Little Blue Truck and Racer Red

by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry (Illustrator)

Overview

The #1 bestselling Little Blue Truck meets a zippy red race car with a need for speed.

Little Blue Truck and good friend Toad are out for a drive when a flash of red whizzes by—then whizzes back to stop and say hi. Sleek and low, Racer Red is made for speed and loves to go fast! When she challenges Blue to a race, Blue knows that win or lose, it’s fun to try! Beep! Beep! Zooooom!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063387843
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/25/2025
Series:	Little Blue Truck Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alice Schertle is a poet and author of many well-loved books for children, including the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling Little Blue Truck series, Very Hairy Bear, Button Up!, and All You Need for a Snowman. 

Jill McElmurry was the illustrator of many picture books, including her own Mad About Plaid, When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt and the best-selling Little Blue Truck series, written by Alice Schertle. She happily divided her time between the wide landscape of New Mexico and a green island in Minnesota. Jill passed away in August 2017.

Editorial Reviews

Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense...A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-01-18
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.

Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.(Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews