Are We There Yet?: The First Road Trip Across the USA

by Stacy McAnulty, Elizabeth Baddeley (illustrator)

Hitch a ride on the first road trip across the United States of America in this rollicking nonfiction picture book from Ezra Jack Keats Honor winner Stacy McAnulty and New York Times bestselling illustrator Elizabeth Baddeley!

It’s 1903 when Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson bets fifty dollars that he can drive a horseless carriage (a car) across the USA, from California to New York, in less than three months. Considering Dr. Jackson doesn’t know how to drive, there are no highways yet, and everyone else who’s tried the trip has failed, the odds are stacked against him. Still, he hires a bike racer to act as mechanic, and the two set off in Dr. Jackson’s car, the Vermont, with their team mascot, Bud the bulldog.

Their trip is far from easy street. The duo must pull the car across streams, drive through deep mud and over rocky terrain, and wait for a stagecoach to bring spare parts. And with no windshield, doors, or a roof, every bump in the road means boingy boingy boingy—until things bounce right out of the car!

Then two more teams start out from California, and the race is on! Can a doctor, a bike racer, and a bulldog make it across the finish line first?

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Road Trip, Historical, Cars

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2025

About the author

Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, who’s also qualified to be a paleontologist (NOT REALLY), a correspondent for The Daily Show (why not), and a Green Bay Packer coach (totally!). She is the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Recipient for Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Her other picture books include Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, illustrated by David Litchfield; Brave and Beautiful, both illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite, illustrated by Edward Hemingway; and 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. She’s also authored the chapter book series Goldie Blox, based on the award-winning toys, and The Dino Files. Her debut middle grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, will publish in 2018. When not writing, Stacy likes to listen to NPR, bake triple-chocolate cupcakes, and eat triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 2 dogs, and 1 husband.

Reviews

[Amber Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fasten your seatbelts as Stacy McAnulty takes readers on a cross-country road trip at the dawn of the automotive age! It's 1903 when Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson bets fifty dollars that he can drive a horseless carriage (a car) across the USA, from California to New York, in less than three months. This feat is especially challenging due to the absence of GPS, road maps, and paved roads. Oh, and we shouldn’t overlook that Dr. Jackson doesn't know how to drive, there are no highways yet, and everyone else who's tried the trip has failed; the odds are stacked against him!

Their trip is far from easy street. The duo must pull the car across streams, drive through deep mud and over rocky terrain, and wait for a stagecoach to bring spare parts. And with no windshield, doors, or a roof, every bump in the road means boingy boingy boingy--until things bounce right out of the car!

Then two more teams start from California, and the race is on! Can a doctor, a bike racer, and a bulldog make it across the finish line first?

Other reviews have suggested there isn’t a natural or obvious classroom fit for this non-fiction picture book, but I disagree. The book can be incorporated into studies on machines and inventions, the Industrial Revolution, careers (such as a doctor turned record-setting driver), explorers, or famous Americans.

This book also serves as a fun and factual read-aloud when discussing themes such as courage, perseverance, and teamwork, as well as character traits like courage and resilience. In 1903, when Vermont doctor Horatio Nelson attempted the unprecedented feat of crossing the United States in an automobile in less than three months, he had yet to learn to drive; cars were still seen as a novelty, and the idea of an interstate highway system was still a distant dream.

Baddeley’s illustrations effortlessly convey the many ups and downs (and breakdowns) of the riveting trip while matching the jovial tone of McAnulty’s witty nonfiction picture book. McAnulty’s detailed prose is punctuated by key dates and onomatopoeic flourishes that evoke the era’s bumpy rides. The journey is complemented by vibrant digital illustrations characterized by clean lines and crisp colors. Back matter includes a map, timeline, fun facts, and a list of sources.

Bonus Materials for educators and parents, found on author Stacy McAnulty's website, include an easy and a more challenging maze for readers to complete.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson is a big believer in the future of automobiles - or horseless carriages as they are called in 1903. He is in San Francisco and other folks are saying that they will never amount to anything - just short distance jaunts. It's trains and horse drawn wagons that will rule the long-distance journeys. So Dr. Jackson and another gentleman make a $50 bet that Jackson can drive cross country in three months - from San Francisco to New York City. This would be the very first time anyone had driven all the way across the United States. He needs to get back to Vermont anyway, so why not drive? Well - there are a lot of reasons. First, he doesn't know how to drive. He doesn't have a car. He's not a mechanic. And unlike today, there are no highways. In fact, there are very few paved roads at all. But he hires a bicycle mechanic named Sewall K. Crocker to go with him (and teach him how to drive). They pack up their supplies and they are off! The roads are so bumpy that they lose a lot of their supplies along the way. And have all kinds of mechanical difficulties. They encounter stumbling blocks like rivers with no bridges and mud to the tops of their wheels. But they keep going! Then they hear that two other cars have decided to try to be the first to complete the journey so they pick up their pace! And they also pick up a dog - an American Bulldog that they name Bud - to keep them company (though he manages to get himself lost on more than one occasion...). Can they do it? Will they be the first to complete the journey or will the Oldsmobile beat them?

