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the daily stroll

May 17, 2007

Parent Review:
I have to admit, I must not have been paying attention when I read this with Ruby (age 2.5) for the first time. I just read along and thought it was cute and really didn't "get" the unique aspect of this book. My husband got it right away of course.
Who Is Driving?, first published in Belgium under the name Wie Rijdt?, helps your child figure out which one of the characters on the left hand side of the page is a best fit for the vehicle and scenario pictured on the right hand side. After a few times of reading through with Ruby she was hooked and now insists on reading it to herself and also quizzing us on "Who Is Driving?". It is amazing to me how she picked up on the little differences between the illustrated characters and was able to define the appropriate match. Maybe I underestimated her but it's very rewarding as a mom to watch your child embrace a wonderful book and also learn something from it.

Buy it at Amazon or your local bookstore.

From School Library Journal Starred Review. PreSchool-K
—This is a concept book with a difference: on every other spread, four animals dressed in various outfits parade across the verso toward a type of vehicle (fire engine, tractor, race car, etc.) on the right, and the text asks, "Who is driving?" The next spread reveals the answer as the correctly outfitted animal is shown taking off behind the wheel, accompanied by appropriate sound effects. Readers have to notice minute details of each animal's clothing in order to come up with the right answer. The vivid acrylic illustrations in primary colors have a three-dimensional look and will delight toddlers, although they might not be able to match all the drivers and their vehicles without a little help. The format is clear and simple with white pages as background for the animals, alternating with brightly colored pages for the full pictures. Children will love guessing who each driver will be as well as helping to make each vehicle's noise. A surefire winner for the youngest set.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

NOTE: the daily stroll book reviews are 100% editorial. we do not receive compensation from Amazon.com for referring buyers. please support your local bookstores and ask them to special order something if they don't carry it.

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