE Lyon George

[Evan Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As read by Frank “Five Fists” Fingerman, Long Haul Trucker

I read this book to my daughter before going out for another haul and just found it a delightful read. My little Baby Fist, that’s her handle “Baby Fist,” she thought I was just the coolest person in the whole world after reading this book about what her daddy does, but what the hell does she know, she’s six, right? This colorful book of lies does to trucking what Lord of the Rings did to hiking. Yeah, it’s cool and all, but that just ain’t the way it goes.

The following are factual inaccuracies I found in “Trucks Roll!”

- While trucks do have trailers and cabs, but it is very dangerous the way they show them truckers transporting rabbits and labs. You just can’t have a labrador hanging out the back of your trailer, people.
- I don’t know what kind of school these people went to, but you just can’t have a giant spout hooked to a giant bathtub filled with giant apples trolling down the highway. Just ain’t safe.
- The twisty road they depict does not have any type of sand trap to slow down a runaway haul.
- Even if you could bake a cookie large enough to drive on a covered wagon, those things would just be unsanitary to have in the open air like that.
- I’m not even going to go into how that puzzle would stay together like that in the box.
- Air horns don’t go “beep” no matter how deep they are. I always thought it was more of a “honk.” That may be a personal choice.
- While we may stop at gas stations, we use diesel. Gasoline just ain’t good in the rig.
- I don’t want to give anyone the illusion that truckers drive “rolling dreams.” I’ve always thought of rigs as “fart boxes.”

Thanks, Five Fists!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trucks Roll! by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Craig George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Craig Frazier shows trucks carrying a variety of items, some of them silly.

Frazier's bright, bold illustrations were rendered by hand & digitally colored. My favorite image is the orange rig crossing a bridge as rain falls in the distance. Other fave images include the BIG rig, the three rigs with ROLL in the middle, ice cream truck & bookmobile & buldozer, truck cab interior, 4 trucks with headlight beams, and trucker with cup. The rigs and scenery look great.

I liked the rhymes and the serious illustrations. I did like the mention of diners and coffee in the morning. I didn't care for the silly items like giant chocolate chip cookies, giant apples, and a huge rabbit with ears sticking out of trailer. There were also plenty of chances for truck noises to be shown & made that were missed. This could have been great. It will still please young truck fans. 3.5 stars

For ages 2 to 5, transportation, trucks, read-aloud, things-that-go, rhyme, repetition, story-time, and fans of George Ella Lyon and Craig Frazier.

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The boxy artwork leaps from the pages of this book with a splash of color. For some readers, there may be almost an overload of graphic stimulation. The words are small and sometimes difficult to find on the pages, and the somewhat abstracted images can be tricky to decipher. The artwork suggests that giant cookies can be transported under a tarp on a semi-trailer, which young readers may call into question as a stretch of the truth. While the book may appeal to boys (or even girls) who like trucks, it lacks somewhat in originality.

[Sara Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Poems
Ages: 4 and up
Summary: Trucks roll is a rhyming story all about big semi trucks and the various things that they haul. Beautiful color and simple drawings add to the story.
Reflection: I own this book, and it is just about falling apart. Both of my boys just love this story. They both had it memorized at a very young age. I have seen both of my children respond very positively to this book, and it is just amazing. Great book!

[Rita Crayon Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE. I try to give this to every friend with kids whom I suspect doesn't have a copy yet. Perfect rhymes (this is how it's done!), paired with boldly shaped, beautiful, imaginative illustrations. So pleasing in every way! Makes me remember how I felt about trucks as a kid (vs. how I . . . don't feel about them anymore. sigh).

[Bree Bosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book about Trucks and all the things they can haul. This would be a great book for a transportation unit or just for a fun read-aloud. This book would really interest boys- especially those who like trucks!

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simplistic children's bright primary-colored picture book on trucks.
The verbiage was above the intended audience's head. The grammar was disturbing ("truck's" used in a plural context). But our 18-month old could not get enough of it.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craig Frazier, created the illustrations...enough said. Great book, especially for boys.


Illustrations and simple, rhyming text reveal many different--and sometimes silly--items that trucks can haul.

[Nelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhythmically strong. Bold illustrations.

Out of 5.

Illustrations : 4
Content : 4
Originality : 3
Humor : n/a
Age Level : 0-100

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully vivid pictures and a theme I think my two year old son will love!

Favorite Quote:
"Stop for traffic lights.
Stop for tolls.
Stop for pork chops
and cinnamon rolls."

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

The trucks are very imposing looking. The truck driver is not very friendly looking because you never see his eyes.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bold, attention grabbing illustrations that are colorful, silliness, good rhyming.

[Tamra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done! Informative and fun.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations and simple, rhyming text reveal many different--and sometimes silly--items that trucks can haul.