Car Goes Far

by Michael Garland

Overview

Splash! Splash! Car gets wet and soapy as he goes through the car wash. He's had a big adventure today. His shiny paint got dirtier and dirtier as he drove all over town—first with mud from a construction site, then from exhaust, and finally from a flock of birds. At the end of his big day, a bath is just what this little car needs. Michael Garland's bright and bold art features lots of different vehicles, from diggers to big trucks, making this book just right for young car enthusiasts learning how to read. An I Like to Read® picture book. Guided Reading Level D.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823430581
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	01/19/2014
Series:	I Like to Read Series
Pages:	24
Sales rank:	555,647
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	110L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Michael Garland has written and illustrated many books for children, including several bestsellers.  His titles include Fish Had a Wish, cited as one of the Top 25 Children's Books of the Year by Kirkus Reviews; Tugboat; and the I Like to Read® books Car Goes Far, Lost Dog, and Pizza Mouse. His work is frequently featured in the Society of Illustrators art show, and has won many honors.

Editorial Reviews

"Word repetition and ultra-simple plotting paired with the bold and bright digital illustrations will interest young vehicle aficionados."—The Horn Book
 
"Garland's little red car invites children along for a ride to reading success. . . . An inviting, accessible title for new readers."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"A perfect choice for toddler story hours or beginning readers."—Booklist
 
"No need to putter along here; this entry in the series features a straightforward plot for those just beginning to read."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

"A perfect choice for toddler story hours or beginning readers."

Booklist

K-Gr 2—What begins as a trip to a burger joint turns into disaster for a shiny red car. In a series of misadventures, it deals with dirt flung on it from a construction zone, smoke from a truck, and a flock of pigeons causing havoc with its beautiful exterior. The car's animated expression conveys sheer horror at its messy appearance until it makes a welcome trip to the car wash. There are only a few words to reinforce the action on each page; spreads created through digital media maintain focus on the vehicle at all times. Both lively facial features and succinct word choices clearly capture its perspective. "Car gets wet./Splash, splash./Car gets suds./Car gets a rub./Mmmmmmm." The spare text relies on repetition in the brief narrative. No need to putter along here; this entry in the series features a straightforward plot for those just beginning to read.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

School Library Journal

Garland's little red car invites children along for a ride to reading success. Opening endpapers show an aerial view of a Levittown-like setting with a single driveway occupied by a car. The title page zooms in on this home, with the car facing the reader, its headlights like eyes and its fender a subtle smile. That expression is amplified in the closer view on the first page of the book proper, with the simple text "Car looks good." But when the car ventures out to "go far," it ends up becoming quite a mess after mud, smoke, and birds sully its shiny, red body. "Car does not look good now," reads the controlled text. "Car is sad." Happily, Car is also resourceful and heads off to a carwash. Simple lines--"Car gets wet. Splash, splash. / Car gets suds. // Car gets a rub. Mmmmmmm"--see it getting clean again. Closing endpapers picture the car driving back through the suburban neighborhood again, its bright yellow headlights echoing the lights in the houses. Digital illustrations may make some children think of Pixar's Cars films, particularly in scenes where Car's facial expressions are strongest and most humorous--as when the birds make their mess. An inviting, accessible title for new readers. (Early reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews