The Wheels On The Race Car [Hardcover]

Alex Zane (Author), James Warhola (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Best-selling artist James Warhola and author Alex Zane have created a fun, read-aloud picture book with rhyming text and wonderfully amusing illustrations inspired by the song THE WHEELS ON THE BUS.

"Racers start your engines! The drivers in the race car yell, 'Go, go, go! Go, go, go! Go, go, go!' The drivers in the race car yell, 'Go, go, go!' at the starting line."

Get ready for a rambunctious race car adventure by best-selling artist James Warhola and author Alex Zane. Here at the racetrack, animals are busy from start to finish zipping, zooming, and zizzing. See if you can keep up with these daredevils and their fans as they race to the finish line with text inspired by the song THE WHEELS ON THE BUS.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2–"Racers…start your engines!!!" And the cars are off to a flying start in this variation of the perennially popular song "The Wheels on the Bus." Brightly colored vehicles driven by a menagerie of animals zoom around the track, stop for a quick tune-up ("zizz-zizz-zizz"), and fill up with gas ("glug-glug-glug") before zipping back into the race. Each verse highlights an action or a sound that is related to racing, e.g., "The checkered flag goes SWISH-SWISH-SWISH." The hectic pace of the participants, including the pit crew, is energetically illustrated through unique perspectives, the use of motion lines, and plenty of exhaust fumes. This action-packed book begs to be read aloud and will surely add a bit of excitement to storytimes and one-on-one readings.–Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN

From Booklist

PreS-K. "Racers . . . Start your engines!!!" And the Wildlife 500 is off! With new words that swing to the rhythm of "The Wheels on the Bus," Zane moves the favorite song from school bus to a racetrack run by a zoo full of animals. Zane squeezes more words into the refrain than the original song, requiring some verbal dexterity to stay on beat, especially in the opening line: "The wheels on the race car go ROUND and ROUND." There may also be a few too many verses to maintain listeners' interest. But the words, filled with the "VROOM-VROOM-VROOM" of the motors and "SWISH-SWISH-SWISH" of the checkered flag will easily capture children, as will Warhola's wonderful pencil-and-watercolor illustrations. Thrilling, full-page spreads of wildly colored cars and winsome animal drivers show the action from the mechanics' pit, the riotous stands, and even the driver's seat. Endpapers feature drawings of a goofy mutt demonstrating the hand gestures that can accompany each verse. A sure-fire hit for rowdy read-alouds. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orchard (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439590809
• ISBN-13: 978-0439590808
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 12 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for preschoolers/kindergarteners!, March 18, 2005

By 

Tammy (New Boston, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wheels On The Race Car (Hardcover)

I just bought this book Saturday at the book store and when I started to read through it, it was just too cute & I had to buy it. On Monday, I read it to my Preschool class (4-5 year olds) and they LOVED IT! It's easy for them to follow along and they where chiming in as I read it. Also they caught on to the pattern and would say the words before I read them. I also taught them the hand motions too. They kept singing it later. If your child(ren) love to sing "Wheels on the Bus" then will love this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Fun!!!!, July 5, 2005

By 

K. Shea (Connecticut Coast) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wheels On The Race Car (Hardcover)

I was at Lime Rock Racetrack in Connecticut in May 2005 and saw this car on the seat of a sportscar people were oogling. Extremely curious of the book - I found the car owner, had him open the car and read the book. I was in love - my students, who design racecars and a racetrack in my art class would love it, so I came home and ordered it!!! My 2 year old niece gets a kick out of the sing/song and adores the illustrations - which my students find all the dual meanings to! I just met the author at another Lime Rock race and bought 2 more books - ENJOY!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book-great for use with speech therapy,too!, January 7, 2006

By 

Edythe B. Veeck "richedie102" (Wayne, Pa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wheels On The Race Car (Hardcover)

I agree with all of the praise that others have given for this book: great pictures, fun verses, etc. An added feature is also the way it can be used with children working on improving speech skills. I work in early childhood special education and serve many children who receive speech therapy. The verses in the book have sounds in them that are common ones the children I see are working to produce/practice: z & p("zizz", "zip"), g ("glug", "go"), v & m ("vroom"). With the familiar tune to sing along with this is a fun way to work on speech skills-for every child.