All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors

by Davina Bell, Jenny Løvlie (Illustrator)

When Frankie McGee insists on borrowing yet another book about tractors, his mum crumbles. She begs him to read a book about something else – cars, planes, cranes, trains – anything! Frankie launches into all of the various, glorious factors that make up the love that he has for all tractors – but will he be able to bring his mum around?

With irresistible rhyming text by award-winning author Davina Bell and unforgettable illustrations by Jenny Lovlie, this story is sure to charm and amuse the whole family.

Genres: Picture Books, Transport, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Books About Books, 1st Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Davina Bell is a writer for young people of many ages, and a children’s book editor. Her award-winning and Notable picture books include All the Ways To Be Smart, All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors, Under the Love Umbrella, The Underwater Fancy-dress Parade, Oh Albert! and Hattie Helps Out. She is also the author of the Alice books in Penguin’s best-selling Our Australian Girl series, the Lemonade Jones series of Junior Fiction, and the Corner Park Clubhouse series (Middle Grade). Her debut young-adult novel will be published in June 2020.

Having been a Senior Editor at Penguin Books, she now works on the children’s list at Affirm Press in Melbourne. A lover of words and ideas in many forms, Davina regularly travels the country, speaking to children and adults about books and writing. The magic of picture books continues to enchant her.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just so much to love about Davina Bell’s picture books and her latest book is exceptional. We love the rhyme and language of this story - it is delightful to read aloud. It is a celebration of the quirkiness and single mindedness that often occurs with childhood obsessions. We all know that one child who is obsessed by dinosaurs, cars, Bluey, whales, fairies … and in this case tractors. Of course we love that it also highlights the wonderful place in the community that libraries occupy. Vibrant retro style illustrations and gorgeous endpapers make this book a very special addition to any collection.
Suitable for 3+

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are delightful! If your child loves tractors, you might check out the book simply because the illustrations are so charming and have so many different types of tractors (though I wasn't a fan of the tractor hauling a trailer with a caged giraffe in it -- sigh). I wasn't impressed with the story, though. The rhyme scheme is clunky. And, I get that the story is supposed to be humorous but it just didn't work for me. Yes, I admit there were times when my little ones were obsessed with all things with wheels that I got really tired of reading about the various parts of a tractor for the tenth time (!), but I tried to be nothing but supportive and knew my children would eventually outgrow that phase. The griping mother being so frustrated at her son for wanting to read about tractors, tractors, and nothing but tractors really got on my nerves. Your kid is at the library with you, eager to read a book -- can't you be happy with that!? (I think that's the ultimate message, but it just wasn't well done, IMO.) Also, didn't love that the boy disparaged trains in his case to make tractors sound awesome. Plenty of kids who like trains are going to read this book. Too bad, it could have been really cute but the tone just didn't work for me.

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t let the title deceive you. This book is actually about the beauty of libraries, importance of librarians, and the freedom to choose what we read ❤️

“What a surprise, I would never have guessed,” says Miss Squid, with a wink. “Well you know yourself best.”
When you want something different, just come and find me.
A kid who likes books is a nice thing to see.
“Right, Mom?” I say, as we check my book out.
“I like books-that’s what matters.
Not what they’re about.”

Also want to live in these illustrations.

[AD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love Davina Bell's books! This is a fun story about a boy, Frankie, who loves tractors, and his mum, who is sick of reading about tractors in the books that Frankie regularly borrows from the Library. Sometimes kids read the same things over and over and over again, and Frankie is one of them! The illustrations by Jenny Lovlie are wonderful, depicting mum in all sorts of frustrated poses that parents will definitely relate too. I love that this is a rhyming story, but sometimes felt like the rhythm was difficult to follow, but I am sure kids are going to love this book anyway!

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous book about so much more than a little boy who loves tractors...the importance of reading, libraries, parent - kid relationships and being interested in all kinds of things!
The illustrations are absolutely stunning and remind me of a children’s classic. I hope over time this beautiful book becomes one of those timeless classics for future generations.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just gorgeous.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traci the Librarian performed a personalized 5/5 story time just for me!

