Hot Rod Hamster [Hardcover]

Cynthia Lord (Author), Derek Anderson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2010 | Age Range: 3 - 5 years | Lexile Measure: 500L (What's this?)

From Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord and NYT bestselling illustrator Derek Anderson comes an INTERACTIVE read-aloud picture book for the very young-featuring an extremely lovable and adorable hams

Old car, new car, shiny painted blue car
Rust car, clean car, itty-bitty green car.
WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Newbery Honor-author Cynthia Lord and New York Times bestselling illustrator Derek Anderson put the pedal to the metal in this endearing, rhythmic, rip-roaring race to the finish line where a hamster creates a sizzling hot rod with a little help from his new furry friends and YOU!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—Kids will be in the driver's seat, bonding with the hot-rod hamster as he sallies forth into a bulldog's junkyard to put together his very own race car. It's a dog's race, though, and children will sympathize with the small creature's struggle to compete with bigger, gruffer opponents and cheer him on to the finish line. Close-ups of the mud-streaked track in the bold-stroked, textured acrylics allow readers to see the competition at eye-level with the hamster (and axis-level with the other contenders). But the action builds up even before the engines start, and young readers will love helping the irrepressible hamster build his dream car. Their hands will dart up immediately when they hear the refrain, "Which one would you choose?" illustrated with comic-style illustrations of the myriad choices of cars, tires, parts, and flames, and they'll become hot-rod designers along with Hamster. If Bob Kolar's Racer Dogs (Dutton) or Brian Floca's The Racecar Alphabet (S & S, both 2003) are worn, torn, and vroom-vroomed in your library, add this one to the lot.—Sara Paulson-Yarovoy, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Junior racing fans will get a vicarious thrill with this story of a tiny driver who dares to burn rubber with the big boys. The story has two halves: the construction of the hot rod and the big race. The hamster—a tiny orange puffball usually found levitating with glee and shouting stuff like “Now I’m ready to ROLL!”—begins at the local scrap heap, where a junkyard dog (and his staff of rats) assists in constructing the perfect racer. The rhyming scheme is consistent: “Old car, new car, shiny painted blue car; / Rust car, clean car, itty-bitty green car.” Then the text involves the reader: “Which would you choose?” Usually the right answer can be sussed out; for example, that green car is just the size for a three-inch-tall driver. Once wheeled and oiled (and flame-painted, too), it’s off to the track, where the racing rodent wins and then has to make the toughest choice of all: which trophy to take. Anderson’s acrylics are boisterously large, colorful, and off-kilter—just like his swaggering protagonist. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Daniel Kraus

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 5 years
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (February 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545035309
• ISBN-13: 978-0545035309
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Children's book writer, seaglass collector, daydreamer, and the mother of two teenagers.

You can find discussion guides for my books, interviews, links, goofy childhood photos, and more at my website:

www.cynthialord.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Really fun book July 9, 2010

By vduersch

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

We first checked this book out from the library, and my boys (ages 2 and 3) couldn't get enough. After renewing the book from the library several times it was clear we should just buy it. I can see them enjoying this book for years.

The words are catchy and engaging ("Great day, grin day, build a car to win day") and the story is uniquely entertaining (A hot rod for a hamster? Who would think it would be so fun?). My boys like to say the words along with me and the race at the end is always greatly anticipated. They also like the "What would you choose?" parts where they can pick what they would want for a hot rod. I don't buy kids books unless I love them (or my kids do and I can tell it's a good book), and this one's a keeper.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious April 13, 2010

By Kirsten G. Cutler

Format:Hardcover

This picture book is a lot of fun to share with children. The text begins, "Great day, grin day, build a car to wind day, /Cheer day, Chase day, gonna have a race day!" Word balloons jazz the story up, Hot Rod Hamster says, "I need a hot rod!" Bull Dog says, "A hot rod for a hamster? You'll need something very small." "And FAST!" replies the hamster. This amusing picture book is about a rambunctious hamster that needs a "hot rod" so he can participate in a car race. A Bull Dog owns the local wrecking yard, and puts together a perfect little car for the hamster, "Old car, new car, shiny painted blue car, Rust car, clean car, itty-bitty green car. Which would you choose?" Word balloons add comments by other dogs: one snotty racer, a Dalmatian dog asks Hamster, "Is your car a toy?" Another racer says, "You're awfully small." A scowling, determined Hamster responds, "G R R R. I'm built for speed!" Wonderful acrylic illustrations provide humor, and the cartoon characters are large-sized, perfect for viewing in a story time. One hilarious illustration shows the Bull Dog when he upends himself in a box of old toys, and finds a helmet for Hot Rod Hamster to wear.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute story, engaging June 14, 2010

By K. Hawes

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a cute story that my 6 year old grandson loves. He loves anything about racing. It's a great short story, perfect for one quick one before bed and he enjoyed the rhyming format and questioning about "which would you choose"?