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Summary
Summary
When Charlie turns a cardboard box into a car, he can't wait for Mama to be his first passenger--and she is happy to go along. He adjusts the mirror, checks to make sure there is enough gas, and reminds Mama to buckle up. Then off they go--rev rev vroom--on their adventure. There are places to visit and obstacles to avoid and even a traffic jam. When they are done, Mama is exhausted, but Charlie can't wait to take her on another trip. Rev rev vroom!
Author Notes
Cari Best has written many acclaimed books for children, including most recently My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay. She lives in Weston, Connecticut.Simone Shin has illustrated several books for children, including The Red Bicycle by Jude Isabella. She graduated from Boston University and Art Center College of Design. She lives in San Francisco, California.simoneshin.com
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Inviting Mama to take a spin in his cardboard box car ("the zippiest car in the whole world!"), young Charlie takes firm control of both the driver's seat and the role of narrator. As Charlie and Mama make stops around their house, mimicking familiar mom-and-kid errands (the library, the diner, the nail parlor), his exuberant running commentary reflects a wealth of observations gleaned as a backseat passenger and Mama's sidekick. "Back in the car we sing 'The Wheels on the Bus' because it's our favorite traveling song," writes Best (My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay). "But only you do the motions since both my hands have to be on the steering wheel." Shin's (The Red Bicycle) light-as-soufflé vignettes reveal that Mama is game for anything, even letting Charlie apply nail polish at the "Pretty Please" salon (aka the bathroom). Readers may wonder how the car survives a sprinkler shower and a scrub down without falling apart, but otherwise this is a wonderful tribute to an imagination in perpetual motion. Ages 4-6. Illustrator's agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Using a decked-out cardboard-box car, a young boy takes his mom on a "ride" through their house and yard that includes stops at "the library" (a bookcase), "Charlie's Diner" (the kitchen), etc. It's a (very) long ride, and the narrator doesn't sound childlike, but young readers will go for the winning concept, play-focused art, and onomatopoeic bursts ("REV REV VROOM"). (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
When a cardboard box becomes an imaginary car, Charlie takes Mama to see the town. Role-playing takes the front seat when Mama is Charlies first passenger. Buckle up, Mama! he says, and she obeys every word. With a wide smile, this little white boy with pink cheeks tours the house with his mother, both pretending it is the town. The bookshelf becomes the library, the closet becomes Daisys Dress Shop, and the kitchen table serves as Charlies Diner. The toddlers narration gives a precise script for each particular stop: I say I cant wait to see the new books. And you say, Im going to take home three! The softly colored illustrations show the gleeful mother-son pair exploring every inch of the house in the cardboard car. The comfortable home and its familiar furnishings are transformed by Charlies conversations into a setting for modest adventures that mimic adult behaviors. There are no dragons or hot lava, but rather more realistic role-playing, withnbsp;flat tires and parking spaces. The rarest plaything of all seems to be Mama, who selflessly acts all day in Charlies imaginary world to the point of exhaustion. Although Charlie seems to be calling all the shots, this is a positive nod to creative make-believe.(Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Charlie transforms a large cardboard box into his brand-new car and invites his mother to be the first passenger on a pretend trip. They travel to many spots around the house which serve as stand-ins for various destinations in the community. The bathroom becomes a nail salon where Mama gets her nails done. A book shelf becomes the library where they share a couple of stories and dance to music. A closet becomes a dress shop, the kitchen a restaurant for lunch (where Daddy joins them), the sandbox a construction site, and so forth. Towards the end, Mama and Charlie agree that they've had the best day ever. The straightforward text guides readers carefully through the circuitous route while capturing the delight the travelers experience along the way. Softly colored illustrations show both mother and son with broad smiles throughout the trip. This small, creative adventure will be just the right size for many would-be chauffeurs.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2016 Booklist