Turbo's special delivery

PreS-K--Whether or not they have an interest in trucks and cars, children will adore the pleasant, eager main character, Turbo, the special delivery truck who excels at moving at full speed. In this short but sweet story, Turbo must deliver a particularly delicate item from the city to the country and learn to curb his speedy nature to slow down on the roads and enjoy the journey at any pace. The well-placed exaggerated stretches of letter sounds and deliberate use of onomatopoeia when Turbo traverses, bends, and dips in the road will make for entertaining read-aloud moments and help readers experience the truck's fastest and slowest movements. Going slow grants Turbo a fresh look at his surroundings, presented in spread-size views of crowded city streets against a blue sky and a peaceful, green countryside. Like all of the vehicles in this story, Turbo has a curvy mouth and round eyes as headlights that show off easy-to-read expressions. Open skies on the page and blocky elements offer breathing room to the one- or two-line text. With a red tractor and bright yellow trailer, Turbo remains the largest element on the page, so readers can always spot the truck; such a boxy shape invites readers to make predictions about what the delivery may be, as the special item is not revealed until the end. VERDICT A cheerful book that could be the perfect gift for young truck lovers or a fitting addition to a lesson about transportation, goods and services, or opposite word pairings, as Turbo learns the importance of moving at a slow, steady speed on the roads.--Rachel Mulligan

Can a fast truck slow down? One day, speedy Turbo is the only truck left in the lot, and brown-skinned Rosa, the supervisor, needs him for a special job: carrying fragile cargo. Before he leaves, Rosa reminds him he can't make any fancy moves on the road, like zigging, zagging, bouncing, or sliding. Turbo ZOOMS out…but then remembers to s-l-o-w down. During the journey, he takes it easy and can't believe other vehicles are actually passing him. But Turbo's unhurried pace turns out to be a good thing, for it allows a duck family to amble across the road. Another positive of leisureliness? For the first time, Turbo notices fresh country air and beautiful scenery. Finally, Turbo moves downhill toward his final destination--the park--with his very precious load still perfectly, deliciously intact. This cute story reassures kids that controlling impulses isn't as hard as it might seem--plus it offers noticeable benefits and immediate rewards. Readers will relate to cute Turbo, who's an expressive, vulnerable stand-in for little ones who often find it hard to slow down. All-capped onomatopoeic words, incorporated into the colorful, lively digital artwork, enliven the proceedings. Background human characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A reminder that when life's moving too fast, it's OK to step on the brakes and rein yourself in. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.