Small Walt and Mo the Tow

by Elizabeth Weiss Verdick, Marc Rosenthal (Illustrator)

Overview

“Rosenthal’s drawings feel like a contemporary take on [Virginia Lee] Burton’s spirit.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Children ages 3–7 will rejoice as in Marc Rosenthal’s retro illustrations the little plow surges into action, rays of purposeful energy shooting off his red chassis.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Delightful, retro artwork and clever text offer another tribute to teamwork and friendship...Three dynamic duos: Gus and Walt; Sue and Mo; Verdick and Rosenthal.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Small Walt befriends a tow truck when he comes across a car in need of help in this irresistible companion to Small Walt, which Kirkus Reviews called “charming and endearing” in a starred review.

We’re Gus and Walt
We plow and we salt
We clear the snow so the
Cars can go!

A bitter blizzard. A snowbound town. When a car skids off the road, Small Walt and Gus might not have what it takes to save the day on their own. But who does? Mo the Tow to the rescue!

When we need a tow,
We call on Mo...
We can depend
On our new friend!

Text filled with onomatopoeia and Walt’s affirming chants make this story about friendship and accepting help from others a real winner.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481466608
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	10/30/2018
Series:	Small Walt Series
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Elizabeth Weiss Verdick has written more than thirty books for audiences from toddlers to teens. She collaborated with Marc Rosenthal on Small Walt, which Kirkus Reviews called “reminiscent of Virginia Burton’s classics” in a starred review; and its sequel, Small Walt and Mo the Tow. She is also the author of Bike & Trike, illustrated by Brian Biggs; Not a Spot to Spot, illustrated by Zoe Waring; and Trusty Bus, illustrated by Jeff Harter. She is a graduate of the Hamline University MFA program and lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. Learn more at ElizabethVerdick.com.

Marc Rosenthal is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of many books for children, including the Small Walt collection by Elizabeth Verdick, All You Need Is Love by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal, We Love Fishing! and Mabel Wants a Friend by Ariel Bernstein, and Archie and the Pirates, which he wrote. He lives in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Learn more at Marc-Rosenthal.com.

Editorial Reviews

…a story about teamwork as well as pluck. Verdick and Rosenthal may not be clearing new ground with these lessons, but what they plow, they plow well. The characters are appealing, and the language is active and satisfying, with plenty of onomatopoeia. Good luck saying RUGGAROOOM BRUMMAHUM 10 times fast, but your audience will enjoy hearing you try…The lines and colors are direct, cheerful and effective. They look like the work of someone in a good mood, and it put me in a good mood to look at them.

The New York Times Book Review - Brian Floca

Snow is less a scenic backdrop than the principal antagonist in the cheerful, can-do pages of “Small Walt and Mo the Tow” by Elizabeth Verdick. In this sequel to 2017’s “Small Walt,” the doughty little snowplow Walt and his driver, Gus, watch with alarm as a green sedan skids off a snowy road into a deep ditch: “Fwump!” To Walt’s dismay, the rescue job is too big—“My plow is tough, / but it’s not enough”—so there’s relief all round when Mo the Tow and his driver, Sue, trundle into view. But what’s this? Mo’s tires are slipping in the snow? “Walt to the rescue!” Children ages 3-7 will rejoice as in Marc Rosenthal’s retro illustrations the little plow surges into action, rays of purposeful energy shooting off his red chassis.

