Towed by Toad
Review posted March 18, 2025.
Tundra, 2024. 48 pages.
Review written arch 6, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
2025 Geisel Honor Book
The Geisel Awards are given to the most distinguished books for beginning readers, and they usually go to books in the beginning reader format. I'm so happy that this picture book won the award, because it only took one reading for it to become a favorite for me. And this picture book is both a good read-aloud and a good book for supporting new readers - the kind of book that will get read frequently and next thing you know, the child can read it themselves.
This was one of those picture books I had to show to my colleagues - except I found that I didn't want to just show it to them - no, I was compelled to read it to them. Just a delightful book.
The look of the book is big, bright cartoon-type pictures on a white background, with about one to three short sentences per spread. And the action begins before the title page. We're inside a house and see a toad calling from a doorway: "Breakfast!"
On the next spread, we see a smaller toad running out the door saying:
No time, Pop!
Can't stop!
And then the title page shows the smaller toad driving out of a garage in an orange tow truck.
The beginning reminds me a little of Richard Scarry (though not nearly so busy):
Big cars. Little cars.
Old cars. New cars.
Everyone has places to be!
We then see various creatures headed various places.
No matter who you are
or where you are going. . .
. . . everyone needs help sometimes.That's where Toad comes in.
We see Toad towing and helping his first customer. Then these happen:
Catie Cat has a flat.
Davey Dog hit a log.Mayor Hop forgot to stop.
Stanley Snout's engine fell out.
And yes, the pictures that go with these are as fun as you might imagine.
And Toad helps them all.
But then, after a good day's work, Toad's own truck begins to make strange noises and breaks down. Toad doesn't want to ask for help.
But when he finally does, we learn what that other big truck in the home garage is for.
And we're left with a wonderful message:
Everyone needs help sometimes.
Even the helpers.
This book has it all - simple, bright pictures, easy-to-understand language, lots of cars and trucks, plenty of kid-sized drama, and a wonderful message to top it off.
One of those books that make me wish I were still doing story times.