Race car dreams

When day is done at the raceway, a tired, sweaty little race car yawns and rolls down the road to the Tickle and Wash, where suds rain down and brushes remove the grime. All clean, the hungry auto drives into the Guzzle and Gulp, where oil funnels down into his engine. Picking up a book about cheetahs, he settles down comfortably in a nearby field, reads for a bit, and falls asleep. Soon he is dreaming of another race, where he takes home first place. Rhymed couplets detail the car's activities, while sensory words bring the story to life. An illustrator with a background in design, Mottram creates a likable, animated protagonist whose moods are easy to read in his headlight eyes and wide, expressive mouth. The artwork creates a real sense of depth in its nicely composed, richly colored scenes. While the car wash is sure to be a hit with young children, it's the amiable character's comforting evening ritual that will help young race fans gear down and enjoy their own bedtimes.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist

PreS-Gr 1-After a busy day at the track, one little race car gets ready for bed. He visits the Tickle-and-Wash for a shower and shine, stops for a fill-up at the Guzzle-and-Gulp, and chooses a bedtime book from the Speedy Reads Library before curling up with his wrench for the night-inexplicably in the middle of a field rather than in a garage. As he drifts off to sleep, the little car dreams of winning his next big race. The story unfolds in rhythmic four-line stanzas and is composed with a calm, soothing tone that makes this perfect for reading aloud before bed. Largely bathed in a cool nighttime palette of greens, blues, and violets, Mottram's colorful cartoon illustrations bring charming expressions to anthropomorphized vehicles and tools. VERDICT This sweet bedtime offering is ideal for vehicle and auto-racing enthusiasts.-Lauren Strohecker, McKinley Elementary School, Abington School District, PA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.