The Wheels on the Bus [Hardcover]

Paul O. Zelinsky (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 1990 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When The Wheels on the Bus, by Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky, broke onto the scene back in 1990, it created a sensation with its clever characters, sly subplots, luscious colors, and the incomparable flair of its moving parts. Almost a million young readers have enjoyed the wheels that go round, doors that open and shut, and people who go bumpety-bump. Today it remains as fresh and engaging as when it was first published.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"The wheels on the bus go round and round.... All over town." This traditional song, a favorite of children everywhere, is adapted and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, winner of the Caldecott Medal for his lush version of Rapunzel, and Caldecott honors for Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, and Swamp Angel. Fantastic paper engineering with movable parts, flaps, and wheels that spin makes this an interactive book that young readers will love to pieces (maybe literally!). Pull one tab to make the "wipers on the bus go swish swish swish," and another to see the "babies on the bus cry Waah! Waah! Waah!" On closer inspection, children will be tickled to discover several subtle and humorous subplots, as well as a full-circle finale: the last stop on the bus is at the Overtown public library, where the day's program includes a folk singer. Guess what he's singing!

Zelinsky's warm, inviting illustrations are a perfect match for this classic play rhyme. Children who have learned the hand motions to the song will enjoy helping the characters in the book enact their own roles. The back cover includes the musical notation for "The Wheels on the Bus," so everyone can sing along. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

In an ingeniously designed, deftly executed lift-the-flap (and pull-the-tab) book, Zelinsky elaborates on the well-known and much-loved children's song. Not only do its wheels go round and round, but the bus here also has doors that open and shut, windshield wipers that move back and forth, and so on. The text consists of the lyrics of the song itself, but Zelinsky has neatly inserted a number of visual subplots that flesh out the story--one involving a boy with a boxful of adventurous kittens, another a motorcyclist and her runaway puppy, a third a young man with a guitar. The music and refrain are included on the back cover, and those unfamiliar with the song may well want to bone up in order to sing the book's praises to the most appropriate tune. Ages 2-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 16 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (October 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525446443
• ISBN-13: 978-0525446446
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 11.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Heavy Machinery
  • #5 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Where We Live > City Life

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun at every turn of the page! Read again, read again mommy, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wheels on the Bus (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my 22-month old son on our trip to London this past June. He absolutely loves it! I found it by accident at a children's store there called Trotters. We were actually looking for shoes at the time. When I picked up the book and casually showed it to him, he did not want to put it down anymore. He just kept turning the wheels and saying "round and round" The book is beautifully and cleverly illustrated. Each page is packed of every day life scene made to be fun by the moving parts! We read this book at least twice a day now (it used to be 4-5 times a day!)and he never gets tired of it. He always seems to find something new and interesting every time we read it. He now loves the summary page at the end of the book and the page where everyone gets off the bus to go to the library and my son would say "Don't forget the cat." I know that this book is out of print; however, I'm happy to share that it is available through amazon.com.uk! I'm buying another one for our next child, I don't think this one will make it. Thanks Amazon.com!!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has ruined my home life, December 16, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wheels on the Bus (Hardcover)

The Wheels on the Bus is my one-year-old's favorite song. It has been our companion on long car trips, and it has forced me into greater and greater physical contortions in trying to act it out. When I saw this fabulous book, it seemed to be the answer to my prayers. Let the book do the work! Look! The doors actually open and close, and the people on the bus can go bumpety-bump without me jumping up and down. My son seemed to agree. He adores the book. The only thing is that if he gets it into his hands by himself, he tends to rip it apart. The wheels on the bus have been glued back on several times. So, we put it on a high shelf away from the other books, only to be read with an adult. But my son can't pass the shelf withoug pointing and going "Ungf, ungf." Now, I'm a slave to the Wheels on the Bus. I'm forced to read it day and night. Thank goodness it's such a wittily illustrated book. Now, if they'd only make it in a board book version..

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great pop-up and lift-the-flap version of a classic song, October 1, 2001

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Wheels on the Bus (Hardcover)

Our two-year-old loves this book. It is colorful, interactive and fun fun fun. It is one of those gems among children's books that is actually bearable the 500th time you read (or sing) it. The artistry is exceptional -- clever manipulatives and delightful illustrations help bring this classic song to life. You will open the doors, swish the windshield wipers, ssshh the babies, and yes, you will make the wheels go round. Manipulatives are generally lift-the-flap or tab.

The material is not very thick, so we also save this book for use with an adult. We have had to tape the wheels back on though, and have lost functionality on one or two pop-ups. Nevertheless, this is a delightful book that will bring smiles to your child -- and not drive *you* crazy!