Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
As Little Blue Truck drives to a Halloween party, readers can lift flaps to find out who is hiding beneath the costumed figures he encounters: "Who's this queen/ with a golden crown/ and sparkling jewels/ and a velvet gown?/ Under the mask who do you see? 'Moo!' says the cow./ 'It's me! It's me!' " McElmurry's richly rendered scenes and the animals' elegant costumes conjure up a sense of nostalgia that befits Little Blue Truck's own vintage looks. And after delivering all of the animals to the party, Little Blue Truck gets a chance to dress up himself, using a large white sheet to turn into a ghost. Up to age 3. © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
Little Blue Truck (Little Blue Truck, rev. 5/08; Little Blue Truck Leads the Way) and his toad friend are going to a Halloween party. Rumbling cheerily down the road, they stop along the way to pick up their other pals, all animals in costume. Schertles bouncy rhymes set up each encounter: Whos this clown / with a big red nose / and a cap that jingles / wherever he goes? Lift-the-flaps on facing pages give the answers: Under the mask / who do you see? / Baaa!/ says the sheep. / Its me! Its me! And at the party, theres one more costumed friend to identify. McElmurrys folksy, detailed illustrations provide some foreshadowing for the big, Little Blue Truckcentered reveal. elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: Beep! Beep! Beep! / says Little Blue. / Its Halloween! / You come, too. As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. Whos that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see? Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: Quack! says the duck. / Its me! Its me! The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cows a queen, the pigs a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o-lanterns, and punch and treats. Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mysteryand fearout of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
