Melvin Might? (Jon Scieszka's Trucktown)
PreSchool-K—"Cement Mixer Melvin worries" is the opening line and central theme of this simple, predictable, and yet entirely engaging picture book. Melvin is such a worrier that he even worries that he might get worried. Just being with him makes others become worried. When Payloader Pete shows him and Rescue Rita an unfinished bridge, Melvin quakes with apprehension as other gutsy vehicles fearlessly roar and soar across the open expanse. Melvin believes himself incapable of such feats, and his fear of failure paralyzes him until he sees that Rita is in danger and needs his help. Only after he realizes the extremity of her situation does Melvin find the courage to act, and, with stunning foldout pages, he saves the day. The pages feature exuberant and adorably anthropomorphized automobile characters that are digitally and stunningly rendered in nearly overwhelming color that reflects the style of the "design team," especially the highly appealing art of David Shannon. This book is sure to be a hit with car-loving kids and will certainly resonate with worryworts.—Piper Nyman, Brookmeade Elementary School, Nashville, TNCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.