Drive

by Nathan Clement

Overview

A little boy tells the story of what his dad does in his long day of driving a truck. Startlingly vivid graphic images of a big rig, rendered in vibrant colors and compelling compositions, make life on the road seem exotic and beautiful even as they bring the father and son together at the end of the day. A terrific bedtime read.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590785171
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	02/01/2008
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,062,017
Product dimensions:	8.87(w) x 11.31(h) x 0.34(d)
Lexile:	BR (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Nathan Clement is a graphic artist by profession and a truck aficionado by choice. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Drive is his first picture book.

Editorial Reviews

…[an] appealing portrait of a dad who works behind the wheel.
—The New York Times

Julie Just

Clement makes a noteworthy picture book debut with this day-in-the-life story of a trucker, as told through the eyes and succinct words of his young son. Aficionados of the truck genre won't find any big surprises here in terms of the shape of the story-Daddy is a skilled, unfailingly polite and conscientious driver. "Daddy's on time," notes the boy after his father is shown taking a coffee break at a truck stop, "because there is more work to do," and while Daddy is up before dawn, he makes it back home in time to play a sunset game of backyard ball. It's Clement's visual storytelling that sets this book apart, and gives many of the images all the power of a six-cylinder, 16.1-liter diesel engine. Working in big, streamlined shapes; flat, bright colors; and shiny, airbrushed-like surfaces, he evokes a deco-esque world where the combustion engine reigns supreme and humans and trucks are closely related species. Unusual and often cinematic perspectives-a thigh-high view of Daddy gripping the gear shift, a bumper's-eye view of a traffic jam-plunge readers into the action and give the compositions a red-blooded energy. Some kids may still find the pictures a bit chilly, especially as the face of Daddy and other people are never seen. But most will take one look at his awesome truck, his strong hands and his beefy physique, and see all the makings of a hero. Ages 2-8. (Feb.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1- A boy describes what his father does all day as he drives a large red rig. The stark graphic-style art features glossy, candy-apple red for the truck and bold black and gray shades for the road and tires. Even though the minimal text expresses the warm, loving sentiment of a father and child playing at the end of the day, the strong angular lines in the illustrations leave viewers with a cold, detached feel. The text is printed in a large, clear font, with simple declarative sentences that will encourage youngsters to read for themselves. Supplemental fare where additional vehicle picture books are needed.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Striking graphics accompany a child's narration of a truck-driving dad's day at work, from his departure before dawn to his arrival home at the end of the day. The simple text advances spread by spread, describing both the work-loading freight and navigating traffic-and the person performing it-watching out for others and always saying hello. An ever-varying sequence of images both in and out of the cab add up to a total truck experience for the reader; the father's face is never shown clearly, allowing every truck-loving toddler to imagine his own dad's-or, perhaps, his own-facial features superimposed on it. The images and sans-serif typeface are reminiscent of Donald Crews in their boldness and simplicity, perspective and angle emphasizing the immensity of the truck and the heroism of its working-class driver. Indeed, in its strong, steady lines and depiction of a deeply pastoral Midwest, this offering could well be seen as the Great American Truck Book. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews

"Striking graphics. . . This offering could well be seen as the Great American Truck Book." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Clement makes a noteworthy picture book debut with this day-in-the-life story of a trucker, as told through the eyes and succinct words of his young son." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

From the Publisher