My Car

by Byron Barton, Byron Barton (Illustrator)

Overview

With bright, clear art and prose as clean as Sam the narrator's shiny engine, this preschooler-friendly book explores transportation, the parts of a car, signs and signals, night and day, community, and occupations.

Bright, graphic artwork invites readers to count, name colors and shapes, and follow Sam and his car as they drive through a bustling world from Sam's home in the country to his job in the city. Named to numerous “best of the year” lists, My Car features vehicles, signs and signals, and a surprise ending. "For young children intrigued by cars, this book is simply wonderful."—ALA Booklist

Byron Barton is the celebrated creator of numerous picture books for very young children, including Trucks, My Bus, and Building a House.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062399601
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/12/2016
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	240L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Byron Barton (1930-2023) was the creator of many picture books for young children, including My Car, Building a House, and Little Red Hen.

Byron Barton (1930-2023) was the creator of many picture books for young children, including My Car, Building a House, and Little Red Hen.

Editorial Reviews

Toddlers are continuously fascinated by the automobile. From the sound of the engine to the proper care and keep of a car. This spectacular machine loses its mystique as we grow older, but Byron Barton's vibrant picture book just may rekindle your -- and your child's -- love of the auto.

Using a very bold color palette with smooth lines and short text, My Car introduces young readers to Sam. Sam loves his car and proceeds to show how to take care of it, from changing the oil to getting gas. Sam also explains that cars have lights to see at night. Of course, he always follows traffic laws. In one happily busy scene, Barton shows Sam in his compact red car sitting in heavy traffic. And what does Sam do for a living? Drive a bus, of course!

This wonderfully vivacious picture book offers youngsters a look at ownership, responsibility, and possibility -- and the whole while, they are having fun! From Sam's easy demeanor and dialogue to the colorful illustrations, Barton confirms that the car is a wondrous thing.

bn.com

Bold colors, geometrical shapes and unusually sturdy pages make this an excellent choice for the very young. The brief text introduces Sam and his car, both rounded, chunky figures. Sam, who loves his red car with its purple tires, demonstrates how he cares for it. Kids will appreciate the picture that separates the car out into its basic parts, with labels attached.

Kathleen Odean

"With just a few words per page, Barton conveys simple car facts as he follows Sam at the wheel, then supplies an ending with a twist. The chunky blocks of color and minimalist text will withstand countless readings," wrote PW in our Best Books citation. Ages 2-up. (Aug) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Sam takes good care of his bright red car. He keeps it clean and makes sure that it has oil and gasoline. He also obeys the traffic laws, reads the street signs, drives carefully, and introduces readers to his vehicle's many parts. He drives his car many places, but at work he's behind the wheel of-a big, green bus. Typical of Barton's style, the illustrations are simple and stylized, but perfectly suited to the text. Bold, complementary colors are featured against yellow backgrounds. The book will find a home with youngsters who enjoy books about cars, trains, buses, and the like. Combine it with Donald Crews's Freight Train (Greenwillow, 1978) to get a toddler or preschool storytime rolling.-Roxanne Burg, Thousand Oaks Library, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

A Child Magazine Best Book of 2001 Pick

Go for a spin with Sam as he describes his vehicle and the finer points of safe driving ("I stop for pedestrians"). Eye-popping graphics and chunky shapes give this toddler-friendly book plenty of curb appeal.

Child Magazine

Fledgling car-enthusiasts can learn all about the wonderful world of automobiles as Sam proudly touts the merits of his zippy red car. From oil changes to filling up at the gas station, short sentences take readers on a basic tour of car care and maintenance. "I love my car. I keep my car clean." Even the complex workings of a car's innards are rendered comprehensible under Sam's tutelage, giving readers a simple overview of the chassis and body. Barton highlights all the things youngsters find so intriguing about automobiles, such as the marvels of headlights and windshield wipers. He also includes safety tips for good measure, giving future drivers an awareness of responsible driving: Sam diligently follows the rules of the roads and observes all the traffic signs. Lo and behold, when Sam arrives to work, he drives a bus for a living, saying farewell to readers with a jaunty toot of the bus's horn. Byron taps into a child's wonder at what adults often perceive as mundane-and suddenly an ordinary car becomes a fascinating mystery to be explored. The neon bright artwork featuring stout-figured people and objects is tailor-made for young audiences. With a dazzling kaleidoscope of energetic hues illuminating the pages, small children will be entranced by this appealing tale. "(Picture book. 2-5)"

Kirkus Reviews

Vehicle-obsessed toddlers will line up for a ride.” — The Horn Book

“Will survive countless readings.” — Publishers Weekly

“Simply wonderful.” — ALA Booklist

From the Publisher

Vehicle-obsessed toddlers will line up for a ride.

The Horn Book

Simply wonderful.

ALA Booklist