Title: Want to Play Trucks?
Author: Ann Stott
Illustrator: Bob Graham
Publisher: Walker books
Genre: Children’s picture book
Book Format: Paperback
Sweet Strawberries: 
Description: Jack likes trucks – BIG ones. Alex likes dolls – pink ones, with sparkles! Just what will they play together?
*Free copy provided by publisher for review…
Review: I really like this book. ‘Want to Play Trucks?’ is a bit smaller than A4ish in size and is a paperback filled with thick glossy pages of some lovely colourful illustrations and some text. Jack likes trucks but Alex likes dolls, can the two boys find a way to play together while both enjoying trucks and dolls?
The story is simple but good and I like what happens as the two boys share with each other their interests. Jack spends time showing Alex how he likes trucks and likes to play with lots of different toy vehicles. While Alex shows off his doll with the sparkly pink dress. The boys find a way to compromise though, even after a bit of a argument and it ends nicely with both boys enjoying playing together and then enjoying an extra treat. The story is very effective in showing how it’s okay for kids to be different, to like different things and how there’s always a way to enjoy everyone’s interests.
The illustrations are very fun and interesting with more happening than you initially see. The pictures of the boys playing their toys while at the park all have things happening in the background. The boys mothers are constantly chatting and as you turn every page you see more happening with the conversation. As well as this there are lots of people who walk past the kids playground, some of these people appear in more than one image and shows you the progression of what’s happening to them. I really like all this extra level of detail in the illustrations and even the front and back covers are part of one image when you open up the book and look at them!
The story may be simple but I really enjoyed this and the images make it all the more enjoyable. I’m sure lots of kids will enjoy looking at the pictures and it’s a great message showing that kids can like different things and get along well.
Do you like this book? What toys did you like to play with when you were a child? Let me know what you think in the comments below 🙂
I really like the look of this one, there are so many great picture books around. I like how this one normalises boys playing with toys that are traditionally seen as ‘for girls’.
PS. How do you books for review from Walker? Just wondering 🙂
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It’s good to have books that break down those gender stereotypes 🙂
I don’t mind you asking 🙂 I became a top reviewer on Amazon UK a couple of years ago and Walker sent me an email asking me to review. I primarily review for them on Amazon but decided to share my reviews on my blog too 🙂 Not sure how to get books from them as a blogger though sorry.
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Oh right, well done and that’s really nice of them! I was only asking because they’re one of my favourite publishers but I don’t think they’re on Netgalley. I look forward to seeing more of your reviews 🙂
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Thank you 😊😊😊. No they aren’t on NetGalley but they do have YA blogger call outs twice a year on twitter…no idea what you need to qualify though as I’ve never succeeded in the past when I’ve tried 😂😋
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