The Runaway No-Wheeler

K-Gr 2–Tony the Truck is having a very bad delivery day. The normally reliable big rig encounters one disaster after another, from slipping on slime to narrowly avoiding a family of ducklings. With each misfortune, Tony loses a different number of wheels, prompting readers to try to keep track as they count backward from 18. Tony has a goofy, friendly face on his green cab and tows a bright red trailer. As he careens downhill, he passes castles, tunnels, suburban houses, and even a spaceship. The citizens of this wacky world have expressive faces and smooth silhouettes. Their skin tones range from light to dark, as well as Muppet-like shades of green, purple, and other colors. When Tony reaches the city, the skyline is dotted with humorous signs that adults reading along will get a kick out of. The text has an upbeat tempo and an impeccable sense of rhythm. Key words are illustrated in bright colors that pop off the page. One clever spread presents words in green, yellow, and red—like a traffic light—as the commands become more urgent. Tony slides into the delivery dock with nary an inch of rubber still attached to his axles. When he unloads his shipment, readers will chuckle.