Whose Truck?
Young readers will enjoy reading this nonfiction book because it not only identifies the parts of various trucks, but also focuses on the individuals who operate them. The sturdy pages provide rhyming clues that describe six different trucks, including a fire truck, snowplow, ambulance, broadcasting truck, utility truck, and crane. After exploring the different components of each vehicle, readers can lift the flap to see each truck in action. Line workers, highway maintenance workers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and more are busy on the job and will draw young readers in. On the final page, the authors reveal two children playing with toy trucks identical to those featured, encouraging creative play. Young readers may jump up after this book to take a toy truck for a spin…but don’t worry…they will be back to read this book again!
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Children are so observant, often noticing details that adults may not. When you are out in the community and see trucks at work, ask children if they notice any of the vehicle components identified in the book. Children may also look for these components on a toy truck that they see at home or at school. Another idea is to cut outlines of vehicles out of paper or cardstock. Add a paper "flap" to the front of the vehicle in the same shape. Children can color the front of the flap, and then lift the flap to add objects inside their vehicles. Adults can help children label the objects they draw.
When previewing this book before reading it with children, adults may want to open the flap of each page first. This will provide some clues as to how each labeled object on the front of each flap may be used by the vehicle operators. Children may ask questions about some of the truck components, such as the deluge gun on the fire truck or the telescopic boom on the crane. It is okay if some of these components are new to adult readers as well – children appreciate knowing that adults wonder about things, too, and it will be fun to investigate the answers together at the library, online, or by asking a community member.