Vroomaloom Zoom

by John Coy

One August night, cake-bake hot, Carmela can’t get to sleep. So she and Daddy get into their car for a little drive. Vroomaloom zoom vrroom vrroom! They take a fantasy ride past farms ( cackle lackle ), through woods ( whoo whoo ), to the sea ( splash dash wave crash ). “Are you ready for sleep?” asks Daddy. “Not yet. Keep driving,” says Carmela. So on they go by swamps, over streams, around waterfalls, forward, backward, sideways, and around in circles. Finally, Carmela’s eyes close. She must be ready to sleep. “Not yet, Daddy. Keep driving.” Vroomaloom zoomaloom vrroom vrroom. With its inventive use of language and irresistible refrain, this send-up of a familiar family problem will tickle the fancies of parents and children.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

John Coy is the author of young adult novels, the 4 for 4 middle-grade series, and fiction and nonfiction picture books. John has received numerous awards for his work including a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award for best first picture book, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Notable Book for a Global Society, and the Burr/Warzalla Award for Distinguished Achievement in Children’s Literature. He lives in Minneapolis and visits schools around the world.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, a father and daughter go for a car ride. The father wants the daughter to fall asleep, but she is not sleepy. They drive through mountains and rivers, and all over the place in an attempt to get her to fall asleep.
The artwork for this book is done in oil paint on an acrylic background. The color choices bring this book to life. The bright yellow car is easy to spot in all of the different situations featured in the story.
As the title suggests, this story has lots of opportunities to have some fun making sound effects and making children laugh during storytime. The reader will get to say things like “rara rara ra ra ra” and “swoosh awoosh.” These sound effects will make for a delightful read during storytime. This book can be used in a storytime about driving or going on trips.

[Madison Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! It is awesome for teaching phonemic awareness. Many children could relate to not wanting to fall asleep, or long car rides. The illustrations match the words of the story very well, and are very fun to look at! I would reccomend this book for children in kindergarten to thid grade.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Night Driving this is another picture book by John Coy about a road trip between a parent and child. This one features a girl instead of a boy. Much more whimsical and fantastical than its predecessor.