Thunder Trucks

In the capable, imaginative hands of Klein and Beebe, an ordinary evening thunderstorm is transformed into a boisterous collaboration of construction vehicles--"Thunder Trucks." As a child with a truck blanket settles in for bed, a group of charming trucks get to work on a storm just outside. Bulldozer pushes clouds into thunderheads and Crane stacks them up; Tanker creates the rain, and Dump Truck, "filled to the brink," brings plentiful hail. But it's Fire Truck that really steals the show, with hoses that "bubble and spray" and beacons that shoot lightning. In a grand finale, Big Rig arrives hauling thunder, which the vehicles cheerily divvy up and release with riotous, booming glee. Boldt renders the group as a smiling, bright, friendly bunch that laughs while rumbling through the night ("THUNDER TRUCKS LOUD! THUNDER TRUCKS STRONG! THUNDER TRUCKS THUNDERING ALL NIGHT LONG!"). Back matter discusses the science behind thunderstorms. Ages 3-5. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 1-Klein and Beebe present a clever explanation for thunderstorms in their truck-themed picture book. One evening, six thunder trucks begin to create a storm in the sky. Bulldozer and Crane move the clouds and the wind of the storm while Tanker Trunk and Fire Truck work together to make it rain. Dump Truck unloads hailstones from the sky and Fire Truck then creates lightning with his lights and sirens. Lastly, Big Rig arrives, rolling in thunder for the trucks to share, and the thunder trucks rumble loudly together. Once the storm is over, the trucks gather up the hail, rain, and clouds, and then disperse until next time. After the conclusion, an accurate explanation of storms is given, providing a bit of science for curious young readers. Children will enjoy the rollicking rhymes, unique premise, and expansive, bold illustrations of this entertaining picture book. Boldt's artwork is charming and appealing, including the bright, cartoonlike trucks, which are evenly split between male trucks and female vehicles. Because of its eye-catching, cheerful illustrations and upbeat, boisterous rhymes, this is also appropriate for group-sharing during a truck- or weather-themed storytime. VERDICT Sure to be a thunderous hit with truck and weather fans alike. Recommended.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY