Review by Horn Book Review
Toad drives the tow truck for Pop's Garage, his dad's car repair shop. Toad is so busy that he bolts out the front door before the title page, skipping the insect his father has fried for him for breakfast. Vehicular calamities abound. "Catie cat has a flat. Davey dog hit a log. Mayor Hop forgot to stop. Stanley Snout's engine fell out." The punchy text uses short sentences and consistent rhythm with periodic bursts of rhyme, giving this a read-aloud cadence and momentum. The digital illustrations are a blend of spare, subtle, and energetic. Characters and vehicles appear as spot images in textured, relatively subdued hues on white backdrops, creating a warm, calm contrast to the nonstop accidents and Toad's frenzied activity level. When the tow truck breaks down, Toad insists he can handle it himself, but when his efforts end in his kicking the car in frustration ("Wait, Toad -- that's not going to help!"), Toad realizes it's time to call Pop. "Everyone needs help sometimes." With its clear plot, welcome predictability, and straightforward language, this book will be a smash with the preschool crowd while also satisfying the needs of beginning readers. Adrienne L. PettinelliNovember/December 2024 p.62 (c) Copyright 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
Even helpers need help sometimes. Toad's job as a tow truck driver is so hectic that he doesn't have time to eat the breakfast his dad's prepared. "No time, Pop! Can't stop!" Toad calls, racing out the door. Toad gets caught in heavy traffic as other animals race to their destinations. When one of them breaks down, "that's where Toad comes in," giving the beleaguered driver and the car a lift and tow, respectively. "I'm happy to help!" he announces. Caring Dad's on the scene again, bringing Toad lunch. Toad's response? "No time, Pop! Can't stop!" As the day wears on, vehicular mishaps continue. Toad "answers the call" and "tows them all." Then--uh-oh--his own truck goes kaput! Worse yet, he can't fix it. What's a tow truck driver to do whenhe needs a tow truck driver? Who's Toad gonna call? Would you believe a great helper--Dad, a tow truck driver himself--comes to the rescue? Back at the family business's garage, Toad finally finds time to eat. This rollicking story "tows" kids along with its fast-paced humor; its message that everyone occasionally needs assistance will resonate. The clipped text, heightening the sense of on-the-go movement, is comprised of brief sentences and phrases that use basic phonemic elements, making this funny, sweet tale a fine choice for emergent readers. The comical digital illustrations, featuring an all-animal cast, incorporate onomatopoeic sound effects. Young readers will be pulled in by this humorous charmer.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
