Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck [Paperback]

Lisa Wheeler (Author), Ivan Bates (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Farmer Dale is hauling a load of hay into town when he meets some bossy barnyard animals looking for a lift. The kindly farmer lets them all squeeze in, but then his trusty truck breaks down. Everyone will have to pull together to get that old red rig moooooving again.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–Rhyming text and large watercolor-and-pencil-crayon illustrations tell the story of Farmer Dale, his old red truck, and animals on their way to a talent show in town. An accommodating dog, the farmer stops to give everyone a lift, no matter the creature's disposition or size. First he meets a bossy cow who demands that he "Mooove over!" Next to join them is a singing sheep, and then a skating pig and an accordion-playing goat. At last the load proves too much for the old pickup. The commotion over what to do is settled when Bossy Cow jumps behind the wheel and Farmer Dale pushes the overloaded vehicle. Eventually everyone helps, and the bovine admits that Farmer Dale should steer. Once again the loaded truck rumbles on down to town. With quick brush-and-pencil strokes, the illustrations portray the not-always-flattering human characteristics of the animals, painting additional humor into the story. Particularly revealing is the spread showing the arguing animals crowding next to the thoughtful Farmer Dale. This book will entertain children both at storytimes and one-on-one. –Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. The cozy "always room for one more" theme never seems to get old, and Wheeler's jolly, rhythmic text sets a fine pace for the story of Farmer Dale's truck that takes a cow, sheep, pig, and goat on board before it breaks down: "Farmer Dale's red pickup truck / stood stranded in the road. / 'It seems you have a problem,' / a cocky rooster crowed." Indeed. Fortunately, all the animals pitch in and get the truck moving again: "The pickup bounced and shimmied. / It groaned and squeaked and wheezed. / It spit a thankful cloud of smoke / and started with a sneeze." Farmer Dale eventually makes it into town with his load of hay--and the talent contest banner on the last page explains what all the town-bound farm animals were doing with accordions, skates, and the like. Bates' expressive, action-packed watercolor illustrations of the overloaded rig recall those of the popular Sheep in a Jeep series, and youngsters may be equally captivated by this familiar, cheerful ride. Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152059121
• ISBN-13: 978-0152059125
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

LISA WHEELER is the author of several award-winning picture books, including Sixteen Cows, One Dark Night, and Mammoths On the Move, which recently received a Parent's Choice Recommended Award. She lives near Detroit, Michigan. www.lisawheelerbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read for children as things get progressively funnier, October 10, 2004

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck (Hardcover)

Farmer Dale is heading for town in his red pickup truck full of hay. Along the way he meets various animals that need a ride and he is more than happy to help. But what happens when the truck is full and more animals need a ride? And what happens when the old truck is not able to carry any more animals without breaking down? A fun read with each animal having their own unique personality, Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck is recommended for children ages three through seven.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What could be more fun than rhyming and teamwork?, November 15, 2005

By 

Roaine Fine (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck (Hardcover)

This fun to read book chronicles a day in the life of Farmer Dale, and several other animals in the town. When Farmer Dale begins his journey to the county fair, he stops first to pick up Bossy Cow, who is in need of a ride. As the book continues, more and more characters with their own savvy traits are introduced. They all need rides to the fair and Farmer Dale is willing to help. There are just two problems: Will all of these animals fit into Farmer Dale's red pickup truck? Will the truck be able to last the whole ride to the county fair? Read this exciting book to find out! Filled with rhymes, repetition, and a moral at the end, it is a great read for Pre-K through 2nd graders.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good!, February 26, 2006

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck (Hardcover)

I had a feeling I might like this book even before the story began. The title page shows a big dog asleep in a fireplace-heated easy chair, books spread about the room, and his spectacles (it's old-fashioned that way) perched on his nose. It turns out that the dog is the titular "Farmer Dale," and he deserves the rest after the day he had! Driving his shiny truck, he picks up one idiosyncratic animal after another, from the bossy cow (who repeatedly says "Mooove over!") to the accordian-playing (!) goat, to the rooster who annoyingly tells him the obvious after his rolling barnyard steams and shakes to a stop:

"It seems you have a problem,"
a cocky rooster crowed.
"We do," admitted Farmer Date,
"The problem is we're stuck.
The weight of all these animals
is too much for my truck."
Rooster eyed the animals.
"You're such a cozy group.
I hate to cluck like Mother Hen,
but who will fly the coop?"

WIth all apologies to non-clucking hens, Rooster has pretty much properly assessed the problem--except it gets worse. The crowded animals (in a delightful close-up) are, quite frankly, a bunch of cranky, whiny animals, and good-natured Farmer Dale tries to get them to "settle down." In a fairly wacky and pun-filled cow-llaboration (sorry), the animals get them wheels a-rolling again, and the surprise conclusion explains why a goat was holding an accordian!

The illustrations have the same kind of abandon as the story, and yet the wild animation-like scenes share the spotlight with startlingly beautiful depictions of the rural countryside. Ivan Bates' watercolor and pencil crayon pictures have an old-fashioned classic look, with hints of Beatrix Potter, sketchy movie storyboards, and a little N.C.Wyeth and Norman Rockwell. It's an uncommonly imaginative mix of pictorial styles, and it compliments the menagerie that Farmer Dale collects in his truck. The rhymes are funny and unforced, and the story moves both logically and wildly along. Filled with action, emotion, barnyard humor, expressive pictues, and a clever surprise, this winning book is a little slice of Americana. Highly recommended!