Jack Tractor: Five Stories from Smallbills Garage [Hardcover]

Willy Smax (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 1996 | Age Level: 3 and up

Benny the Breakdown Truck pulls Jack Tractor from the mud, frees Carmen Gear from beneath a load of logs, and pulls Roland Royce out of the snow after the stubborn car refuses antifreeze.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?The characters from Ludlow and Smax's Benny the Breakdown Truck (Crown, 1994) are back. In these five stories, Benny pulls Jack Tractor from a duck pond; earns the gratitude of the "lovely" Carmen Gear after an accident; rescues Roland Royce during a storm; saves a naughty blue motorcycle from a cement disaster; and finds a much-needed engine part for Francis Ford Popular. Engagingly written with enough action and humor to hold the attention of young listeners, the text is also filled with vocabulary that will appeal to young mechanics everywhere. The large print is balanced by colorful, expressive illustrations and set off by generous white borders that give the layout a crisp, cheerful appearance. The vehicles' personalities and emotions are visible in their facial features, which are whimsically incorporated into their front ends and headlights. This title can be read aloud or used as a simple chapter book for beginning readers. Libraries in which truck/automotive titles are in demand will want to park Jack Tractor on their shelves.?Maura Bresnahan, Topsfield Town Library, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-7. With a "retro" look reminiscent of the forties, this British import features human characters who are on speaking terms with talking vehicles such as Benny the Breakdown Truck, Alfie Romeo, Francis Ford Popular, and Morton, "the naughty blue motorcycle." Despite the title, Jack Tractor takes part in only one of the five adventures; it's Benny, the helpful, levelheaded tow truck from Benny the Breakdown Truck (1994), who comes to the rescue in each episode. The title page features labeled paintings of mechanic's tools, and the endpapers carry a map of the town and countryside around Smallbill's Garage. Large type makes the story accessible to young readers. Not every child (or parent) will take to the stories, but those who do will find something appealing in the old-fashioned look and innocent charm of the characters and the artwork. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 58 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (February 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517709112
• ISBN-13: 978-0517709115
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,115,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars teriffic book for kids who love vehicles, June 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Jack Tractor: Five Stories from Smallbills Garage (Hardcover)

Both my kids love this book--a 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy. The personalities of the vehicles are nicely done, and the tone isn't typical American pap. The only drawback is that all the main characters are male...The illustrations are modern and really well done without being too abstract.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Family Reading, December 20, 2001

By 

Danna Woodard (Trussville, Alabama United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jack Tractor: Five Stories from Smallbills Garage (Hardcover)

My family checks this book out from the library regularly. My children are 5 and 3 and they can't get enough of Jack Tractor, Benny the Breakdown truck and all the other wonderful characters. My husband and I enjoy the book as much as the children do. We all have our favorite story but we read them all several times a day. I would recommend this book to any parent with children who love cars and trucks or who just love a great story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great favorite, February 18, 2000

By 

Matthew (Oregon usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jack Tractor (Hardcover)

We have taken this book out from the library 17 times for our 4 year old he loves it. I am sadly disapointed to see it is no longer in print. A great book that can be read and reread by children and adults alike.