Tractor Mac: School Day

Tractor Mac

by Billy Steers

Betty the school bus has a rough first day of school. She missed some of her stops, didn't signal properly, and lined up in the wrong spot for drop-off! Now, the other buses pick on her and don't think she can do the job. But thanks to Tractor Mac and her other animal and vehicle friends at Stony Meadow Farm, Betty learns that with a little hard work and support, anyone can overcome a bad first day of school.

Genres: School, Picture Books, Transport, Childrens, Back To School

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 12, 2018

About the author

In April 1999, I introduced the first children’s book that I wrote and illustrated, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm. Originally published by Golden Books, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm tells the story of Sibley the work horse who feels slighted when a “shiny new tractor comes and takes over his chores.” Sibley and Mac overcome their differences and become “the best of friends.” Publisher’s Weekly called it a “bright, spirited read aloud” and after only five months the book was in its second printing.

I have continued on with several more enthralling and likeable Tractor Mac children’s books for boys and girls in the series. Children love the bright, detailed illustrations and absorbing stories, which have become “bedtime favorites.” Subsequent stories include Tractor Mac Learns to Fly followed by Tractor Mac You’re a Winner, Tractor Mac Builds a Barn, Tractor Mac Harvest Time, Tractor Mac Saves Christmas, Tractor Mac Parade’s Best, Tractor Mac Farmer’s Market and Tractor Mac Tune Up. The 10th title in the series, Tractor Mac Farm Days, is a board book developed for the littlest tractor fans and was released in the spring of 2012.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text Features: map, environmental print in the illustrations

Literary Tools: alliteration, quotation marks in dialog

Curriculum Connections: alphabetic awareness; character counts: character, courage, making mistakes, confidence; school bus safety; farm animals; first day/beginning of school

Audience: 1st -3rd grade

This is one of 19 Tractor Mac books written by Billy Steers. That's a lot of tractor books! Betty the C Bus exhibits many of the fears and trepidations children face at the beginning of the school year. (Let's face it--some teachers, too!) With the help of her farm animal friends, Betty develops some strategies to help her make it through the next day. Strategies including practicing, making up pneumonic devices, and positive self-talking all improve Betty's mood and performance.
The story delivery is a bit didactic, but it delves into a topic to which many students will connect.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tractor Mac: School Day by Billy Steers. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux Books, 2018. $18. 9780374306359.

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL(K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: Pre-K, EL(K-3) - AVERAGE

Betty the Bus has a rough first day of school--she gets lost, doesn't know how to use her signals, and even lines up in the wrong spot for pickup. When she threatens to quit, Tractor Mac and the friends on the farm share some tips to help Betty figure things out. With their encouragement and some practice, Betty learns from her mistakes and has a much better second day at school. The kids love her and she has no more reason to think of quitting!

I really enjoy the Tractor Mac series, but this one fell a little flat for me. At its heart this is a story about learning from our mistakes and "try, try again," but I got a little lost on the way to that message. In order to really get the story across to kids, I think a reader needs to help teach the story along the way and that seems like it should be unnecessary in a long-running series like this. The characters are still great and I love the illustrations, but this one does not land in my favorites for Tractor Mac.

Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't a very good day for Betty, a school bus. Not only does she make a lot of mistakes, but she even gets lost and is treated dismissively by the other buses. She isn't even sure she wants to go back tomorrow, but Tractor Mac and her other farm friends offer her advice to make things go a lot more smoothly on the second day. I'm not sure how a tractor and animals would know much about bus routes and procedures, but the advice to practice and give things a second try is sound and will encourage youngsters not to give up when things seem to get too hard. As usual with this series, readers will be charmed by Tractor Mac and the illustrations of farm life in the picture book.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tractor Mac books are favorites in our family. This story focuses more on Mac’s friend, Betty the School Bus. Betty’s first day of school was not so good-shes not sure she will ever go back! With some help from Tractor Mac and the farm animals, Betty is confident and ready for her second day of school and beyond. I like that this book addresses that things CAN go wrong on your first day of school, and that needing to learn how to do school things is ok. Most school stories for this age group focus on everything going well once you’re at school, so this is a good way to change it up for kids who might not have experienced the perfect first day.

[Sarah T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... I wasn't able to get past the illustrations to give this more than 3 stars. It's just not the kind of style that appeals to me. Kudos to the messages the book provides. I like that it shows a map and explains how that works. I also loved how it talked about courage and character though. I'm sure kids who love books about vehicles would love this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have yet to be disappointed by a single Tractor Mac book, I am seriously so happy we discovered this series. This has some great messages about first day of school, riding the bus, having nerves, not wanting to do something again after making mistakes, encouragement, courage, and bravery all in a kids picture book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betty the Bus is not having a great start to the school year! She can't remember the route and she's worried she doesn't make a very good bus - maybe she should be a camper instead? Her friends help her out by giving her helpful ways to remember her route and find a little courage.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betty the bus had a tough first day of school on her route. Tractor Mac and the others on the farm help her build confidence in her abilities and encourage her character as she works hard to learn from her mistakes.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty the school bus cried after her first day on the job. "What a horrible day this has been," she cried to Tractor Mac. "If we make mistakes, it's proof that we're trying," said Tractor Mac. Betty the school bus listened to Tractor Mac, took his advice and went on to have a good school year.

[Peace_Love_Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sons really enjoyed this book . They really want to read more in this tractor series .

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the storyline of perseverance, but I thought the storyline was a bit muddled.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

support from friends and practice will help you succeed

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great use of alliteration!

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growth Mindset, School Bus Edition.

[Richard Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Tractor Mac books.

[Nancy Messina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked that this book was a little bigger than the others. It made reading it on the car easier. Warren also loved the pages with the buses. He got to practice counting and doing his abcs.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am finally getting around to reviewing this after probably my 10th read of it. The three year old I watch absolutely adores Tractor Mac, so I keep rotating through what the library has available. As usual, these stories combine detailed and engaging illustrations with a good story and lesson. This story teaches 1) failure is not the end and you can always try again to improve, 2) reaching out to your support system when you're upset and need help is an excellent thing to do, 3) when someone reaches out for help it's important to listen to them and support them, 4) several ways to cope with anxiety and overwhelming situations (that even I found useful as an adult). This might be my personal favorite out of the series because I think it packs so many good lessons into it without being preachy or taking you out of the story.