[Traci Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't review picture books on Goodreads, but this one brought me so much joy that I had to give it a review. This book is a delight!

[Annese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel seen! This is everyday on the clock in the children's department. (This week, its a kid who loves John Cena.) LET THE KID GET HIS TRACTOR BOOK, MOM!!!

[Rebecca Kurien · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your kid is into construction vehicles, cars, trucks etc. this book is for you! It's about a little boys love for tractors and how it overrides his love for all other vehicles. Beautifully illustrated too!

[Kirsty Lickfold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was such a lovely experience, it all rhymes well and flows nicely. The vocab is good and will extend the young nephew I was reading it to.
The images are also very nice, the illustrations really capture the text.

Thanks for reading my review

[Lara Girgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite good indeed

[holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

started as a funny anecdote relatable to my nephew, ended as that but also a very timely commentary on the importance of libraries and the freedom to read

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a debate in our house. I love this book, it was/is a favorite of our oldest. My husband *hates* it because of how petty and immature the mom is.

Artwork is amazing. Tractors are amazing. Kid is amazing. Mom poo poo’s the kid’s enthusiasm for tractors because she is bored by the constant barrage that comes with a kid’s passion for a subject.

Once he pointed it out, I can’t unsee it and so now I read it as her mostly being overly dramatic in a more fun and funny way and skip some things where she is straight up complaining.

Still a fun read in my opinion. :)

[Union County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever and laugh-out-loud picture book written by a modern day Dr. Seuss for anyone who loves tractors, cars, and trucks.

- Reviewed by Sam K.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frank loves tractors. When he and his mother visit the local library she is very dismayed to learn that the only book he wants to check out is the tractor book. Frank enjoys explaining to her why he loves tractors so much. In the end she relents and allows him to check the tractor book out. Again.

Parents will definitely relate to the plight of having to check out the same books over and over again.

Inconsistent rhyming patterns paired with the an extremely disappointing stereotypical librarian (0ld, glasses around the neck, gay hair piled high, sweater, pearls and the inevitable "shhhh") make this a disappointing addition to tractor lore. Not recommended.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't quite understand why the mother was so opposed to the boy's love of tractors. He persevered and checked out the book he wanted, but I can't understand why a parent would object so strongly to a child's favorite book. The list of reasons why he loves tractors is great, but it could have been presented in a way that didn't feature him having to convince his mother to let him check out his favorite library book about them.

[Amy Roebuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming book--wish we'd had it when my tractor-mad son was four years old!
My husband took a quick look at it and said, "Where are the author and illustrator from? These aren't North American tractors." Turns out he was correct--one is from Australia, one originally from Norway, now in Wales. No one but a gearhead would know that, though, and it is a charming depiction of a reading child and their librarian/advocate.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy goes to the library with his mom and he wants to check out a book about tractors. he lists all of the reasons that he loves tractors. His mom wants him to take out a book about a different kind of vehicle. art is done digitally

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, beautiful illustrations, clever and so on point! I had a great time reading this to my daughter and she did too.

[Shannon Wunderlich · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like. Mom exasperated why her son is choosing a tractor book again, and son arguing reasons why.

[Freddie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davina Bell can do no wrong. Honestly, I challenge you to prove me wrong on this. I was already obsessed with All the Ways to be Smart and Under the Love Umbrella, and All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors is equally brilliant.
There are multiple, wonderful layers to this one. As the title so helpfully suggests, it's a book about tractors and other transport. However this plot acts as a proverbial Trojan horse to subtlety draw the reader into a deeper message of literacy and the joy to be found in books and reading. My favourite of all genres: books about books! There's a message here for parents, too. It truly shouldn't matter if you don't share your children's literary interests or wish they would read something more 'high-brow'. Celebrate the fact that they are reading!
As always, Bell's rhyme flows flawlessly and it's a joy to read aloud. Jenny Lovlie's ebullient illustrations just light up each page. I especially love the multicoloured books in the background of all of the library scenes and the way she so perfectly captures the exasperation of Frankie's mother.

