1. Digger, Dozer, Dumper by Hope Vestergaard and David Slonim. I'm putting this one first because it's my very favorite and a lot of people have never heard of it! It came out just a couple years after the very popular Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, and while they are both rhyming books about trucks, I think Digger, Dozer, Dumper is even better. The poems are so beautifully crafted and packed full of information about the function and mechanics of each truck. I also love the illustrations and how each truck has a distinct personality. For my full review, click here.
2. Supertruck by Steven Savage. The garbage truck has the least glamorous job of all the trucks...he just collects the trash. But when a big snow storm hits, the humble garbage truck dons a scoop and transforms into SUPERTRUCK, rescuing the other vehicles stuck in the snow. This brief and clever picture book is just super! (My favorite part is how the garbage truck wears glasses, but when he turns into SUPERTRUCK they mysteriously disappear, just like Clark Kent/Superman.)
3. Monster Trucks by Joy Keller and Misa Saburi. This rhyming picture book combines two things kids love...monsters and trucks. Each monster drives a different type of truck that suits it's personality...the werewolf mans the digger, the yeti drives a snowplow, and the witch rides a street sweeper! I also love how the ending tells kids not to worry about monsters hiding in their rooms at night because they're much too tired and have all gone to bed. This book is tons of fun and very kid-accessible.
4. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry. This book is immensely popular and for good reason. Its bouncy rhyming text, cheerful illustrations, and themes of kindness and teamwork make this book a favorite of both kids and parents.
5. Five Trucks by Brian Floca. This book is a very quick read, but it's so genius because of the way it creates suspense, keeping the reader wondering about how the five trucks work together. (Spoiler alert: they all help an airplane get ready for take-off!)
6. Bulldozer Helps Out by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohman. Bulldozer just wants to help out at the construction site, but all the other trucks say he isn't big enough or tough enough. But when a special task needs to be done, Bulldozer just might be the perfect truck for the job! This is a super cute one and sends the important message that no one is too small to do big jobs!
7. Katy the Snowplow by Virginia Burton. This one is a classic that is just as good today as it was 50 years ago. When a big blizzard buries the city of Geoppolis under a thick blanket of snow, Katy, the biggest tractor with the biggest plow, is the only one who can save the day. Like many older picture books, this one is a bit longer than most PBs published today, but the story and illustrations are engaging enough that my preschooler requests this one again and again.
8. Trucks Go by Steve Light. This board book is one of a series of vehicle books, which are all fantastic and on my list of best books for babies. The bright primary colors and onomatopoeia make these books tons of fun for the littlest readers.
9. Small Walt by Elizabeth Verdick and Marc Rosenthal. I seem to really love snowplow books, because this is the third one on the list! Walt is the smallest of all the snowplows and always gets picked last to scoop the snow from the streets. When he gets his chance to prove himself, Walt is determined not to give up no matter how deep the snow or how high the hill! This is a great story about the power of positive thinking, and I love the lyrical elements in the text. We also love the sequel, Small Walt and Mo the Tow.
10. Truck Stop by Anna Rockwell & Melissa Iwai. A little boy wakes up before dawn each day to help his parents and uncle open the truck stop they own. He watches for all the regulars, including a big 18-wheeler, a milk truck, and a tow truck. Each of the drivers come inside for their usual breakfasts which the boy knows by heart. But Green Gus, one of the regular trucks, is missing. Will the boy be able to help Green Gus and his driver make it to the truck stop? I love the collage-style illustrations, and the warm feeling of community that this story generates. It also makes me hungry for breakfast food! ;)