This was really interesting. And funny! The illustrations were great but some actual photos might make it more interesting and realistic for modern day readers. There are plenty to be found on line. Ken Burns even made a one hour documentary about Jackson and his trip. There are maps in the back of the book that show the route that was taken. This wasn't the first time someone had attempted to drive cross country. But those cars always got bogged down in the deserts or couldn't make it across the mountains. Jackson solved that by heading north up into Oregon and then turning east which led him through Utah and into Wyoming and Nebraska and on to Chicago and eventually New York City. The trip ended up costing $8000 dollars!

[Claire Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: This picture book follows the story of Dr. Jackson who bets fifty dollars that he can drive a car from California all the way to New York in less than three months. However, Dr. Jackson does not know how to drive, highways have not been created yet, and nobody who has ever tried has been able to complete the trip. There are a lot of odds stacked against him, but Dr. Jackson still decides to go. The trip is far from easy as he is met with streams, mud, and rocks. Two other car decided to go and now there is a race, but who will finish first?

Honest Review: This picture book does have some educational value as it includes true facts and a map of the route that was taken in the book. The book creates a fun adventure-filled story that is engaging for kids. The illustrations help add to the book as a whole to help readers understand what the journey was like. The author adds in some humor and suspense through the storytelling that makes this story a fun read.

Use in Classroom: This picture book would be a great resource for a lesson over automobiles, geography, and history. This book could open conversations about what challenges were created when there were no highways and what type of terrain there was to encounter. This would also be a great resource to discuss geography and maps. Students could learn how to read a map and even create their own roadtrip on a map. This picture book would be a good add to a classroom library.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did the illustrator do research? Was the wife that lovely? Did wheelchairs really look like that one? Were girls allowed to play marbles with boys? I dunno, but so much looked just a bit off to me.

The story was told in a witty, appealing manner. There is some back matter but I want more.

The more historical picture-books I read, the more I see that the creators are oversimplifying, distorting focuses, and bringing modern sensibilities in. I still advise you-all read them, but don't use them for research papers or spout everything you learn from them as fact.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great narrative nonfiction about the first car driven across the USA in 1903 - in only 3 months! A grand feat to be accomplished with many challenges to face, such as: the driver didn’t know how to drive, there were no highways, and nobody else had successfully ever traveled from California to New York in a car. Great layout if information and illustration helps move this book along in a journal-type format. Love the use of timelines and maps. Includes Back Matter and info about “what happened after.”

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love road trips, which routed my interest towards this book. As I began the journey, I discovered that I didn't know any of the historical context. This is a fascinating tale of adventure and I am eager to learn more about these gentlemen, and of course, the dog. I feel that little explorers (and adults) will really enjoy this expedition across uncharted roads. The illustrations are stellar, I would definitely make the trek to find the artist's other works.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a wonderful and fascinating picture book about something I didn't know. It's about the first car/two men and a dog to drive across county. It was interesting to hear how they did it, road conditions and what obstacles they faces. It's a short, concise version and there aren't too many details, but I think for a picture book that's right. I also really liked the lively illustrations.

[Richard Evely · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book to read. It was inspiring that there was a time in this when the automobile was a new "contraption". A time of mostly wagon trails and river fords. Listening to the story put me in the passenger seat, alongside Sewall Crocker, of the horseless carriage driven by Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson. My family tells the story of a similar road trip my grandfather Ralph took in the 1920's.

[Erica Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rounded down, and literally only because I'm sad my library's town wasn't mentioned as the place Bud was brought on (which it was) and instead as the location where the team ran over a skunk. Can we please be known for awesome bulldog with goggles instead of for SKUNKS??? (Mostly joking indignation.) Otherwise, loved.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting picture book about the first road trip across America. I think kids will be fascinated (as I was) about the lack of real roads and how difficult the trip was--it took 63 days! Definitely an interesting book to share with young car enthusiasts or kids who like to learn about life in the "olden days."

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rollicking adventure that takes place in 1903 when Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson bets $50 that he can drive a "horseless carriage" across the US from CA to NY. It will make you appreciate interstates, highways, cars with windshields and air conditioning, and hotels! A great book that captures a period of American history.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow Dr Jackson on his cross continent journey from San Francisco to New York City in 1903. Pretty incredible journey albeit haphazard. Many breakdowns along the way and even competition! And made all the more enjoyable due to his driving companion, Bud.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

WHY IS THE TYPEFACE SO TINY?

Lively text (which I had to practically squint to read) and illustrations, but Jackson seems like a bit of a maniac.

"His fifty-dollar wager had cost him over eight thousand dollars" ... WUT

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastically fun story about a bet that made history. Great illustrations.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly suggest looking up Bud the Dog and his fun little goggles

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story about a 50-dollar wager that turned into an 8,000-dollar adventure.

[Mik Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute anecdote that helps kids see the advents in transportation we've had with cars over the past century-ish. Great little morsel of nonfiction.

[GS Dachslove · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there was at least one photo. A unique historical milestone.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to like this more but something is off about the rhythm and pacing. 6/4yo gave 2 stars, but the illustrations are fun (as is the BOINGY font) and I like the insights into the era.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun illustrations and great voice add to this true story of the first coast to coast trip across the U.S. in 1903

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really interesting and made me want to know much more about how all these attempts were happening and being publicized and documented!