[J and E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this book with my daughter and I had to come on here and talk about it because it is just so beautiful. The illustrations are divine, but the story is the best bit because it is so relatable. My son was (and still is, many years later) absolutely and completely obsessed with dinosaurs and this made me laugh so much because this story is about that level of obsession that some kids reach when they are 3-5 years old, and whether it be tractors, trains or dinosaurs, it is all consuming. This is also a book about books and reading and it reinforces that message that it doesn't matter if your child wants to read that same, darn book about tractors (or dinosaurs) for the 800,000,000th time, as long as they are reading that's the thing that counts the most. I just loved every page of this book to bits and I'm going to buy a copy.

[Abby Johnson]

This darling book is not only a good book for young tractor lovers, but it's a reminder to parents that no matter what subject their child is fixated on right now, any child who wants a book is a good thing to see! In bouncy rhyming text, a young boy explains the many reasons that tractors are superior to any other topic his mom wants to turn him on to. She suggests books about trains, planes, trucks, racecars, and many other vehicles, but nothing but tractors will do.

I've come across a number of young tractor lovers in my day (especially here in Southern Indiana) and there are NOT a lot of books about tractors. So if you serve that population, snap this one up, but even if you don't, it's a fun book about a kid who refuses to compromise on his choice of library book (and a wonderful librarian who encourages him to get what he likes).

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the rhythms in this book are superb.

Davina Bell knows how to build in meters with three feet, dactyls, then mix them up with other metrical feat: All flowing beautifully in her poetic text for this book.

Dactyls are STRONG-weak-weak rhythms in poetry. Samples of dactyls in this tractor-friendly book are:

In the Title

ALL of the
FACTORS why...

Later, on Page 3

DOWN past the
SCHOOL and the
POOL and the...

MY EARS WERE SINGING WITH GLEE AS I READ

Maybe yours will do the same, Goodreaders.

And the story wasn't bad either. As for the ending? Superb.

You'll see, Goodreaders. And now you may hear, recognizing the many wonderful dactyls that jazz up this fine book.

YES! FIVE STARS.
Yes, FIVE STARS.
Big applause!

[Jared White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of feel this was written more for parents of children who love books about tractors than for the actual children. It ends with a nice reminder for those exasperated parents who read the same books/type of books over and over, little boy to his mother, "I like books - that's what matters. Not what they're about. And don't worry,' I add. 'I know this one by heart."

So just remember, sweet parents of budding book lovers, as you read the same book or about the same topic for the thousandth time, you are not only helping to create a book lover but also building a reader and repetition, as much as we sometimes dread it, is an essential part of that process.

[Andrea Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have at least one mom who used to come to storytime that I would love to hand this book to. Her child checked out every book about tractors that we had....multiple times. I love the way that the usual power dynamic is swapped here - mom is having the tantrum and the child is soothing. The illustrations are wonderful. Bright and cheery and the color scheme feels just retro enough. The text doesn't quite scan which could make a storytime reading a little difficult. I think tractor lovers will love all the descriptions of tractors and moms will definitely be able to see themselves here.

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What parent hasn't felt like the mom in this book. Frankie loves tractors and wants to only take books out from the library about them. Through charming illustrations and rhyming text, Frankie tells about all the marvelous things a tractor can do, while mom mentions all other kinds of methods of transportation. A wise librarian reminds us all that what really matters is that we like books, not what the books are about.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie is very excited because he is going to the library. Although there is much to choose from and his mother encourages him to try many different subjects, Frankie only wants to check out books about tractors -- again. Frankie loves tractors and knows a great deal about them. A rhyming picture book that has lots of tractor information with an affirming nod to the fact that libraries are the place to go to find books you will enjoy.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm torn here between being the person who is on record as hating rhyming picture books but also being the librarian and mom who has lived the life of both of the adults in this book. In the end, I decided to forgive it its sins (even though more than one rhyme here is...ouch) and simply embrace it for what it is...a hyper articulate kid explaining to his mom why she has to read him the same chapter book for the 98th time. Been there.