Busy Wheels by Mandy Archer ill Martha Lightfoot

The sun rises over the fire station.

Fire Engine waits behind the big red doors.

It is very quiet. Upstairs, the crew are sleeping.

Only Fox keeps one eye open.

Fire Engine is Flashing, Digger to the Rescue, Tractor Saves the Day, Racing Car is Roaring

The sun rises over the fire station.

Fire Engine waits behind the big red doors.

It is very quiet. Upstairs, the crew are sleeping.

Only Fox keeps one eye open.

Each of these four titles offers a day in the life of a wheeled machine. In Fire Engine is Flashing , the day begins quietly then escalates as the truck and crew are called to a fire. They rescue trapped residents and douse the fire. In Digger to the Rescue a day of routine work is interrupted so digger can rescue a stranded neighbour. Tractor Saves the Day begins with farm tasks and ends with a less-common farm job. Racing Car is Roaring takes a trip around the racetrack and beyond with a sleek blue racing car. The final spread of all titles contains images of other related machines. Illustrations are bright and colourful, black-outlined and full page.

‘Busy Wheels’ is a new series from Scholastic about wheeled machines. In each, the machine becomes the main character and each story features different animals rather than humans at the wheel. Fox, Bear, Dog and Rabbit drive their machines and complete daily and unexpected tasks. These sturdy paperbacks will appeal to young lovers of machines and the work they do. Expect many imitations of roaring race cars, tractors, diggers and possibly a fire engine siren or two. There is much here that will initiate constructive play in young children. Recommended for pre-schoolers and early primary readers.

Fire Engine is Flashing (Busy Wheels)

Fire Engine is Flashing , Mandy Archer ill Martha Lightfoot Scholastic 2013 ISBN: 9781742835105

Digger to the Rescue (Busy Wheels)
Digger to the Rescue , Mandy Archer ill Martha Lightfoot Scholastic 2013 ISBN: 9781742835099

Tractor Saves the Day (Busy Wheels)
Tractor Saves the Day, Mandy Archer ill Martha Lightfoot Scholastic 2013 ISBN: 9781742835129

Racing Car is Roaring (Busy Wheels)
Racing Car is Roaring , Mandy Archer ill Martha Lightfoot Scholastic 2013 ISBN: 981742835112

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com