The world's most beloved emergency vehicleand the child who loves it. When Chuck's mom buys the toy fire engine at a garage sale, the child is elated. The narration exults, "What luck! A fire truck and for only one buck." Truck and Chuck are inseparable after that, playing in the dirt, and mud, and the "muck." Chuck's mom gives the toy a quick bath without her child's knowledge, leading the tot to indulge in some mild paranoia (a vacuum cleaner begins to look like a likely suspect in the disappearance) until the truck is returned and all is well and right with the world. Hand-drawn ink lines and Photoshopped colors give Chuck and mom (both light-skinned) a cartoonish vibe. Yet although the art may seem simple, there's a running gag involving the mom's new lamp with its fishy shade and the local felines that see it as a tasty treat. The book's low word count and simple language are sure to earn it accolades from parents and kids searching for fun, easy books. Extra points should also be awarded for including such uncommon rhymes to "fire truck" as "mukluk," "woodchuck," and "dumbstruck."Certain to be a favorite among those young readers who've got a hankering for something red and shiny. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1-Chuck and his mother visit a yard sale and to the preschooler's delight, there is a fire truck for sale for a buck. Chuck and his new toy quickly become inseparable and even talk to each other in their language of "Wee-ou-wee-ou-wee ou." After a muddy adventure, Chuck's mom takes the vehicle into another room for a cleaning and Chuck thinks it is time to play hide-and-seek. Chuck frantically searches the house and worries that it may have been "sucked up" by the vacuum. His mother saves the day by returning a clean fire truck to Chuck just in time for bed. Rhyming text that repeats words with a "-uck" ending are a constant throughout, creating a nice flow to the text. This a good choice for beginning readers who will appreciate the repetition and recognize some of the sight words. The cartoon illustrations are colorful and vibrant and allow viewers to experience Chuck's varying emotions. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase for picture book collections, storytime favorites, and beginning readers.-Kristen -Todd-Wurm, Middle -Country Public Library, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Young Chuck finds a toy fire truck at a yard sale and gleefully takes it home. When the truck goes missing, "Chuck is dumbstruck," but he gets it back in time for it to sleep beside him that night. Simple cartoon illustrations enhance the everyday drama of the brief text, which playfully uses words rhyming with truck. Toy-truck fans (and others) will enjoy this one. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.