My Race Car [Hardcover]

Michael Rex (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

From the author/illustrator of the very popular My Fire Engine, a picture book about race car driving that is simple, accessible, and suspense-filled.

"Today is the day of the big race. The pit crew is ready. The driver is suited up and strapped in. The engine is loud, and the spectators are all waiting for the race to begin. The cars are on the starting line, and when the green flag waves they're off!"

In this very young, action-packed picture book, a little boy imagines that he is a race car driver-with all the thrills, spills, and excitement that go along with the job. Loaded with accurate details, this is a playful look at a sport that fascinates kids of all ages.

Like My Fire Engine, My Race Car's bold, graphic art brings this funny, informative story to life. It's a book that puts the reader right in the driver's seat.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rex (The Painting Gorilla) takes readers both behind the scenes and behind the wheel for an exhilarating stock car race. On the dedication page, he shows a boy caught up in the pretend world of his toy race cars and track. From the starting line, when the hero dons his yellow-and-green fire-resistant suit and hops into his matching auto ("I have a race car. I drive it all the time"), to the triumphant finish line, heralded by the waving of the checkered flag and the slurping of a victory milkshake, Rex puts his visual and textual pedal to the metal. The prose is punchy, economic (no more than two lines per page) and liberally sprinkled with fun facts ("My car weighs more than 4,000 pounds. That's as much as ten gorillas!"). The pencil and digitally colored spreads and vignettes call to mind the bold graphics and palette of classic comic books, as well as the kind of dramatic perspectives that race fans might find on ESPN. Readers, start your engines! Ages 3-7. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 1-This bright, computer-colored picture book takes readers through a child's imaginary stock-car race. The narrator describes how his crew first makes sure the vehicle is running smoothly and then helps him get properly dressed in protective gear. Safety is the byword here, and even when a spectacular cartoon crash occurs, the opposing drivers cordially shake hands following their miraculous walk away. The child is victorious and is shown in the center of his toy racecourse enjoying a "ceremonial first-place milk shake." There's nothing unusual in this fantasy featuring round-eyed Fisher Price-like characters, and youngsters capable of watching hours of these screaming, speeding machines going round and round on TV probably won't learn anything new. A colorful but commonplace day at the races.
John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805061010
• ISBN-13: 978-0805061017
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,056,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Motor Sports

More About the Author

Illustrator Michael Rex is the author and illustrator of many books for children. He lives in the Bronx, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rex Scores Again!, March 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: My Race Car (Hardcover)

My Race Car, the second in a series which started with My Fire Engine, is another hit by Michael Rex. The books in this series portray a young boy who, while playing with his toys, pretends he is a race care driver. For anyone that ever played pretend with their toys it brings back memories. For the child you will read this book to, it inspires them to dream a little dream. This book as well as My Fire Engine are must buys.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside a Boy's Mind, March 10, 2003

By 

T. Smith (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Race Car (Hardcover)

Michael has done a terrific job of telling his story from the mind of a small boy. My three boys LOVE this story--and from a mom's perspective, it captures so wonderfully the way little boys play, think, and imagine. The illustrations are fresh and vibrant, the story itself simple and straightforward. All in all, a great children's book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, January 4, 2007

By 

R. Wilson (Nuevo, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Race Car (Hardcover)

My 5 year old son enjoys this book and has me read it over and over. It's a great book for any little boy who loves race cars.