Customer Reviews

William, the Vehicle King

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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This is such an amazing book and I wish I could get a new copy of it. My school director thought my son would enjoy this book and lent us her copy since he LOVES cars and collects the little die cast cars everywhere we go. The story is about a little boy who plays with cars and creates different scenarios...a car crash, then emergency vehicles need to come help, then building roads with construction trucks, etc. My 2 1/2 year old son is hooked on this book and could read it every night.

The book is a favorite of the 2-3 crowd and I look forward to sharing it at storytime. This copy is in excellent shape for an old Library book:)

We received this book as a last remanant of a picked over reject list of someone's retired books. No one wanted it based on the old pictures and type font.

What we found was a truly beautiful little story of a boy and his vehicles that so closely matches the style of play of my little boy that I'm sure the author must have been very close to a little fellow to write it so well.

This is a special little book that my 7 year old daughter likes to read to her 5 year old brother when he needs cheering up.

I sincerely wish I could find more stories by the author.

This charming little book was originally published in 1987 in a hardbound edition. It was written by Laura P. Newton and illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers. It was published in UK under the title William, King of the Road. It was republished in 1993 as a Houghton Mifflin edition as part of The Literature Experience for kindergarten aged readers in their "My Favorite Things" read aloud version.

Okay -- it's a wonderful, short children's book. It's on several Listmania lists, and it's cited in multiple books recommending reading for children. But it's out of print and "acceptable" used copies are selling as collectible, some as high as $96. It's a read-aloud book about a preschooler who loves playing with cars. At the end of his day, his living room is filled with imaginary bridges and blocks and every car he can push. In today's video world, it's so GREAT to engage a child with real 'push it yourself' cars that don't make noise or do anything but fuel imagination. After reading the book to one of the children I babysit for, I tried to buy it to share with other children and while I was able to buy a few used copies, it seems it's time to champion this book for republication. Parents today need resources to support and encourage hands-on play. Bring Back William! Laura Newton, where are you? Twenty years is not long enough for such a lovely book to have to be collectible to be available as a gift!