Go, Little Green Truck!

This reassuring story takes on a familiar picture-book theme: a faithful farm vehicle (or animal) replaced by a younger, stronger worker. In introducing Little Green, Schotter (All About Grandmas) explains how the apple-green pickup truck, which looks like a 1940s Chevy, eagerly helps out Farmer Gray: “His rear end loaded with bundles, bales, and bins—sputter-sput-sput—Little Green was ready. Ready to rumble down the road.” But his cheery headlight eyes turn downcast after a shiny newcomer, Big Blue, arrives, and Little Green is literally put out to pasture. Rather than besting or rescuing the new truck, Little Green gets a makeover—one that makes him green in more ways than one, thanks to an engine fueled with corn and soy oil—and a new job carrying his family and their homegrown goods to the farmers’ market. Schotter’s narration and Kuo’s (Daisy and Josephine) flattened illustrations are similarly understated, lightly introducing ideas like buying local, being environmentally conscious, and finding creative ways to recycle what one already has. Ages 4–6. [em]Author’s agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (Feb.) [/em]