Dumpy at School
Dumpy's back! The beloved little truck, saved from rust and weeds inDumpy the Dump Truck, the  first team effort of Julie Andrews Edwards, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Tony  Walton, is shined up and ready to tackle his first big job off the farm. And it  just so happens that today is a big day for his young friend Charlie, too. It's  Charlie's first day of school. Dumpy has bubbles in his radiator, and Charlie  feels his stomach flutter as they each think about what lies ahead. Will they  succeed? Will people make fun of them? As it turns out, both Dumpy and Charlie  do quite well. Charlie makes some new friends, trades sandwiches at lunchtime,  and wins the respect of all when the kids realize it'shisdump truck  that's building the new playground. And Dumpy, after feeling a bit puny and  insignificant next to the huge yellow and black monster machine, saves the day  when Steady Gus the School Bus breaks down.Julie Andrews Edwards is the author of theThe Last of the Really Great  WhangdoodlesandLittle  Bo: The Story of Bonnie Boadiceaand, of course, the star ofMary  PoppinsandThe Sound of Music.Dumpy at School, the second in  the series about a little engine that could, will be welcomed with open arms by  children who have a touch of first-day butterflies. (Ages 4 to 7)--Emilie  Coulter