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I Like to Read

Car Goes Far (I Like to Read) (I Like to Read Books) Paperback January 14, 2014

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Excellent Book

Paperback

First published January 7, 2013

35 people want to read

About the author

Michael Garland

158 books33 followers
Author and illustrator Michael Garland was born in Manhattan in 1952. He studied art at Pratt Institute and soon after graduating, he sold his first illustration to True Confessions magazine. He has written or illustrated over 40 books.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
27 (18%)
4 stars
33 (23%)
3 stars
53 (37%)
2 stars
24 (16%)
1 star
6 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for    Jonathan Mckay.
690 reviews84 followers
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March 16, 2025
Kinda disappointed by the 1 star reviews here. The sparse words and for some reason strange illustrations have made this my son's favorite book, despite the fact that he is far more comfortable with Chinese than English. Indeed, this is the first book that he's learned to request by name (ca go fa!) and he requests it every night. We're at least 50 readings in and there's enough happening in the illustrations to do something new every time.
Profile Image for BiblioBeruthiel.
2,166 reviews22 followers
November 6, 2017
Too simplistic for preschool storytime. This also is the stuff of nightmares and hardcore creeped me out. Never again.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
1,632 reviews
June 26, 2021
I really don't like this book. The pictures are kind of creepy and when he gets dried off at the carwash, he looks like he enjoys it a little too much. The sentences also sound very choppy.
3 reviews
Read
April 17, 2024
early reader

graphic just enough. contain simple but meaningful words. pls improve for kindle version. my son love it so much. thanks
33 reviews1 follower
March 17, 2014
Author: Michael Garland

Illustration: Michael Garland

Title: Car Goes Far

Publisher: Holiday House

Copyright: 2013

Genre: I like to read, early reader

Grade Level/ Age: k-1st grade

Lexile: n/a

Rating: 5

Summary/Reason for Rating: This is a story about a car, how dirty it gets while going on a drive, and it gets a car wash and looks nice again. I rate this book a 5 because the text is short and simple for a beginning reader and the imagery is brightly colored and detailed. This is a great picture book, especially for children who like cars. The pages have no more than two short sentences (2 to 6 words each). The car has expressions (smiles and gets sad), which is relatable to children. The drawings of actions such as, car gets a rub, birds make a mess on car, and car gets wet, are all drawn in detail as if you’re watching a short film about “car”.
Profile Image for Kristi Betts.
527 reviews7 followers
June 11, 2014
Michael Garland is one of my favorite authors and illustrators. His brilliant use of colors in his mixed digital art work is phenomenal and always fun. In this story a little red sports car is personified with a very cheerful disposition until he encounters a number of obstacles and challenges along his drive. At the end of his journey he arrives at a car wash which helps him to regain his happiness. Themes associated with this title include the following: easy readers and humor.

This title is recommended for first grade, but can be appropriate for children who are reading at an advanced level. It is leveled at a D based on the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Level and focuses on reading standards for Literature and Foundational Skills in the English Language Arts Common Core Standards for kindergarten through second grade.
Profile Image for Barbara.
14.9k reviews312 followers
June 20, 2013
Simple text and mixed digital illustrations produce an easy-to-read title that will appeal to anyone who loves cars. When sparkling clean and shiny Car sets off on a road trip, there is no way to avoid getting splashed with mud, smoke or bird droppings. Of course, Car must head to a car wash to restore that clean appearance. Many adults and children will relate to Car's experiences. This one is fun to read if you add some sound effects and dramatize Car's adventures a bit.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
469 reviews2 followers
March 30, 2015
I did not like this book. The sentences did not model good writing. The kids at the baby house liked it. A kindergartner almost volunteered to read the book, then became shy. We talked about how the car felt and what the shape of its mouth meant. The kids were a little confused as to why the car was happy to be washed so we talked about that. I would not use this book in my classroom, other than to instill confidence in a beginning reader.
Profile Image for Asho.
1,846 reviews12 followers
January 28, 2017
My four-year-old is starting to be attracted to the easy reader book shelves at the library, and the last time we visited he selected this book. Because he's not reading yet I had to read it to him, and it's not the best for reading aloud, but it was fine. My son enjoyed the basic plot of the car getting dirty and making a trip through the car wash.
Profile Image for Joella.
938 reviews45 followers
May 25, 2013
This book has so much potential! And I think I will tweak it a little bit if I use it in story time. (Put in a few more sound effects for the car wash or when it gets dirty.) But, just on it's own it isn't my favorite thing...
Profile Image for Sarah S.
525 reviews4 followers
March 4, 2015
This early reader book really is a level one, as opposed to so many "level 1" books with 15-20 words on a page. Car's expressions in the car wash are great and this is much less insipid that most early readers.

Can you tell I hate early reader books?
Profile Image for Molly Cluff (Library!).
2,486 reviews49 followers
February 26, 2019
Very very simple as far as reading level goes (probably just barely above a "first reader"). A car starts out clean in the morning, and gets sad as he gets dirty throughout the day. So he goes through the car wash!
Profile Image for Elisabeth.
2,035 reviews25 followers
February 20, 2013
Yep. ANother great addition from a well-known author in the "I Like to Read" series. I'm a fan!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,168 reviews15 followers
May 22, 2013
Would be especially good for toddlers.
Profile Image for Christine.
355 reviews1 follower
June 26, 2013
Beautiful mixed digital illustrations accompany simple text that tells the story all about car and the adventures and issues he "runs" through on a daily basis.
Profile Image for Diana Pettis.
1,018 reviews4 followers
December 28, 2013
Great beginning reader. Xander read it to me tonight and commented on the pictures.
Profile Image for Maggi Rohde.
922 reviews16 followers
October 18, 2014
I have a hard time appreciating easy readers of this level, but the pictures in this one are pretty nice. I'm sure any kid who likes vehicles would enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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