Smash! Crash! (Jon Scieszka's Trucktown) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), David Shannon (Illustrator), Loren Long (Illustrator), David Gordon (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Welcome to Jon Scieszka's Trucktown, a brand-new preschool/kindergarten series that will come in more shapes, sizes, and formats than you can shake a bumper at. It's a world where all the characters are trucks, all the stories are action driven, and boys and girls can imagine themselves in all their crazy, loud, funny, creative, excited, full-throttle glory! It's a world where we work at play, and we play at work... and no one's afraid to get dirty or be LOUD! And it all kicks off with Smash! Crash! best friends Jack and Dan are spending their day doing what they do best--smashing and crashing! All the while a strange shadow is following them around every corner... Who is this new addition to Trucktown? What does she want? Rhythmic, rollicking text will get kids' motors running and horns honking with each refrain! This is a book that begs to be read again and again!

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Meet the Trucktown Gang

Jack Truck Jack is a prankster action hero! He is active, rowdy, messy, loud and goofy. He is the fastest truck and the best-at-truck-sports truck. Jack's work is to play. And he plays, and plays, and plays, and plays.

Dump Truck Dan Dan is Jack Truck's best friend. He is one strong truck and loves to show off that strength, whether its pushing rocks, loading up dirt, or getting into trouble with Jack.

Payloader Pete Pete is Dan's brother, and he is loud, rough, tough and competitive! But he's also the most loyal friend a truck could have. As he puts it "I would take a punch in the grill for those guys."

Cement Mixer Melvin "I'm worried!" and "I don't want to" are two of Melvin's favorite phrases. He is a loveable worrier, which is good because he LOVES to worry.

Gabriella Garbage Truck Gabriella knows everyone and everything. She's a social butterfly and maybe bit of a know-it-all, but still a blast to have around. She can always talk about what's going on! And talk... and talk... and...

Monster Truck Max Max is everything you would expect a monster truck to be. Especially ACTIVE! He is oversized, jacked up, and nitro-boosted to the MAX! He's always getting his wild self into trouble and it's a good thing he's got good friends like Jack and Dan to help him along the way.

Grader Kat Sensitive, creative, and mature, Grader Kat is the most artistic truck around. Don't believe it? Check out her tire treads! Her creative ideas and experimental nature make her a great addition to any adventure.

Wrecker Rosie Rosie is big. Rosie is a wrecker. Rosie is a great big wrecker sweet and clumsy and who lives to bounce about wrecking things. But beneath all that noise and wreckage there is also a very big heart.

Tow Truck Ted Tow Truck Ted is smart--really smart. He knows more about truck mechanics, repair, history, and even truck mythology than anybody else. But watch out, he's also got a sly side and he's always got a plan.

Izzy Ice Cream Truck Izzy is an ice cream truck. He sells ice cream and only ice cream. And he says only one thing--"Do you want ice cream? Do you want ice cream? Do you want ice cream?"

Hook and Ladder Lucy and Pumper Pat These fire truck twins are responsible, do-gooder citizens. Practically always together, they love doing things the right way. Lucy thinks they are being responsible. Jack and Dan think they’re a little bossy.

Big Rig Big Rig is a bully. He's a tailgating, horn blasting, black exhaust spewing, license expired, outlaw. And those might be the nicest things you could say about him. The best thing to do with this guy is steer clear.

Rescue Rita Rita is Lucy and Pat's little sister. And the biggest tag-a-long... She just wants to join in on all.

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About the Author

Jon Scieszka is the creator of Trucktown and the author of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, the Time Warp Trio series, Caldecott Honor Book The Stinky Cheese Man, and many other books that inspire kids to want to read. He has worked as an elementary school teacher and is the founder of a literacy initiative for boys (www.guysread.com).

David Shannon has written and illustrated numerous award winning picture books including Duck on a Bike, the Caldecott Honor Book No David!, How I Learned to be a Pirate, and Good Boy Fergus. He is also one of the collaborative illustrators in Jon Scieszka's Trucktown series.  David lives with his wife and his daughter in Los Angeles.

David Shannon has written and illustrated numerous award winning picture books including Duck on a Bike, the Caldecott Honor Book No David, How I Learned to be a Pirate, and Good Boy Fergus. He is also one of the collaborative illustrators in Jon Scieszka's Trucktown series.  David lives with his wife and his daughter in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 42 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; First Edition edition (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416941339
• ISBN-13: 978-1416941330
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,043 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A major hit, April 9, 2008

By	Seteger - See all my reviews

As a parent, you're going to wish the story had a little more "something" to it--a little more rhyme, a little more depth (yes, even for a children's book, this is a little shallow).

BUT your little guy or girl will fall head over heals for this. This is one of those books kids want read to them again and again and again.

Cute art; clever lettering; a so-so story (so be patient when you read it the thousandth time); but a sure-fire hit with the kids who matter most.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Boys who love trucks, January 12, 2008

By	Allison (Torrington, Connecticut) - See all my reviews

I got this for my 2 year old nephew. He just loves it. Great illustrations and cute story. I would recommend it to anyone who has a little man who loves their trucks!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book for your (little) truck enthusiast, March 21, 2008

By	J. Mitchell "-James & Lynn Mitchell" (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just bought this book yeasterday for my 5 yr old and he's already in love with it. The animated cars and trucks look a lot like the Chevron Cars from the commercials so if you're little guy is big on those toys, this book will make a real nice companion and it's great to see there are more titiles to follow!! Great way to encourage reading and playtime together. I'm thinking about getting another one to give as a gift! It's really a cute book!