Dumpy at School

by Julie Andrews Edwards

Dumpy's back! The beloved little truck, saved from rust and weeds in Dumpy the Dump Truck, the first team effort of Julie Andrews Edwards, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Tony Walton, is shined up and ready to tackle his first big job off the farm. And it just so happens that today is a big day for his young friend Charlie, too. It's Charlie's first day of school. Dumpy has bubbles in his radiator, and Charlie feels his stomach flutter as they each think about what lies ahead. Will they succeed? Will people make fun of them? As it turns out, both Dumpy and Charlie do quite well. Charlie makes some new friends, trades sandwiches at lunchtime, and wins the respect of all when the kids realize it's his dump truck that's building the new playground. And Dumpy, after feeling a bit puny and insignificant next to the huge yellow and black monster machine, saves the day when Steady Gus the School Bus breaks down. Julie Andrews Edwards is the author of the The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles and Little The Story of Bonnie Boadicea and, of course, the star of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Dumpy at School, the second in the series about a little engine that could, will be welcomed with open arms by children who have a touch of first-day butterflies. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Library Binding

First published September 30, 2000

About the author

Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews Edwards, DBE is an award-winning English actress, singer, author and cultural icon. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honours. Andrews rose to prominence after starring in Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, as well as musical films like Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965).

Reviews

[Fred Kohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Dumpy at School* is the second in the series of Dumpy the Dump Truck books which includes Dumpy the Dump Truck (2000), Dumpy at School (2000), Dumpy and His Pals (2001), Dumpy's Friends on the Farm (2001), Dumpy Saves Christmas (2001), Dumpy and the Big Storm (2002), Dumpy and the Firefighters (2003). These books are a family collaborative, coauthored by Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, and illustrated by Emma's father and Julie's first husband Tony Walton.

In the first book Charlie Barnes and his grandfather Pop-Up fix up Dumpy, an old broken down dump truck. In the second book, Pop-Up puts Dumpy to work, helping to fix up the school playground. In this Dumpy has the assistance of an old friend, Bea the Back-Hoe, as well as a new addition to the gang: Buzz the Bulldozer. Buzz is a huge machine who impresses all the children more than Dumpy does. Dumpy is intimidated.

But by the end of the book, Dumpy becomes the hero. When Steady Gus the School Bus breaks down and can’t take the kids back home, Dumpy steps up to the plate and slowly but steadily makes the journey.

I would love to read *Dumpy and his Pals*, the third book in this series next, but sadly my local library doesn’t have it. So *Dumpy's Friends on the Farm* will have to be the next for me. One goal is to see if the unnamed rooster that crows every morning appears in all the Dumpy books.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are written by THE Julie Andrews!

[Tym · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about ups and downs of the first day of school both for young Charlie and friend Dumpy the dump truck. I have a feeling my nephew will enjoy this much more than I have.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of lengthy for a picture book. A nice story of going to school for the first time. I didn't like the illustrations; they seemed vague.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful book. I had never read a Dumpy book, but had always hear about them. (Besides it’s a Mary Poppins book – I know Julie Andrews played Mary Poppins). I will definitely be looking at the rest of the series.

Charlie has to suffer through his first day of school and it’s painful.

But Dumpy comes to the rescue in the end when the school bus breaks down and he helps get the children home.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bet if I was reading this to my son instead of my daughter it would have gone over better. She had little interest but it was a cute story.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6 and 4 year old love all of the "Dumpy" books! I just learned that Julie Andrews Edwards IS Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, etc.) Fun!

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie is worried about his first day at school. He makes lots of new friends when Dumpy comes to pick him up from school.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story that my nephew will love. It personifies vehicles and she's how they work hard even while the kids are at school,Aldo working hard.