November 11, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

Walt—a small but powerful, friendly-faced snowplow—continues to work with his driver, Gus. How can they help a green car that has gone off the road? Fans of Small Walt (2017) will not be disappointed. Along with a new, simple-but-satisfying plot, a few new characters, and new, whimsical motor noises, the text includes the winning refrain readers will recall from their earlier encounter with the team: "We're Gus and Walt. / We plow and we salt. / We clear the snow / so the cars can go!" This time, the pair is clearing a road "slick with ice" when they see a green car slide into a ditch. Walt is eager to scoop up the car, but Gus warns him to wait, as plows are for snow only. As Gus lends a hand to the green car's driver, Walt hears the "brumm-brumm-humma-hum" of Mo the Tow. Sue—a "lady in blue"—steers Mo toward the green car to tow it. Snow has been falling steadily, and the green car's owner sits in Gus' cab to stay warm. Before the story ends, Walt and Gus must rumble into action to help Mo and Sue drive close enough to rescue the car. Special kudos for the gender-stereotype-defying scenes of Sue confidently hitching and driving Mo. Delightful, retro artwork and clever text offer another tribute to teamwork and friendship. Gus is depicted with pale skin and Sue and the green car's driver with brown. Three dynamic duos: Gus and Walt; Sue and Mo; Verdick and Rosenthal. (Picture book. 3-6)

7/15/18 - Kirkus STARRED REVIEW

In this outing, Walt and Gus, making their rounds, see a car skid into a snow-filled ditch. Can they help? Despite his can-do spirit, Walk must now learn to deal with his limitations . . . Mo and Sue are the pair with the hardward and skills to perform this rescue—except it turns out they can't quite reach the stranded car; first they'll need some snow cleared. Are Walt and Gus up to it? No spoilers. Suffice to say all these characters have something useful they like to do and do well, and each has limits, too, making this a story about teamwork as well as pluck. . . . The characters are appealing, the and the language is active and satsifying, with plenty of onomatopoeia. . . . The flap copy tells us that "Small Walt" has been called "reminscent of Virginia Lee Burton's classics," and this book will be, too; the cover design practically dares you not to think of "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." Rosenthal's drawings feel like a contemporary take on Burton's spirit, though, rather than something derivative: Burton, after an espresso. The lines and colors are direct, cheerful and effective. They look like the work of someone in a good mood, and the put me in a good me to look at them.

November 11, 2018 - The New York Times Book Review

PreS-Gr 2–Small Walt is ready to plow. He might be smaller than the big yellow plows, but he is mighty tough and ready to go. There’s a blizzard and he’s out pushing drifts and scattering salt. Walt and his driver come across a little car that has slid right into a ditch! Walt’s driver gets out to help, and Mo the Tow shows up, too. Together with their drivers, Mo and Walt are able to pull and clear and the little green car home. This is the second entry about Walt, and it is a delightful addition to the many seasonal books that come out each winter. Particularly relevant to children who live in places where plow trucks and snowy weather are a regular occurrence. Rosenthal’s pencil illustrations give the book a classic touch. VERDICT A solid choice where snowy and winter picture books are relevant.–Shana Shea, Windsor Public Library, CT

October 2018 - School Library Journal (online)

★ 2018-06-25
Walt—a small but powerful, friendly-faced snowplow—continues to work with his driver, Gus. How can they help a green car that has gone off the road?Fans of Small Walt (2017) will not be disappointed. Along with a new, simple-but-satisfying plot, a few new characters, and new, whimsical motor noises, the text includes the winning refrain readers will recall from their earlier encounter with the team: "We're Gus and Walt. / We plow and we salt. / We clear the snow / so the cars can go!" This time, the pair is clearing a road "slick with ice" when they see a green car slide into a ditch. Walt is eager to scoop up the car, but Gus warns him to wait, as plows are for snow only. As Gus lends a hand to the green car's driver, Walt hears the "brumm-brumm-humma-hum" of Mo the Tow. Sue—a "lady in blue"—steers Mo toward the green car to tow it. Snow has been falling steadily, and the green car's owner sits in Gus' cab to stay warm. Before the story ends, Walt and Gus must rumble into action to help Mo and Sue drive close enough to rescue the car. Special kudos for the gender-stereotype-defying scenes of Sue confidently hitching and driving Mo. Delightful, retro artwork and clever text offer another tribute to teamwork and friendship. Gus is depicted with pale skin and Sue and the green car's driver with brown.Three dynamic duos: Gus and Walt; Sue and Mo; Verdick and Rosenthal. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews