Truck Stop

"Yes! We are OPEN" proclaims this book's cover. Once inside, readers get a behind-the-scenes tour of a truck stop run by the young narrator's family. Work starts before sunrise, and the dark-hued illustrations, lit with headlight beams of passing trucks, bring the early hour to life. "Another good morning has come!" pipes the chipper narration as the child describes, in easy-to-read text, the truck stop's workings. It serves fresh-squeezed orange juice and hot breakfast, and there is a gas station as well. Steady traffic from the regulars includes a diverse cast of drivers and many different vehicles: an eighteen-wheeler, a milk tank, a moving van, a tow truck, and the boy's school bus. Some tension is introduced when one regular doesn't show up ("Where is Green Gus?"), but the narrator saves the day by being an observant, quick-thinking problem solver. Rockwell's straightforward, high-energy text keeps this tribute to trucks and truck stops appealing for even the youngest truck fans. Iwai's mixed-media collage art uses texture, bright colors, and a variety of perspectives to draw readers in. Endpapers show the many types of vehicles that visit the truck stop. julie roach